Not The End of The World

Amanda sat with Johnny in the emergency room until he was ready to be admitted to hospital. She stepped out to make a couple of phone calls.

"Millie, this is Amanda I just wanted to let you know they’ve admitted Johnny to hospital and are going to operate on him this afternoon…yes it’s broken a pretty bad break actually but doctor says he’s young and strong and should recover without any problems. If you could pass the word for me, my phone is going to die and I need to call Auntie…thanks Millie."

Calling Auntie required some thought, running off like she did in the ambo was something she would not ordinarily have done. There was something about him that she couldn’t put a finger on yet…but he needed someone to be with him. She smiled thinking how she’d told them she was his girl friend…actually that didn’t sound too bad.

She’d held his hand in the ambo and been a quiet steady presence in the ER while they set his ankle and splinted it. She didn’t talk much it was just the fact that she was there that eased him. She’d gone outside to make a call and he missed her already. He’d barely talked to her on Australia day and now he wondered why he hadn’t noticed what a pretty girl she was. And the things she’d said like not to worry about anything, she would be there if he needed anything just to let her know she would take care of it. She’d called his boss for him and told him what happened. Of course he knew he would lose his job but she’d made a fuss about it, didn’t mind speaking up for him. He had to wonder why she bothered with him…a nobody…she was a real lady and she’d said, "Johnny, it’s not the end of the world." Amanda, the way her name felt on his tongue…Amanda.

"Johnny," she said coming to his side. He’d drifted off…she brushed the hair over his forehead.