We have a hot and spicy chilli Mexican pizza that seems to have taken over where my caffeine levels left off.
‘Tabasco sauce, George?’ Chase holds out a little red bottle. ‘Watch out. It’s hot.’
‘Sure!’ I splash it on, take a bite, then almost hit the roof. ‘Whoo-eey, that is hot! Damn hot!’ I get up and do a little dance. ‘That is truly smokin’! Yeah, mama, that’s what I’m talkin’ about! Kaboom shaboom feel the temperature in the room!’
Chase looks a little puzzled. ‘What?’
‘I dunno, bro!’ I spin seven hundred and twenty degrees. ‘Ah’m just high on red chilli with a green chilli chaser, Chase! I’m a ragin’ rattlesnake rarin’ to go!’
‘Calm down, Parkie.’ Chase pours me a large glass of milk. ‘We’re going to have to make some very serious life and death decisions.’
I slide across the room and take the glass right out of Chase’s hand.
‘No problem!’ I drink it in one hit. ‘Calcium, Chase! I got bones of steel and fists of iron! I’ll pole-vault the pain barrier, swim with sharks, and wrassle me an alligator!’
Chase guides me to the couch. ‘Save your energy and keep quiet. We have to be prepared.’
I listen hard. ‘Oh, I’m ready, Chaser-roony! I’m a flashing light and a screaming siren. I’m a—’
Chase pokes me. ‘Enough, George! Enough!’
Leaving the apartment, we meet Clemmy at the lift.
‘The advertising people wouldn’t advance me any money,’ she says. ‘But I’ve got a ten-year supply of toothpaste. Here, have some.’
‘Don’t mind if I do!’ I take three tubes. ‘Yo, baby, I’m Filling-Free George! I’m the boss with the floss! And don’t forget those big babies up the back! That’s tough territory there in molar land!’
Clemmy looks at Chase. ‘What’s up with him?’
Chase grips my arm. ‘A little too much of everything. He’ll be right in a few minutes.’
‘I’m right right now,’ I yell. ‘I’m—’
Chase clamps a hand over my mouth and pushes me into the lift.
To save money, Chase and I walk fifteen blocks to the John J Hospital hospital. As we look up at the big building, I estimate my pulse is down around ninety beats per minute. Nervousness has replaced my chilli-pizza-fuelled adrenaline rush.
‘My parents fly in to visit Isobel,’ Chase says. ‘But she’s always the same. So they don’t come very often. They’re busy. You know how it is.’
I do know what it’s like to not see your parents very often. But if I was sick, I’m sure my mother and father wouldn’t leave me stranded in another country.
‘Well,’ I say, ‘we’re here, Chase.’ We sit on a seat on the hospital lawn. ‘What’s our plan of attack? If Isobel leaves, won’t there be bills to be paid? And how will we get to Australia when we can’t buy jet fuel or buy air tickets? We can’t even get to the airport!’
Chase clicks his tongue thoughtfully. ‘We’ll see Izzy, then consider our options.’
‘Anyway, she’ll be pleased to see you, Chase,’ I add. ‘No matter what happens.’
He nods. ‘But imagine if we have to leave her here?’
‘Whatever we decide,’ I add, ‘will be for the best. So let’s go.’