I really need you to help me get in to see my friend.”
“You know I'll do anything I can to help you”—Rose raised her voice to be heard over the barking dogs—“after all, you are my favorite niece. Just don't tell Adora that I said that.”
“I won't.” Fabiola smiled.
“When do you want to see this friend?”
“Tomorrow, if it's okay with you?”
“You're gonna have to rise with the roosters.”
“That won't be a problem.”
“And you gonna have to come over and walk the dogs and cats for me one day.”
“Again, that won't be a problem.”
“And after you make it big you'll go back to school to be a veterinarian?”
“Ummmm, that might be a problem.” Not wanting to lie to her aunt, she said, “We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Satisfied with her negotiations, Aunt Rose said, “Deal, baby. Meet me at six AM , where you dropped me off that time, and Aunt Rose gonna make it happen for you, you hear?”
The next morning, Aunt Rose was waiting at the prearranged spot when Fabiola walked up. Rose looked at her watch: 6:01. “You're late.”
“I got caught in morning traffic.”
“Just put this on”—Rose handed her a white smock—“and follow me.”
They made it past the nurses station on Casino's floor without incident. “I'll check on you in about twenty minutes,” Aunt Rose said. “If you need me before then—call.”
“Okay. Thanks, Auntie.”
The first thing Fabiola saw when she stepped into the room was Tonk asleep in a chair next to Casino's bed. Casino was awake.
Casino slowly looked up, connected to an IV. For a brief moment Fabiola felt sorry for him. He looked worn and haggard, like a piece of old leather that had been stretched to its limit. Fabiola wanted to let him rest, but she didn't come all this way to punk down. Fabiola's heart raced, and she felt unsure as she began to speak to him.
“Mr. Casino, please don't be alarmed,” she said, tiptoeing closer to him. “I'm not coming to ask for any money, as I'm sure others have.”
He looked like he wanted to respond, but Fabiola stopped him. “Save your energy, I can tell you're tired. I want to assure you that you can relax around me. I just want to say a few things to you.” He tried to speak again but seemed to be having a hard time.
Fabiola's voice forced Tonk awake. He was upset at himself for falling asleep. “Do you want her out here, 'Sino?” he said, looking menacingly at Fabiola.
Fabiola looked into Casino's eyes. “I swear I mean no harm and I come with good intentions. You helped me and my family and I just want to repay the favor.” She rubbed her sweaty palms together so she wouldn't fidget.
“No, let me hear what she has to say,” Casino slowly said.
“Three years ago, we were getting evicted and you came in and saved the day. You allowed my mom and sister to live in your house and you haven't tripped on them for rent or anything. And I really appreciate you, more than you will ever know.”
“You”—he took a deep breath and continued to speak slow—“are the singer?”
“Yes, you remember?” Fabiola got a little excited.
“He don't forget anything,” Tonk added, then asked, “Did you get a deal yet?”
“Not yet, but I still haven't given up. I have a photo shoot tomorrow as a matter of fact.” She then looked at Casino. “And that's why I can press forward, because of you. You didn't even know me and yet you believed in me.”
“Ah, it ain't nothing.” Normally Casino would have felt uncomfortable talking to a stranger, but he found it easy to talk to Fabiola. Maybe it was the pain medication or a combination of the meds, a pretty face, and her stroking his ego.
“Although it was something small to you, it was big to me. And we never got to repay you, so I'd like to repay you by simply being here for you in your time of need.”
“Baby, I am okay.” He pushed the words out. “I'm well taken care of.”
Fabiola wasn't convinced. “I know, but
“You know I'll do anything I can to help you”—Rose raised her voice to be heard over the barking dogs—“after all, you are my favorite niece. Just don't tell Adora that I said that.”
“I won't.” Fabiola smiled.
“When do you want to see this friend?”
“Tomorrow, if it's okay with you?”
“You're gonna have to rise with the roosters.”
“That won't be a problem.”
“And you gonna have to come over and walk the dogs and cats for me one day.”
“Again, that won't be a problem.”
“And after you make it big you'll go back to school to be a veterinarian?”
“Ummmm, that might be a problem.” Not wanting to lie to her aunt, she said, “We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Satisfied with her negotiations, Aunt Rose said, “Deal, baby. Meet me at six AM , where you dropped me off that time, and Aunt Rose gonna make it happen for you, you hear?”
The next morning, Aunt Rose was waiting at the prearranged spot when Fabiola walked up. Rose looked at her watch: 6:01. “You're late.”
“I got caught in morning traffic.”
“Just put this on”—Rose handed her a white smock—“and follow me.”
They made it past the nurses station on Casino's floor without incident. “I'll check on you in about twenty minutes,” Aunt Rose said. “If you need me before then—call.”
“Okay. Thanks, Auntie.”
The first thing Fabiola saw when she stepped into the room was Tonk asleep in a chair next to Casino's bed. Casino was awake.
Casino slowly looked up, connected to an IV. For a brief moment Fabiola felt sorry for him. He looked worn and haggard, like a piece of old leather that had been stretched to its limit. Fabiola wanted to let him rest, but she didn't come all this way to punk down. Fabiola's heart raced, and she felt unsure as she began to speak to him.
“Mr. Casino, please don't be alarmed,” she said, tiptoeing closer to him. “I'm not coming to ask for any money, as I'm sure others have.”
He looked like he wanted to respond, but Fabiola stopped him. “Save your energy, I can tell you're tired. I want to assure you that you can relax around me. I just want to say a few things to you.” He tried to speak again but seemed to be having a hard time.
Fabiola's voice forced Tonk awake. He was upset at himself for falling asleep. “Do you want her out here, 'Sino?” he said, looking menacingly at Fabiola.
Fabiola looked into Casino's eyes. “I swear I mean no harm and I come with good intentions. You helped me and my family and I just want to repay the favor.” She rubbed her sweaty palms together so she wouldn't fidget.
“No, let me hear what she has to say,” Casino slowly said.
“Three years ago, we were getting evicted and you came in and saved the day. You allowed my mom and sister to live in your house and you haven't tripped on them for rent or anything. And I really appreciate you, more than you will ever know.”
“You”—he took a deep breath and continued to speak slow—“are the singer?”
“Yes, you remember?” Fabiola got a little excited.
“He don't forget anything,” Tonk added, then asked, “Did you get a deal yet?”
“Not yet, but I still haven't given up. I have a photo shoot tomorrow as a matter of fact.” She then looked at Casino. “And that's why I can press forward, because of you. You didn't even know me and yet you believed in me.”
“Ah, it ain't nothing.” Normally Casino would have felt uncomfortable talking to a stranger, but he found it easy to talk to Fabiola. Maybe it was the pain medication or a combination of the meds, a pretty face, and her stroking his ego.
“Although it was something small to you, it was big to me. And we never got to repay you, so I'd like to repay you by simply being here for you in your time of need.”
“Baby, I am okay.” He pushed the words out. “I'm well taken care of.”
Fabiola wasn't convinced. “I know, but
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