Nurse: Hi, Kathleen.
Katie: You can call me Katie.
Nurse: Nice to meet you Katie. I'm Dani. I'll be your nurse for the night.
Mike (Sarcastically): Great! If you're gonna be the nurse, I'm not gonna to stay here.
Katie: Mike, you're being rude aren't you?
Nurse (To Mike and ignoring Katie): That's okay because after the way you acted, I don't want to be in your presence anymore!
Katie: Um.do you two know each other?
Mike (Staring at the nurse with upset eyes but talking to Katie): No. I've never met her before.
Nurse: Ditto.
Katie: For two people who have never met each other, you sure act like you know one another.
Mike: We don't know each other! Leave it go!
Katie (Hurt by Mike's snapping): Fine!
Nurse (Checking Katie over): Well, nothing's changed. You just lay there and get some rest. I'll be back in a bit to check on you again shortly.
Katie: Um, could I have something to drink?
Nurse: I'm afraid not, honey. You're having this baby first thing in the morning. You're not allowed any food or liquids until after it's born.
Katie: But I'm feeling kind of sick.
Nurse: I'll see if the doctor will let me give you something but I can't promise you that. Just rest, okay?
Katie (Small and forcing smile): Okay. (The nurse left Katie's room and Mike went over to the hospital window in thought) Mike, we've been married for 16 years; and in that 16 years of marriage we have never kept any secrets from each other. I wanna know what's bothering you.
Mike (Hitting his fist up against the steel edge of the window; to himself but out loud): Of all the times in this world, why now?
Katie: Michael, did you hear me?
Mike (Turning around to her): I'm going to get a cup of coffee. I'll be back. (Katie gave an upset sigh and folded her arms in disgust as she watched her husband leave the room)
(Mike sat down in the caf頦or quite some time drinking his coffee in thought. It seemed like it was the only time he could get any quiet time to himself. While sitting there, more thoughts came around.)
"Mike's Dad (To his mother): I WISH I HAD NEVER MARRIED YOU!!
Mike's Mom: I WISH I HAD NEVER MARRIED YOU, EITHER!! ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS YOURSELF AND YOU NEVER EVEN TRY TO SPEND TIME WITH MICHAEL AT ALL!! THAT KID LOVES YOU, BOB!! NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU'VE BEAT HIM, HE STILL MANAGES TO LOVE YOU!!
Mike's Dad: WELL I DON'T NEED HIS LOVE, YOU HEAR ME?? AND I DON'T NEED HIM OR YOU ANYMORE EITHER!!"
(Mike remembered his father leaving the house, slamming the door shut and never returning again. As Mike drank his 3rd cup of coffee down, an older woman approached him.)
Woman: Hi! Is this seat taken?
Mike: Nah! Help yourself.
Woman (Hand out to shake his): I'm Elizabeth. Most people call me Liz. What's your name?
Mike: You mean you don't know who I am? (The woman shook her head `no'; small laugh) That's a first. Usually I get bugged ev'rywhere I go because my face is too familiar.
Elizabeth: Why, are you someone famous?
Mike: Yeah. Have you ever heard of the TV show called "The Monkees?"
Elizabeth: No, can't say that I have. My husband doesn't like us to watch too much TV. Even while our kids were growing up, he didn't let them watch it much. He said it clouded the mind and he didn't want them to lose focus on their studies.
Mike: That's funny because my father used to be that same way. But I don't wanna talk about him.
Elizabeth: You look like you could use someone to talk to, though. I'm here and a good listener if you wanna talk.
Mike: I've talked all I want about my problem. Ev'ryone around me wants to know about it and I keep repeating that I don't wanna talk about it. `sides, it doesn't really matter, now, anyway. (Elizabeth could tell that Mike didn't want to talk about his problem so she changed the subject)
Elizabeth: So...are you here with someone in the hospital?
Mike: Yeah. My wife is having our baby first thing in the morning.
Elizabeth: Congratulations. Any idea what the baby is?
Mike: No. I'm kind of hoping for a boy and my wife wants another girl.
Elizabeth: Oh, so you already have kids huh?
Mike: Yeah. I have a son from my first marriage and two girls from my current wife. (Mike took his wallet out and showed the woman a family photo) This is my son Andy, my daughter Janelle, my daughter Clairice and my wife Katie.
Elizabeth: You have a beautiful family. I'm sure the new baby will make a fine addition to it.
Mike: If the baby makes it. They don't know what's wrong but the heart beat has dropped down a great deal. That's why they're taking the baby by some type of surgery in the morning.
Elizabeth: Awe, well I hope it makes it okay.
Mike: Me too. So, who you here to see?
Elizabeth: My husband. He was shot in the line of duty the other night. (Mike gave her an odd look) He's a police officer in other words.
Mike: Ohhh. Well, how's he doing?
Elizabeth: Not so good. The person that shot him got him in the chest. He's still alive and alert but he's got some internal bleeding they can't get stopped. The criminal beat him up pretty good and then shot him so he's struggling for his life right now.
Mike: Sorry to hear that. I hope he.well I hope he'll be okay.
Elizabeth: Me too but the doctor isn't giving him too much hope. They've tried everything to get the bleeding to stop but nothing has worked.
Mike: You have a small accent to your voice. Are you originally from here?
Elizabeth: No. I'm originally from San Antonio, Texas. My husband moved us here when our kids were just little because he wanted out of Texas for some reason.
Mike: You have kids too?
Elizabeth: Yeah. Our oldest is 27. She's a nurse here at the hospital. (Mike's heart began to pound as he realized who he was talking to) Then we have a 21-year-old son, an 18-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter.
Mike: Um.it was nice talking to you but I have to get back to my wife.
Elizabeth: Good luck in the morning.
Mike: Yeah; thanks. (Mike quickly exited the caf頡nd found the nearest empty restroom. He sat down on the floor and began to just cry uncontrollably after hearing the news that Elizabeth told him)