Chapter 88: Chapter 86: Cold Cereal
As soon as Jeffrey got in the car, his Mom was crying.
"What's wrong mom?", Jeffrey asked.
The car radio quietly playing in the background
♪♫♪♪♫♪
I ponder of something great
My lungs will fill and then deflate
They fill with fire, exhale desire
I know it's dire my time today
"We have to go to the hospital", Jeffrey's mom said.
Suddenly, the seemingly ordinary day had taken a dark turn. Jeffrey didn't remember this happening before. It was so long ago and he couldn't recall what exactly happened.
"Where's Saoirse and Raine?", Jeffrey responded.
His mom swallowed a sob, before taking a deep breath "woo~, your Dad is picking them up. We need to see your grandpa at the hospital. He tripped on something and fell"
Jeffrey was silent. His grandparents occupied a big place in his childhood. From primary school, his grandfather would pick him up after school and they'd take the bus back home together. Over summer break he and his grandparents would spend time together at the local library or at the city movie theater.
"Grandpa's in the hospital?", Jeffrey thought.
Trying to comfort his mom, the only thing Jeffrey could say at the moment was the words "I hope he's ok."
His mom focused on driving with tears in her eyes said, "I hope he's ok as well."
One of Jeffrey's childhood fears, nightmares even was this impeding sense of doom. The idea of death was always a heavy topic Jeffrey pondered about. Just one of the many facts of life that exist, that sudden feeling of mortality and impermanence.
Jeffrey never thought about feeling old until well past 17, but for a short period of time in his life he tried grasping at the idea and concept of dying. He knew it happened, but that sense of fear always lingered.
Today in the car, Jeffrey prayed that it wouldn't happen.
"God, I hope grandpa's ok", Jeffrey said a silent prayer.
They arrived at the parking lot late at night. The parking complex was empty and so they had no trouble finding a parking spot.
Jeffrey's mom told him, "Let's go"
They both got out of the car and walked inside the large hospital. Jeffrey stood by his mom's side as she asked the front desk about where his grandfather was at.
"I'm looking for Lawrence Tao", his mother told the receptionist at the desk.
After a few clicks, she asked Jeffrey's mom to fill out a couple of forms. The waiting room was very empty and quiet. The sound of a tv show played in the empty lobby, either a game show or a live-action sitcom from Nickelodeon late at night or something.
Jeffrey held his mom's hand and stood beside her. After a moment, the receptionist told them, he's in room 304 in the Gersten Pavilion / Building.
His mom said a word of thanks, before heading off. After navigating the long hallways and patient rooms. Jeffrey watched as they entered the metal elevator and got off on the third floor. They searched the signs, looking at maps that showed how to get to the building.
Eventually in one of the tall windowed buildings, they arrived at the door outside the room. Jeffrey's mom saw there were doctors inside, so she knocked before entering.
Jeffrey saw his grandfather lying on the bed, his grandmother by his side.
"Hi Dad", Jeffrey's mom greeted his grandfather.
"Oh ho! How are you doing Willa?", he asked in a weak and gruff tone. His grandfather tried to sound as stern and healthy as possible.
"Relax", his grandmother told him.
His grandmother took his mom to the side and they talked all about what the doctor said. The nurses explained what they were doing and his grandfather's condition.
"We just did some tests and he seems pretty healthy, just can't do any heavy exercise for a while and we'll watch him for two days to make sure he's ok", one of the nurses explained.
They continued talked and discussed his diet. His grandfather interjecting from time to time, just to say "I'm fine, it's not a big deal." Then both his mom and grandmother would scold him for being so reckless.
Jeffrey sat in the corner, a little bored, but happy that everything was fine. His mother was in a better mood and his stomach was getting hungry.
As soon as his grandfather was done and tired, he noticed Jeffrey in the corner looking a little bored and sleepy.
"You hungry?", his grandfather asked Jeffrey.
His grandfather grabbed some snacks from the hospital dinner provided, he still had a bread roll, some candy, and other snacks left over.
Jeffrey nodded his head.
