Clare and Johnny II

Clare is laying on a hospital bed in an airport concourse.  I'm standing beside the bed leaning against the wall, trying to decide why I am waiting here by her side. Her hand is raised to her forehead as if a damsel in distress.

"Why don't you just leave me Johnny, you all leave in the end anyway. Men, you can't trust any of them

She has grown uncomfortably frantic in her return to lucidity.

"I don't even know you. If you would like I'll leave.  Would you like me to leave?"

As I say it I reflect for a moment and wonder if it is all a dream induced by the always disturbing plane sleep...

"No Johnny please don't leave. I apologise. I've been terrible, truly.  Will you stay?  Tell me you'll stay.

It's something about several factors coming together at once.  Laying there across the bed she looks very small, almost fragile.  We're waiting for a nurse the airport has on staff, but suddenly Clare sits up.

"Will we get that coffee Johnny?"

I scratch my head and try to stare at her in scolding way.

"Coffee?  We're waiting for a nurse. You just passed out Clare."

"It happens to me all the time, really it's nothing to worry about."

As she says this in an upbeat exaggerated sort of way she bounces up from the bed as if to convince me.  

"Where will we go? I mean what coffee shop will we go to?"

I suppose any coffee shop will do."

She looks upset at this remark, and we stand awkwardly in the concourse as a nurse arrives.

"Was there a lady who fainted waiting to be seen.

"Oh you're the nurse...

But before I can clarify that this is the very lady here beside me, Clare blurts out over me.

"Oh yes she started foaming at the mouth and we thought it better not to restrain her."

She is acting and she is very convincing and I don't know why I am impressed, but I am.  The nurse obviously thrown into a state by this massive jump from her normal, boring routine practically shouts.

"What direction did she go in?"

"I think she went that way."

Clare points down one side of the concourse and we watch the slightly robust nurse run off.  As she goes her body jiggles and bounces from side to side.  

As soon as she's out of sight I burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing at you, the poor nurse must think her patient is loose in the airport with rabies."

Her eyes dance with a certain lightness.

"Now about this coffee."