Chapter 10 - Page 143 - Rhasha Drives

After she got onto the pavement Rhasha accelerated to fifty, and less than thirty minutes later, she parked the jeep in front of the hospital.

    Other cars were returning from the waterfalls. Jim and Rhasha waved at them as they walked into the hospital.

    Shortly, Jackie and Simbatu joined them. They’d brought their instruments, and Jackie’d thought to bring Jim’s guitar. The hospital filled up with people as the performers set up their equipment. Jim turned out all the lights except for the one closest to the office. Before long, music filled the room.

    Jim and Rhasha sang four songs. The music pleased the guests and patients. After they finished singing, Jim turned on the remaining three lights and all four performers talked to the patients. Jim and Rhasha started with bed one. Jackie and Simbatu waited until Jim and Rhasha went to bed two, then they started with bed one. Jim and Rhasha went through their daily ritual of kissing the patients on the cheek and brushing their hair. They held the patients’ hands and told them how pretty or good-looking they were.

    When Jackie and Simbatu had talked to the last patient, they met Jim and Rhasha at the front of the hospital. It was well after dark. All the guests had already left. Jim said a prayer, loud enough for everyone in the hospital to hear. He asked God to be with each and every patient and to heal them all as soon as possible. When the prayer was over, Jim thanked the nurse for her hard work, said good-bye to everyone, and they walked home. Jackie and Simbatu walked behind them, on the way to their own houses. Jim’s jeep remained parked in front of the hospital.

    Jim knelt beside his bed to say his nightly prayer. Rhasha knelt beside him to listen. Then they showered and changed into their pajamas. Within minutes, they began to sing,