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Show 19-8 "Well, you see, ma'am, my family doesn't come out much. They live in Stull. It's a long trip." "Yes, but still. Who is in your family, Andrew?" "My mom and dad and two older sisters. They have a farm out there." "I see." Mother nodded in a rather stiff way. "How often have you been home since you've been back?" Andrew spoke quietly, "Never. I haven't been home. This," he waved his arm to include us all and the cool evening around us, "This is the first time I've been out of the hospital in, let's see, well, it's a year now." Mother looked at him, her mouth open a little. Then she turned to look at Father. He looked steadily back at her. "That's why this is so nice. And why Annie means so much to me. Her visits. I look forward to them." He leaned forward to put the glass on the small table in front of him. We all watched and held our breaths as the glass wobbled a bit and then relaxed as it stood alone. Andrew leaned back. "Matter of fact, I think all the guys out there look forward to seeing you, Annie. They kid me a lot, but they like you." "I didn't think they even noticed me. They're all so quiet." "Yup, it's a pretty glum crowd. But they notice. It gives them all something to look forward to. Helps pass the time." How odd, I thought. I had thought I was coming and going unnoticed, like the nurses and the doctors. None of the other patients ever spoke to me or even looked at me much. "Why don't they ever say anything to me then, Andrew?" "Well, it's a funny thing, Annie. They know that you come to see me and they don't want to take up any of my time with you. It's like a visitor is too precious to share." |
