‘Well something’s different about you,’ they say, looking me upanddown.
Everything, I think.Everything isdifferent.
* * *
Ihurry backto the hospital, picking up a bunch of wildflowers ontheway.
Outside Birdie’s room, I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the gut-wrenching sight of her still, comatose body just lying there, soquietly.
I slowly push open the door and get the fright of my life to find Birdie not only sitting up in the bed fully awake, but being tended to by a gigantically muscled doctor who I assume is the infamousDrBJ.
‘What the fuuuuck?’ I yell, running over and pulling Birdie inahug.
‘Watch the tubes!’ the huge man warns, with achuckle.
I jump back, not wanting to tangle the wires or hurt her in anyway. Then I lean forward again, more gently, and wrap my arms around myfriend.
‘Brewster,’ shewhispers.
‘Bird!’ Ichokeout.
The pair of us burst immediately into tears, clinging onto each other fordearlife.
‘Well, I will tell you something. That was a nap and a half,’ Birdie quips, her voice croakyanddry.
‘Too soon.’ I lean back and take her in. Her face is white and her eyes are half closed. But she’s here.She’shere.
Once Dr BJ has checked all of Birdie’s vitals, assuring us that she’s doing really well considering, he leaves the room, giving me an odd sort of look ashedoes.
Birdie giggles lightly. ‘You know he thinks you have a crush on him, right? I told him it was you who fancied him after he heard us on FaceTime that day,remember?’
‘Yeah, you turd. I’ve got a good mind to go out there and tell him the truth. That it is in fact you who wants to bestow Dr BJ with apleasantBJ.’
Birdie shakes her head, snickering with gentle laughter. ‘You wouldn’t do that to such a sickwoman.’
I take hold of her hands. ‘Thank you for my letter,’ I whisper tears spilling out of my eyes and rolling speedily down my face. ‘For what you didforme.’
Birdie looks at me. ‘Anytime,Brewster.’
Laughing, and crying and snotting and shaking, we embrace each otheroncemore.
And I don’t plan to everletgo.
OceanofPDF.com
ChapterThirty-Six
BirdieLively Funeral Order ofService:
Piano performance of ‘You’re my Best Friend’ byQueen
Reading of ‘Funeral Blues’ by W. H.Auden
Eulogy by OliveBrewster
Acknowledgements
Piano performance of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ by BillWithers
