This morning, Michael Lawrence was in a worse state. He could barely catch his breath.
“Nick, I don’t need anything. None of your medicine, none of it. But please, will you let me say goodbye to Buddy? That’s all I ask. Just take all this off me…”
He nodded towards the drips and wires.
“I cant go like this, you understand? I just cant…”
A single tear slid down his cheek. I knew that if I unplugged everything, he might not make it to the doorway.
The blokes from the whole ward gathered round.
“Nick, surely you can think of something? A man shouldn’t have to go like this…”
“Yeah, I know,” I replied. “But we’re in a hospital. Everything has to be sterile.”
“Stuff the rules,” said one of them. “Look at the man. He cant even say goodbye.”
I knew it too well. But what did it matter? I stood up. I could do it. To hell with this argument, to hell with my old mans company. They could sack me if they wanted. I turned sharply and caught Annas eye. She looked at me like I was doing something heroic.
I rushed outside.
“Buddy, be quiet, boy. Let’s hope no one notices. Come on, lets see your master.”
Id just reached the door to the ward when someone blocked my way. It was Emma Edwards.
“What exactly is going on here?”
“Miss Edwards, please. Five minutes. Let them say goodbye. I understand, really I do. Fire me if you must.”
She was silent for a moment. Who knows what was running through her mind. Then, she stepped aside.
“Fine. Let them sack me too, then.”
“Come on, Buddy!”
I sprinted down the hospital corridor, Buddy right at my side. Anna was ahead, holding the door open. The dog, as if sensing something, bolted into the ward in two great leaps… one more, and Buddy was up on his hind legs at Michaels bedside, front paws on the mattress. The room was still as a church. Michael opened his eyes, trying to lift his arm but he couldnttoo many lines and tubes tangled him. So, with his other hand, he simply tore them out.
“Buddy! You came”
The dog lowered his head gently onto Michaels chest. Michael stroked him, once, then again. He smiled the smile stayed on his lips. His hand slipped away.
Someone said, “The dog is crying…”
I approached the bed. Buddy truly was in tears.
“Come on. Lets go, mate…”
***
I sat on the fence outside while Buddy wandered off into the bushes and settled down. One of the blokes from the ward came upthe one whod once handed over his sausages at lunchoffering me a pack of cigarettes. I glanced up, thinking to say Id never smoked, but then I shrugged and took one. Lit up.
Anna sat down beside me, eyes red and nose blotchy.
“Anna This is my last day.”
“Why?”
“You see, at first I was here as punishment, then to prove to the old man I was good enough He was meant to give me the firm. But it’s not about that anymore. I cant do it. I’m going home. Ill tell him straightyour sons a good-for-nothing. Sorry, Anna…”
I left, wrote out my notice, packed my things. Through the window, Anna watched as I parked the Mercedes outside the entrance, got out, opened the passenger door, and headed off to fetch Buddy from the bushes. I said something to him, then stood waiting by the car. He padded over after a few minutes, looked me in the eye for ages, then hopped into the car. Anna was crying again.
“You’re not useless! You’re the best!”
***
A couple of days later Anna caught sight of a man who strongly resembled me, walking with the head doctor. She shot down the stairs and burst outside.
“Are you Nicks father?”
The head doctor glanced at her in surprise. “Anna, whats going on?”
“Please, Mr. Collins, sack me if you like! Are you?”
The man she spoke toDavid Lawrenceregarded her, bemused by the small, freckled girl standing there.
“I am.”
“Dont you dare, do you hear me? Dont you dare think Nicks a failure! Hes the only one who wasnt afraid to let a man say goodbye to his friend before he died! Nick has heart and soul!”
With that, Anna spun on her heel and headed inside. David Lawrence chuckled.
“Did you see that?”
Mr. Collins replied, “What should I do with her? Shes a good girl, but always insists on the truth!”
“Is that so bad?”
“Its not always easy”
***
Three years went by.
Out from the gates of a lovely house came a proper little family. I was pushing the pram, and Anna led a huge, well-groomed dog on a lead. We walked down to the river, and Anna let Buddy off.
“Buddy, dont go too far!”
He bounded away to the water in great leaps. A couple of minutes later, the baby started fussing in the pram, and the dog was instantly back, just as fast, peering in.
Anna laughed.
“Looks like we wont need a nanny, Nick. Whats up with you rushing back? Sophie just dropped her dummy.”
The baby soon drifted off to sleep again. Buddy checked that all was well, then chased off after a butterfly.
Reflecting on all of it, I can see now that sometimes you have to break the rules for the sake of whats right. Its easy to follow orders, but it takes courage to listen to your heart. Thats what I took away from itbeing human matters more than any job ever could.
