The whirr of the air conditioner in the corner window is the only thing that is audible. Occasionally an unintelligible paging of a doctor in the hallway distance. An old water cooler sits in the corner with the too small paper pointed cups that crush when you pull them out. It lets out a burp of water and air.
An old man in a wrinkled suit tugs at his dirty collar. He’s Asian, possibly Vietnamese. His eyes are tired with the lack of sleep and worry.
The old wooden bench from the local church hurts to sit on for too long. He gets up and paces. He looks to be about 70.
A young black girl sits on the other bench opposite swinging her feet.
She laughs at the burp the water cooler made.
The old man looks at her weary and wondering what’s funny.
There is a window with a metal grate for a speaking hole in the middle, there is no one behind it. The man shuffles to the window to see if there is anyone there.
The little girl begins to play a version of hopscotch on the linoleum floor.
She has a pink dress on and braids. There is a dried blood stain on her arm and blouse.
Whoever carried her was bleeding badly.
Old man at the window.
Old man: Nurse.
This stops the little girl from hopscotching. She goes to him and reaches for his hand.
The old man jerks his hand away frightened by the intrusion. He soon checks himself and reads the situation more clearly. He tries a smile. It hurts. The little girl leads him back to the bench he was sitting at.
He sits.
She goes to the water cooler, crushes a cup for water. Straightens it out. Turns to look at the old man. He nods. She turns the spigot.
The air conditioner stops
The cup is full.
The glass jug belches. The little girl laughs, and turns to the old man. He sees her and starts to laugh. They both laugh together. A little bit more
She carefully brings him the cup, already starting to disintegrate.
She smiles at him. She hands it to him. He drinks.
The cooler burps again. The air conditioner turns on.