"Congratulations," Kirk said. "You're still among the living. I wish I qualified."
"Every day I'm surprised there's any blood left. And after that bleeding I had before I came in here, I figured I must be about empty."
"What happened?" Brent asked.
"Oh, that's why I'm in the hospital, Brent. I had this sudden bleeding thing. So they brought me in here and gave me a transfusion a few weeks ago and I've felt much better since, most of the time anyway.
"I tell you, Brent, it was my own dumb fault. I got myself so tired out this spring it's no wonder I developed mono or whatever it is. I was playing the part of the daughter in The Glass Menagerie at school. It was rehearsals every night and then staying up even later to get my homework done. I was getting more and more wiped out by the whole grueling schedule, but I loved that part and wasn't about to give it up. I was too involved in the play to worry about how I felt. Now I spend my time trying not to worry.
"My mother was really on my back about taking it easy. I must have looked like I'd been dragged through the mud. I had circles under my eyes that reached all the way down to my chin.
"I promised my mother I'd take it easy after the show went on, and even agreed to go have a checkup, but I never quite made it that far.
"The play was great and then I went to the cast party, which was a stupid thing to do. I should have been home in bed, I guess, when you figure how tired I really was. So I had a couple of beers at the cast party and that made me even more exhausted.
"Well, I collapsed, I guess. Dropped right over. Everyone thought I was loaded of course, because a few others were. So may parents were called and they came to pick me up. I tried to tell them that I was just exhausted, but they thought I was loaded too, which is kind of funny now that I look back on it.
"My mother said that she couldn't believe her eyes. I'd promised not to go the party and I was just too tired to explain.
"I felt really lousy by the time we got home. Then the hemorrhaging started. So they rushed me over here. I've had tests and more tests, and a couple transfusions. That blood lady takes more samples of blood every day. But it's good to have the rest, and I'm feeling much better now, I guess. I'll never get myself hooked into a schedule like that again. I've just got to say no to some of the things I'd like to do. That's my problem. I end up involved in everything going except getting sleep. Anyway, it's fun while it's on. Well, I've talked your ears off long enough, Brent. It looks like we both can use some rest, and I'd hate to miss my regular daily-type nap before lunch. Doctor's orders, you know. I just wanted to see how you were feeling. You look better already."
"Thanks, Amy. I really appreciate it. I'll see you later. If you want some extra blood, just let me know. I've got plenty."
"How can one girl be so lucky?" she said. "Here I am confined with two such gorgeous men, and not a chance of escape. See you both later."
She turned and left the room.
That wasn't so hard, Brent thought. Amy and Kirk make it so easy for me. He felt better than he had all day.
Chapter Four
The three were playing poker again. Brent was feeling better. Most of the pain was gone and he was finally off the intravenous tube. It was the end of his first week in the hospital. He was lying on his side in bed holding his cards. Kirk was sitting in his wheelchair pulled up close. Amy was sitting cross-legged on the foot of Brent's bed.
Brent liked having them there. He felt close to both of them, closer maybe than to any of his friends at home.
He liked Amy and Kirk. They made him feel special. They were fun, and already he felt relaxed about joking and laughing with them. Maybe it's the closed world of the hospital, he thought, but it seems so natural now. I say something and they laugh. They say something and I laugh. What could be easier, or more special?
Amy laid her cards out flat on the bedside table.
"Two pair," she said.
She pulled the Kleenexes from the center of the table into her growing pile. Each Kleenex was worth a hundred dollars.
"That makes fourteen thousand, three hundred dollars I've won this week. I like poker," Amy said. She tossed her head and the long brown hair flipped over her shoulder. "I'm beginning to get the hang of it, I think."
Kirk lit another cigarette. "It's just beginner's luck," he said. "You must have pull with God."
"I know just what I'm doing," she said. "My deal. Let's play seven-card stud, all the spades are wild."
"Good Lord," Kirk said. "If you went to Las Vegas, they'd never recover."
"I think she's a hustler, Kirk," Brent said. "She probably could shuffle before she could walk. I bet she's just playing innocent so she can steal our money. If I weren't a millionaire, I'd start to worry."
Amy laughed. It made Brent feel good to hear that sound.
"Yeah, well, I'm broke. As a matter of fact, I'm over nine thousand dollars in debt to this cardshark. I ran out of money after the first hand four days ago. I'll have to start selling my body on the streets to pay you off, Amy."
"Sorry, Kirk. I won't accept payment in peanuts. Are we going to play or not, you guys?" she said, riffling the pack of cards in her hands.
"Maybe I could talk Nurse Rush into slipping me some money for a little action. I've noticed how she's been ogling me lately."
"Yeah, like she just stepped on a rattlesnake," Brent said.
"It's all right, chums. You can pay me in monthly installments."
"Wowie, the cardshark has a heart of gold," Brent said.
"This is getting dull. Let's change the stakes. How about a little strip poker for a change?" Kirk suggested.
"Now there's the epitome of an evil mind for you," Amy said. "Notice the way he tricks us into this friendly game for small stakes, Brent, just to lead us to this moment of depravity."
"It's no fair anyway," Brent said. "I only have one thing to take off, and that's already open in the back."
"That's all right, Brent. We'll count the sheet too."
"Well, you can forget it," Amy said. "Who wants to play strip poker with two dirty young men? I've got my modesty to keep up, after all. No one has seen me in the altogether since Jimmy Cavarelli paid me a quarter to run down Midland Avenue stark naked when I was four. He was very progressive for kindergarten."
"It doesn't sound like you were so backward."
"I didn't mind. I thought of it in terms of two double Tootsie Rolls, a box of Jujubes and Hershey bar. For that it was worth it. The spanking, however, was not."
"Besides, what would Nurse Rush say if she walked in here and the three of us were sitting around undressed, so to speak?" Brent said.
"She'd probably say, 'All right, children, you'll catch your death of cold,'" Kirk replied.
"Well, Mr.Playboy of the Youth Ward, you can count me out of this round. I play for Kleenexes or nothing," Amy said.
"Chicken," Kirk replied.
"You bet."
Just then Jewel wheeled the lunch cart through the door. Three covered trays were stacked on the cart.
"I might have known I'd find you three together. I've got all your gourmet lunches here."
Brent swung the bedside table over the bed so he and Jenny could share it. Kirk wheeled his chair over to his table. Jewel put a tray at each spot.
"The menu reads: Iced fresh fruit cocktail; Crisp tossed salad with dressing Parisienne; Roast beef au jus; Potato surprise; Candied Harvard beets; and Angel sponge cake with whipped topping. Lovely, huh?" she said.