His grandfather peeled an orange and splitting it in half, each of them had 4 orange slices. Jeffrey ate his rather quickly. He was quite hungry as he hadn't had dinner yet and it was 2 hours past when he usually had dinner.
His grandfather reached into his bag and pulled out a box of cereal.
"here, take it", his grandfather offered.
Jeffrey opened the cardboard box and plastic container and started to munch on the cereal.
His grandfather smiled seeing his grandson coming to visit him.
"So how's Raine and Saoirse", Jeffrey's grandfather asked.
With a mouthful of food Jeffrey replied, "They're doing fine. We called them on the way here and Dad's bringing them after they eat dinner"
He and his grandfather got caught up as Jeffrey described all the things he was doing at school. His grandfather asked about his friends and if he had a girlfriend. Jeffrey dodged the topic, too embarrassed and shy to speak about such things to his family.
"Do you want to watch TV Jeffrey", his grandfather said pointing to the tv remote on the side of his bed.
"Come on, lay down with me", His grandfather offered.
Jeffrey felt too embarrassed, so he declined to lay on the bed with him. His grandfather closed his eyes to take a rest from the long day. Soon enough he was quietly sleeping.
His mom and grandmother were getting caught up, talking about his grandfather's condition. His grandmother was going on and on about what happened and all the troubles between them. Jeffrey's mom simply nodded her head listening to what Jeffrey's grandmother had to say.
After a while, Jeffrey went up to his mom and asked if they can go. Seeing as it was quite late, his mom wanted to wait to talk to the doctor before leaving so she said, "Let's wait for another 30 minutes and once we see the doctor we can leave"
"30 minutes, that's going to take forever. I'm hungry", Jeffrey complained.
"Behave Jeffrey, we'll go eat dinner soon", his mother replied.
Jeffrey knew that they weren't going to get dinner afterwards. He put his faith in his Dad to save something for him like he always did. Otherwise he'd have to go to bed tonight having nothing but cold cereal and some orange slices for dinner.
"Oh alright", Jeffrey pouted seeing as there was nothing he could do to change his mom's mind.
5 minutes passed as Jeffrey started to go crazy from having nothing to do. He tried having a conversation in his own mind, but it felt claustrophobic and a little crazy talking to himself when he already knew what he was going to say.
After 12 minutes, Jeffrey started pacing up and down the halls. He walked to the restroom and back waiting for the Doctor to arrive so that they could go home.
"I WANNA GO HOME", Jeffrey yelled in his mind.
*tick* *tick*
15 minutes had passed and all Jeffrey could hear was his mom and grandma talking about more things. Jeffrey felt his sanity slipping as his sense of time felt like minutes slowly turning into hours.
Jeffrey had left the book he was reading in the car. He had already finished the story, but it would at least keep his hands busy as he flipped through the pages. The magazines in the room were too boring to read. Times, Newspapers, Cars and Golf magazines littered the small table.
Jeffrey closed his eyes willing time to go faster. Each time he opened his eyes the time moved forward a little more.
22 minutes... Jeffrey opened and then closed his eyes.
25 minutes... Jeffrey peeked at the clock before returning to try and meditate
27 minutes... Jeffrey started counting in his mind
28 minutes... Jeffrey had counted to 30 and started losing patience with counting
28 minutes and 45 seconds... Jeffrey decided to watch the second hand slowly move forward
29 minutes... 29 minutes 15 seconds... 29 minutes 30 seconds... 29 minutes 45 seconds... 30 minutes!
Jeffrey looked at the door, no one was coming. Then he could hear footsteps approaching the door.
This was the moment he was waiting for. Then the footsteps continued down the hallway, maybe for another patient or a nurse headed to a different room.
Jeffrey sunk lower in his chair.
"How much longer would he have to wait", Jeffrey thought.
After a while the door opened and a doctor in a white coat came in.
"Hello I'm Dr. Nigel. I'm taking care of your grandfather today and you must be Mr. Zhang Xing's family", he introduced himself.
"We took a couple of x-rays and your grandfather has just bruised his tailbone, but he should be ok. You can even take him home today if you like. Although we prefer if we stays here so he doesn't move around", the doctor told them.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Michael_v1
Michael_v1 Ophelia next time
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