The last bell of the day rang. Students flooded the halls. Munch sprinted and dodged his way to Thahn Ho’s locker. Quickly, she got her books together and they headed out the front doosr. Ong noi’s Falcon was outside in line waiting. When Ong noi pulled up the car, Munch climbed into the back seat. Thahn Ho didn’t open the front door, she slid into the back seat with him. As soon as she closed the door she reached for his hand. The pressure of her hand in his usually sent a thrill through him. Not today. Her hand was like a life line anchoring him to earth. His worry for Lolly had grown with each passing minute and now it had reached full on panic.

From the front seat, Ong noi said, “Michael, slow your breathing. Your brain is anxious, it needs more air. Breathe with me.” Slowly, Ong noi took in a breath and released it, Munch followed along. The slow breathing helped some. The nearness of Thahn Ho helped some, but neither dispelled his worry over Lolly. The drive to the hospital seemed to take hours, but it was really only thirty minutes away.

Finally the hospital appeared. Ong noi circled the parking lot looking the emergency exit. Thahn Ho pointed at a sign and said, “There it is Ong noi.” He found a spot and parked the car. Munch thought they were just going to drop him off, but they went inside with him. The sights and smells of the emergency room hit him hard. Fortunately Thanh Ho still clung to his hand. If she weren’t he wasn’t sure he would be able to keep it together. He was so scared.

At the information desk, Ong noi said, “This young man is Lolly Phelp’s step brother. Could you please tell us where the family is?”

The older woman at the desk, flipped through her chart. She said, “Just go through those doors and turn left. The waiting room for emergency it there.”

Ong noi bowed and said, “Thank you.” He turned and said, “Follow me.”

Munch had a faulty sense of direction, so he was very grateful to be lead. In the emergency waiting room, he saw Mama. She did not look good. Munch was not sure he could bear the weight of Mama’s emotion. He hesitated. His first instinct was to run, but it was too late, Mama had seen him. Quickly she spanned the distance between them. Her arms looped around him, he expected her to come unraveled in his arms, only she didn’t, she just held him tight. Against her neck he asked, “Is Lolly okay?”

Mama said, “She’s on an IV and they have given her nausea medication. Right now we are waiting for the blood test results.”

Needles, blood, the disinfectant smell of the hospital swirled into a wave of nausea inside of Munch. Really, he seriously did not want to throw up. The nearness of Mama was suffocating, he let go of her.

To Ong noi, Mama said, “Thank you so much for bringing him.”

“You are welcome. Keep us posted. We will be praying.” He turned to Thahn Ho and asked, “Are you ready to go?”

She said, “I am staying with Michael. I will get a ride home.” It was a statement, not a request.

Ong noi nodded. To Mama he said, “Please call us if you need anything.”

“I will.”

Slowly Ong noi began to turn away, at that moment Grandma Toady came through the emergency room doors. Her eyes were red rimmed. She saw Ong noi and she flew into his arms. Against his shoulder she sobbed. While the affection between these two was not a secret to Munch, it was to Mama. She stood with her mouth’s gaping. Gently Ong noi said, “Breathe my dear, just breathe.”

Grandma Toady gulped in some air. She started to come back to herself. She saw Munch and released Ong noi. “Munch, Lolly’s been asking for you. Go on in, only two are allowed in at a time. She’s in the third cubicle to the right.”

Munch didn’t wait. He felt Thanh Ho’s hand slide out of his. The big doors swung before him. His eyes took in a quick scan of the area and stepped into the emergency room. The cubicles had people in them. One woman was crying. In the entrance of the third cubicle to the right stood that man, Lolly’s Pa. His face was puckered with worry. He turned to Munch and said, “Lolly, your buddy is here.” He stepped aside to let Munch stand by the bed. In it Lolly lay pale and listless. There were dark smudges under her eyes. Those eyes looked at him and they were filled with love, but not any light. He took her hand in his. He had no idea what to say or do. Lolly whispered, “I am so glad you came.”

