Chapter 7 - Page 96 - Jim's Promise

   All the children took off, running down the street. Jim could hear them yelling at other people, “He said we can call him Papa.”

   Jim turned around to find Rhasha standing behind him. She threw her arms around his neck and crushed her body against his as she kissed him passionately.

   “Papa,” she said, and smiled. “Everyone will call you Papa, now. It’s so honorable for people to call you Papa.”

   Jim put his hands on Rhasha’s waist. “Sweetheart, you wouldn’t ever call me Papa, would you?”

   A sheepish grin formed on Rhasha’s face. “I might,” she replied, “whenever I feel like honoring you . . . Papa.”

   Jim and Rhasha walked arm in arm to the hospital. When they entered, the doctor and nurse were tending to patients. A volunteer stood at the back door, talking to the ambulance driver. Sara, the doctor, was giving a little girl in the first bed some medication. She saw Jim and Rhasha walking through the door and stopped what she was doing. She came over to talk to Jim.

   She noticed Rhasha had her arm around Jim’s waist. “Who’s your friend?” the doctor asked him.

   “This is Rhasha.” Jim replied.

   Sara looked at Rhasha with curiosity written all over her face. “Rhasha,” she said. “That’s a very pretty name. Have you known Jim long?”

   Jim knew Sara didn’t recognize Rhasha. “Doctor,” he said, “this is the girl you released a few weeks ago. She was in bed one.”