5:40 P.M.

           Iamalittlefreakedoutrightnow.GranandGrampsleftawhileago,butIstayedbehindhereintheICU.Iamsittinginonethechairs,goingovertheirconversation,whichwasveryniceandnormalandnondisturbing.Untiltheyleft.AsGranandGrampswalkedoutoftheICU,withmefollowing,GrampsturnedtoGranandasked:"Doyouthinkshedecides?"

           "Decideswhat?"

           Grampslookeduncomfortable.Heshuffledhisfeet."Youknow?Decides,"hewhispered.

           "Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Gransoundedexasperatedandtenderatthesametime.

           "Idon’tknowwhatI’mtalkingabout.You’retheonewhobelievesinalltheangels."

           "WhatdoesthathavetodowithMia?"Granasked.

           "Ifthey’regonenow,butstillhere,likeyoubelieve,whatiftheywanthertojointhem?Whatifshewantstojointhem?"

           "Itdoesn’tworklikethat,"Gransnapped.

           "Oh,"wasallGrampssaid.Theinquirywasover.

           Aftertheyleft,IwasthinkingthatonedaymaybeI’lltellGranthatInevermuchboughtintohertheorythatbirdsandsuchcouldbepeople’sguardianangels.AndnowI’mmoresurethaneverthatthere’snosuchthing.

           Myparentsaren’there.Theyarenotholdingmyhand,orcheeringmeon.Iknowthemwellenoughtoknowthatiftheycould,theywould.Maybenotbothofthem.MaybeMomwouldstaywithTeddywhileDadwatchedoverme.Butneitherofthemishere.

           Andit’swhilecontemplatingthisthatIthinkaboutwhatthenursesaid.She’srunningtheshow.AndsuddenlyIunderstandwhatGrampswasreallyaskingGran.