Uncle Shon’s Nurse

Caution: Contains offensive language

The nurse chuckled nervously as she turned to the whiteboard behind her.

“Whoops, I forgot to change that!” she said. She grabbed a marker, erased the previous entry with her finger, and wrote her name, Danica. She bade Mom and me good night and exited the room. As soon as the door closed, Uncle Shon turned to Mom, who sat beside me by the window.

“I don’t want her,” he said as he rubbed his dark beard. “That bitch’d probably give me another heart attack by the end o’ the night.”

“Shon!” Mom snapped back at him.

My stomach lurched. I looked at the clock. Fifteen minutes until visiting hours end. Fifteen too many ever since Danica introduced herself. I’d never more strongly wished I were doing my calculus homework.

I caught Mom’s eye, and she flashed a smile at me as she tucked a piece of her auburn hair behind her ear. The smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Oh, she’ll do you just fine,” she soothed. “That little hiccup is nothing to worry about.”

“Did you see her?” Uncle Shon growled and scratched his belly with the white bedsheets.

Twelve minutes left. Twelve more agonizing minutes of Uncle Shon.

Mom’s nostrils flared, and she sighed heavily.

“You know how--” Uncle Shon began.

”--Do you really think you’re in any position to be picky about who’s saving your damn life?” Mom hissed.

I balled my hands into fists. Ten minutes. I dared not say I thought Danica was pretty. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught another of Mom’s glances in my direction.

Mom continued, “For all you know, it could be a stroke of serendipity. She may be the best nurse on the team.”

“My ass,” Uncle Shon said.

Seven minutes. We heard faint commotion out in the hallway. I figured there must be extra doctors and nurses outside the room next door. I held my breath. For Mom’s sake I should probably say something.

I heard Uncle Shon growl toward the door, “They all deserve to--”

”--For God sakes, Shon!”

I gulped. We’re about to leave anyway. Five minutes.

“It’s all right, Mom,” I finally spoke up. Both Mom and Uncle Shon locked their eyes on me. “I know his...his issue.”

Mom’s mouth hung open slightly. “Sweetie...“she whispered.

“And I think, Mom, um, I-I think you’re right,” I stammered. “Danica’s the best nurse on the team. At least--” I looked directly at Uncle Shon, ”--she’s the best nurse for him.”

A long silence hung in the air until Uncle Shon cleared his throat.

“Figured as much,” he said. “Everyone’s a nigger lover these days.”

A mechanical voice came on the overhead speaker on the ceiling. Attention all personnel: code blue, room 1619. Attention all personnel: code blue, room 1619.

Somewhere in the hallway outside the room next door, voices shouted frantically, and a woman screamed.