All Munch could get through his dry lips was, “Me too.” He glanced up at that man. The fear in his eyes was heart breaking. For the first time, Munch saw Lolly in him. He had never seen Lolly in him before. If anything happened to her, from this point forward he would always see Lolly in him. It was a strange and unsettling thought.

That man pulled up a chair for Munch to sit in. Munch nodded his thanks and sat down. To Lolly that man said, “I need to go take a smoke. I will be back soon.”

“Okay.” Lolly watched her pa leave the room. She said, “They are really worried about me.” Her voice dropped low, “I am worried about me.”

Munch squeezed her hand. It was so warm, too warm. NOTHING must happen to Lolly. She had to be okay. She just had to. The hands of the wall clock were moving so slowly. It wasn’t even 5:00 p.m. but it felt like it should at least be tomorrow. Lolly drifted into sleep. Her hand went limp in Munch’s but he didn’t let go.

That man returned. He raised his eyebrows in question. Munch just shrugged. That man whispered, “Its good she’s sleeping. Your presence helped her sleep.”

Out in the waiting room, he knew Thahn Ho was there. Even though he couldn’t be with her or see her at this moment, just knowing she was close by eased some of his panic. He bet she was praying. He hoped God was listening.

That man whispered, “Mama’s gone home to get Lolly’s things. She will be back.”

Munch nodded.

That man said, “I am so thankful Lolly has you.”

Munch was thankful too.

*

Grandma Toady returned with Lolly’s things and even though he didn’t want to, Munch had to leave. When he reached the waiting area, Thahn Ho stood. He walked to her and she hugged him. Tears came to his eyes. Thahn Ho whispered, “Lolly is strong, its gonna be okay.”

Munch nodded but he wasn’t so sure. Sometimes people didn’t get better, sometimes they didn’t ever come home.

Mama said to Thahn Ho, “I told your mom I would bring you home. Are you ready?”

“Uh,” Thahn Ho hesitated. Munch knew she didn’t want to leave him.

Mama said, “I am taking Michael home too.”

Munch had no intention of leaving until someone kicked him out. He began to protest by Mama shook her head. “We need to go. Grandma Toady and Trace will take care of her.” With a slight tremble, Mama’s hand grasped the strap of her purse. To herself she said, “I am so thankful Trace is here.”

Honestly, Munch was thankful too. Lolly needed all those who loved her most to be there for her. The ones she loved most were Grandma Toady and her Pa. Munch knew he was tied with Mitzi in third place, but he didn’t mind. Out in the parking lot, Mama unlocked the doors of her red Volkswagen Bug. Munch got in and Thahn Ho climbed into the backseat with him. She slipped her hand through his. The trip home was a silent one. No one spoke. Mama was focusing hard on the road. Munch could feel Thahn Ho’s eyes on him, but he didn’t dare look at her lest he start crying. She held his hand the entire drive home and didn’t let go until they stopped in front of her house. The sun was setting, it would soon be dark. As Thahn Ho got out of the car she said, “I will pray a rosary for Lolly tonight.”

“Thank you.” Munch didn’t even know how to pray a rosary, but Mama had some beads, so tonight might be a good time to learn.

The front door opened and Mrs. Duong came out followed by Lee. The little boy lacked his usual exuberance. He asked, “Is Lolly okay?”

Mama smiled and said, “She will be.” She actually sounded like she believed it.

Mrs. Duong placed her hand on Mama’s shoulder and said, “Keep us updated.”

“I will.” Mama started the car. As she pulled out of the drive, Thahn Ho, Mrs. Duong and Lee waved at them. Munch expected Mama to break down as soon as they drove away, only she didn’t. Instead she flipped on the radio. Ray Charles was singing, “Hallelujah, I Love Her So.” Even though this song was a romantic song, it always made Munch think of Lolly. Softly he sang along:

When I'm in trouble and I have no friend

I know she'll go with me until the end

Everybody asks me how I know

I smile at them and say, "She told me so"*

Lolly had always been with him, and he had to hold on to the hope that she always would be.

*Ray Charles 1956