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means they removed your spleen."
"You mean cut out my spleen, don't you?" Lindsay corrected angrily."Then again, if it was
something critical I guess I'd be dead by now."
Ginny stiffened."That's not funny."
Lindsay paled."I guess it's not."
"We'll ask the doctor when he comes." She held up a hand to forestall Lindsay's words."He
will come.Eventually."He has to, doesn't he?
Lindsay gathered up the chart and moved back to her bed, lying down.
Ginny didn't want her to go but didn't feel as though she could ask her to stay either.She
shifted onto her side and looked at her friend."It can't be too bad, Lindsay." Her heart
clenched at the thought of something being seriously wrong with the young woman whom
she'd come to think of as a friend."You're getting better, not worse, right?" There was a
hint of pleading in Ginny's voice that Lindsay couldn't help but respond to.
Lindsay carefully rolled onto her side so that they were facing each other, the two feet
between the beds all that separated them.She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Right.I can move around a little today."
Neither woman could think of anything to say and Ginny cast around desperately for a
change of subject."What made you think I could read your chart?" Ginny asked finally,
fully aware that over half the population, including her parents, couldn't have.
Lindsay thought about that for a moment.Why did she?Ginny was in a charity hospital just
as she was, which meant she probably hadn't had the luxury of much schooling. "I
dunno." She shrugged."You just seemed smart, I guess."
Ginny smiled weakly at the compliment but wasn't willing to let it go yet."It has nothing to
do with being smart, Lindsay.I didn't have to start work until after the eleventh grade.It's
just a matter of being taught.Anyone can learn," she hinted.
"I know," Lindsay said amiably, tossing her chart to the foot of her bed."Maybe I will
someday."
Ginny nodded approvingly.
"Now answer me a question.Why did you ask me to help you find your family?"
Ginny didn't even stop to think as the words tumbled out."Because I'm scared out of my
ever-lovin' mind.You helped me when there was no one else who could."
Lindsay's eyes widened.
"You seemed smart to me too, in every way.Not just street smart.Though I'm guessing
you're experienced in things that I'll need to know, seeing as how I'm sure I'm jobless and
I know I'm homeless." Ginny's eyes twinkled."I believe deep in my heart that I can trust
you."
"UmmmÉ" Lindsay's jaw sagged.She thinks I'm smart? How does she know she can trust
me?Maybe I'm only being nice so that I can steal her coat!
Ginny flushed at the dumbfounded, but pleased look on her companion's face."Does that
answer your question?"
"Yeah."Lindsay could scarcely believe the kind words and she felt her own skin heat."That
answers my question."
*~*~*~*~*
Twelve days laterÉ.
Ginny slowly slipped on her coat and leaned against the small slab of wall between her
and Lindsay's beds.She was wearing a donated, plain gray dress that was a little too small
and a pair of brown leather shoes that were a little too big.The heavy bandages had been
removed from her hands two days ago and though they still hurt, they were mostly healed
and functional.Now only a light layer of gauze covered them.
The doctor had matter-of-factly explained that some scar tissue would remain, but that
since she would likely end up working in a factory, squeezing out a dozen children before
she was thirty, or washing clothes for a living, the beauty of her hands would be short-
lived anyway.He didn't see any reason for her to fret.Ginny smiled a little, recalling how
Lindsay had sprung out of bed and berated the doctor for being an insensitive asshole
who should be shot. It wasn't until later that night, long after her doctor had gone, that
Ginny found out her stubborn, hot-tempered friend had torn several stitches during her
spectacular leap from the bed.
She felt worse this morning than she had since she'd first arrived at the Charity hospital.
But this time it wasn't because of her injuries or even the loss of her family that caused
it.It was Lindsay, and the fact that Ginny was being discharged today while her friend was
not.
"Buck up, Ginny," Lindsay encouraged mildly, feeling self-conscious in her hospital gown
while the other woman was fully dressed.
"I'm all right."
Lindsay sighed at the obvious lie.No, you're not.Asshole doctor.
"I'll see you day after tomorrow on the late ferry."Ginny shot an evil glare towards the
nurse's station where she could see Lindsay's doctor talking to Nurse Goletz.She privately
wondered if, once the man found out Lindsay was anxious to leave the hospital, he'd
decided to extend her stay by a day or two out of spite. Of course, her own discharge date
had just been decided last night."I'll wait for you at the docks."
"No, you won't," Lindsay told her seriously.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Lindsay-"
"It's not safe."
Ginny smiled gently."You forget where I've been living the last six months, Lindsay.And
even before that you could hardly call my family's station middle-class.I might not have
any experience living on the streets, and I do need your help, but I'm no fool."She pushed
herself away from the wall and sat down on Lindsay's bed, causing the springs to squeak
loudly under her weight and bringing a hint of smoke to Lindsay's nose."I won't stand out
on the dock watching the river for two days straight, waiting to be attacked."
"Of course you won't," Lindsay mumbled, embarrassed by her ridiculous assumption.But
she couldn't help but feel the surge of relief that flooded through her. She's not an idiot,
String Bean. Don't treat her like one."Are you sure?" But she was smiling when she said it.
"Humph."Ginny swatted Lindsay's arm with the back of her hand."Yes, Turnip Green, I'm
sure."
Lindsay laughed."That's String Bean to you, missy." Though she secretly hoped she would
continue to call her Lindsay.She was doing her best to ignore the woman in the bed across
from Ginny, who was watching them again.The prostitute had one leg in traction and was
extremely vocal about what she thought of the two young women's relationship.Nosy
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