The Christmas Dinner: Chapter V

Chapter V

The bedroom was illuminated by the soft glow of a lamp next to the bed. The curtains were closed which made the room dark even though it was midday. Stewart Junior sat by his mother’s bedside. He wasn’t sure how long he had been sitting there or what the current time was but he continued to sit. Ever since his mother’s nurse, Tad Perkins, had informed the four siblings that it wouldn’t be long now. But how long ago was that he couldn’t tell. As a middle-aged man, Stewart’s aching back would argue with Nurse Perkins assessment of ‘long’ but he refused to move. There was no way he was not going to be by his mother’s side when she finally passed.

“She sure is a fighter,” his sister Jen said. She was on the other side of the bed. As Amy’s two oldest children they each took possession nearest their mom’s head and neither one budged to let the younger siblings take their place.

“That’s just what I was thinking,” Stewart said attempting to stretch his back without standing up. He knew if he stood, his brother Justin would slide into his spot. Justin was the youngest and naturally always slid into any spot Stewart vacated. Not this time. As the oldest, his mother and him had developed a tight bond over the last 50 years when Stewart Junior became the man of the house. He was going to be right in this spot when she passed.

Nurse Perkins stood over the bed and checked Amy’s vitals. He was a tall man with slicked back dark hair and brooding eyes. After the check he looked at Stewart and Jennifer and nodded. He then went to a corner of the room and stood quietly to give the family some privacy.

“What do you think is keeping her here?” Mike asked. He was the third child and the one Amy referred to as her quiet thinker. He only spoke when he had something to say which meant he could say things the others couldn’t. They all knew the words he spoke were chosen carefully and with purpose.

“I don’t know,” Jennifer said. “I wish I knew what was going through her mind right now.”

“Do you think she has her memories back?” Justin asked his eyes reflecting the lamp light.

“I hope so,” Stewart said and brushed Amy’s hair from her forehead. “It’s been difficult these last seven years watching her slip away.”

Mike nodded. “Memories are our essence. It’s all we have that’s our very own. To lose them must be like losing yourself.”

The four kept their positions and the only sound in the room were the beeps from the medical equipment.

“For fifty years she was both our mama and papa bear,” Mike said. “She was our mapa bear.” He walked closer to her bed and stood in front of Jennifer. “We’re okay, mapa bear,” he whispered and leaned close to Amy’s head. “You can let go now.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead and walked back to his position at the foot of the bed.

Jennifer nodded. “I love you, mapa bear.” She also kissed Amy’s forehead.

Tear drops fell from Stewart’s eyes. “We got this, kid,” that was a phrase she often repeated to him those first few years. He squeezed her hand.

Justin squeezed in between Jennifer and Amy. “I’ll keep an eye out on all of them,” he forced a laugh and the others smiled. He kissed her forehead and walked quickly to a corner of the bedroom and let out a huge sigh.

The monitor slowed down and then gave one continuous hum.

Nurse Perkins checked it and after a few other checks looked at Stewart. “She’s gone.”

Stewart nodded. “Of course she waited until today.”

The four siblings walked out of the bedroom and joined the rest of their families. It was Christmas Eve and just like that Christmas Eve fifty years ago, the family said another hard goodbye.