4:39 P.M.

           Ihavequitethecrowdnow.GranandGramps.UncleGreg.AuntDiane.AuntKate.MycousinsHeatherandJohnandDavid.Dadisoneoffivekids,sotherearestilllotsmorerelativesoutthere.NobodyistalkingaboutTeddy,whichleadsmetobelievethathe’snothere.He’sprobablystillattheotherhospital,beingtakencareofbyWillow.

           Therelativesgatherinthehospitalwaitingroom.NotthelittleoneonthesurgicalfloorwhereGranandGrampswereduringmyoperation,butalargeroneonthehospital’smainfloorthatistastefullydecoratedinshadesofmauveandhascomfychairsandsofasandmagazinesthatarealmostcurrent.Everyonestilltalksinhushedtones,asifbeingrespectfuloftheotherpeoplewaiting,eventhoughit’sonlymyfamilyinthewaitingroom.It’sallsoserious,soominous.Igobackintothehallwaytogetabreak.

           I’msohappywhenKimarrives;happytoseethefamiliarsightofherlongblackhairinasinglebraid.Shewearsthebraideverydayandalways,bylunchtime,thecurlsandringletsofherthickmanehavemanagedtoescapeinrebelliouslittletendrils.Butsherefusestosurrendertothathairofhers,andeverymorning,itgoesbackintothebraid.

           Kim’smotheriswithher.Shedoesn’tletKimdrivelongdistances,andIguessthatafterwhat’shappened,there’snowayshe’dmakeanexceptiontoday.Mrs.Scheinisred-facedandblotchy,likeshe’sbeencryingorisabouttocry.IknowthisbecauseIhaveseenhercrymanytimes.She’sveryemotional."Dramaqueen,"ishowKimputsit.