Page 42 of The Wish
He hesitates, then gives in, handing her the camera.
Amy, Luke and Ryan rush to help Jesse line up the shot, all pretending to be old hands at this game before jostling to stand next to Alex, and posing.
‘Kelly, get in too!’ Jesse calls.
‘No, you don’t want me in these,’ Kelly says.
‘We do,’ Amy insists, grabbing her hand, pushing Ryan out of the way and placing her next to Alex.
Camera angles and poses create a wonderful experience for Jesse as her mum and Sam join the others in their antics. Amy breaks away and takes the camera from Jesse, telling her she wants a go snapping her mother and Sam, Alex and Kelly.
Jesse hands the camera to Amy. The two boys crowd behind her, giving advice. But Amy slyly frames the shot to exclude Mandy and Sam, focusing instead on Alex and Kelly.
Jesse stumbles slightly, and Mandy steps forwards. ‘I think it’s time to go back upstairs.’
Sam protests, but Kelly steps in. ‘We can do this again, but she needs rest.’
Alex starts packing up, but something makes him pause. Amy, Luke and Ryan are group-hugging Jesse. He quickly pulls out his phone and captures it.
Jesse sits on a bench, suddenly pale. Kelly vanishes, returning moments later with a wheelchair. Jesse doesn’t object.
They leave in a lovely little procession: Mandy pushing the chair, Sam in Jesse’s lap, the other kids walking behind.
Alex and Kelly watch from a distance.
‘I didn’t say goodbye. I’ll head back up for a minute,’ Alex says.
‘I’ll come with you. We need to finalise some forms to make this party legal.’
Inside, Mandy and Sam are at the nurses’ station. Kelly stops with them, nodding for Alex to go ahead.
‘Sam and I are heading off now. Thank you, Alex, this has been, well, the most fun any of us have had here in a long time,’ Mandy says.
In the room, Amy calls out, ‘Thanks for today!’ before returning to her book.
Jesse is quiet.
‘What’s wrong? Didn’t you have fun?’ Alex asks.
‘It was amazing. I never thought I could have so much fun in hospital. It’s just . . .’
‘Just what?’
‘We have photos of everyone but my dad.’
Alex thinks. ‘He won’t let me photograph him. But maybe he’d let you.’
Jesse shrugs. ‘Maybe.’
He hands her the camera. ‘Give it a try. I’ll pick it up tonight.’
‘You’re the best,’ she says.
‘If he asks, you may need a cover story.’
‘Maybe Kelly lent it to me to take photos of my “home away from home”?’
‘Not my call. You’ll have to ask her. But I get the feeling she can’t say no to you. See you tonight.’
