MAGGIE AND CHIP
She went to school to try to catch up on calculus and American lit, and at the end of the day, the bus driver, Mr. Silver, drops her off at the hospital.
Her mother left a message with the school secretary that she was going home to shower and let Birdy Girl out, and her father is putting in some hours at the phone company.
When Maggie gets to Chip’s room, the nurses outside smiling in their valiant way, she sees his door is closed.
She waits for a second and then knocks. It flies open, and Vicky comes running out with tears in her eyes.
“Is everything okay?” Maggie says, and she sees Chip sitting up in bed.
Vicky’s shoulders slump, but she says, “Everything’s good.” She smiles at Maggie, eyes red, and doesn’t look back at Chip. “I’ll catch up with you two later.” She squeezes Maggie’s arm as she leaves.
Maggie watches Vicky hurry down the hallway. She turns back to Chip, who is flat in bed now, a hand on his forehead. She bites her lip. “Need anything?”
“A new life,” he says, and turns away from her.