"Hello Dan"Lucy Red said in a faint voice, she stretched out her arms to hug him.
He hugged her, being cautious about the drip.
"You're having a major surgery today for your kidney transplant"he said to her, her hand in his.
"Did you find a heart donor?"she asked him.
She not only has cancer, kidney issues, but she had developed a hole in her heart.
Daniel was scared to tell her the truth that she had less than a week.
That was if the kidney transplant was a success.
"Is he coming?"she asked referring to her husband.
Daniel did not want to upset her.
"Yes, he is"he said.
"And Rosey? Lily and..."
"Yes, they will all come"he said, his hands were trembling again.
He had spent most of his life with this woman, he knew her more than his own mother.
"Your Operation is in thirty minutes, so get comfy and a nurse will be with you soon"he said, and stroked her palm.
"I trust you"she said.
"You've kept me intact for two years now"she said.
"It's all help from above"he said, sounding religious, and left the room.
He was getting too nervous, he knew he couldn't afford to mess up this operation and decided to employ his calming effect.
He whipped out his phone, his nurses were getting ready the surgery room for the surgery.
He walked down the lobby, one hand I. his right pocket.
"Are you feeling any better?"he asked her, she was silent over the phone.
"Well hello...Dan Dan"a voice said over the phone, he clenched his jaw.
Only one person called him that.
"What are you doing with Lily's phone!"he said, getting agitated.
************
"I am hungry aren't you?"she asked him, he kept on looking outside the window.
"What?"she asked.
"This world you live in is so different"he said.
"Welcome to the twenty first century Old timer!"she said and punched his shoulder.
"Why are you celebrating this?"he asked.
She knitted her brows at his remark.
"Why won't I?"she asked perplexed.
"I haven't seen a single person while inside this moving box!"he said.
"Calm down, am in hiding that's why, this place is serene and not crowded, you won't see much of people"she said.
"Also, everyone dresses funny"he said.
"Don't you know how to dress?"he asked her.
"Excuse me? Do you think am going to take that from you!"she snapped at him.
"The females are so fierce and loud mouthed! I never knew a woman to have such a sharp mouth"he said.
Rosey felt like tossing him into a bin.
"Well if you must know, am a free bitch and I do what I want!"she snapped at him.
Acker began to laugh without any form of control, startling her, she stole quick glances at him, trying to figure out what was wrong.
"I see that the women are also pee brains"he said.
"Excuse me?"she asked him, he was getting on her nerves now.
"How can a human being be a dog! Are you that confused?"he asked still smiling.
"Such a pretty handsome smile"she thought, but brushed that idea past.
"I don't literally mean that am a dog, but I just mean that....forget it! You are just so acient"she said.
"Me? Acient? Get me a Dizi and I'll wow you"he said.
"Do you think a bamboo flute will prove a point?"she asked.
"At least you all haven't forsaken music, for that I will not detest this world"he said.
"Hold your horses, it's just me, flutes are made of different things, ceramics, metal..."he cut her off immediately.
"Abomination!"he said and raised his fist up, hitting it hard.
Rosey chuckled lightly, there was a gas station up ahead.
She pulled over ready to fill up the tank.
The old man left his wallet.
She came out and bought some gas.
There was a little eatery close by and she decided to fill up their empty stomachs too.
She was lucky that she changed his shirt into a green sweatshirt.
He blended in more.
Though his funny pants earned him a few stares here and there.
"This is quite fascinating, the smell of this place is outstanding, what will we be served?"he asked.
They sat at a table far from everyone else, Rosey wanted it that way.
She picked up the menu, and decided on getting them the regular burgers and fries.
He placed his hands on the table and taking a feel of it.
Some kids pointed at him.
Some ladies eyed him.
He gave them a friendly wave cluelessly.
One winked at him.
"Such shameless people!"She exclaimed.
"They are just being friendly"he said in his defense.
"They are being too friendly"she said, puzzling him.
"I don't quite understand"he said.
"Keep that book out of sight, people think you're some super fan or a mad man"she said.
"It's a spell book, one can tell from it's front cover design"he said.
"Not everyone in my time knows that"she said.
"Don't go around saying things like your past or your true...lineage, it will put you in trouble"she said.
The waitress arrived and dropped the food on their table.
The waitress made a telephone with her fingers, her pinky to her mouth, and her thumb at her ear.
"Call me"she mouthed.
Her number was on the tray with a marker.
He watched her thighs as she walked away.
"She dresses so..."
"That's how they all dress, she asked you to call her, she kind of digs you"Rosey said.
"Digs?"he asked.
"She is interested in you, she likes you"she said.
"Oh..."he said under his breath still processing the fact.
"Oh!"he said in realisation.
Rosey let out a little chuckle.
"I'll have to see if we are compatible, and match our..."
"Just eat!" Rosey said cutting him off.
She picked up her burger ready to eat it.
"What is that abomination!"he shrieked.
"What? This? It's just a burger. Here try it"Rosey said and offered it to him.
He sniffed it, and eyed it.
"What do you people put in this...burger?"He asked.
"Just Meat, buns, ketchup, Lettuce..."
"Lettuce!"he said almost yelling, grabbing everyone's attention.
Rosey grew embarrassed on the spot and covered his mouth.
"What's wrong with lettuce?"she asked.
"I don't eat vegetables"he said.
"I thought you grew up with monks!"she shrieked loudly and people stared in her direction.
"Why?"she asked in a lower voice.
"Because of my roots..."
Rosey didn't know how to hide her laughter. She thought he was cracking a joke, but it seemed that he was serious.
"I'll just take em out for you"she said and took out the lettuce.
She thought it inappropriate to eat the lettuce in hers and placed them on the tray.
"How did you know the Dizi?"he asked.
"Am an Archeologist"she said.
He still looked lost.
"I dig up old things and study them"she said furthermore.
Acker picked up the burger, struggling to balance it.
He took a bite and saliva fell out of his mouth.
He took another bite, eating it from top to bottom.
He ate it sloppily letting it stain the shirt.
She watched how he ate without control.
"People are staring"she said.
"What?"he asked, he swallowed and drank some water.
"Must the people of this time always stare at others so?"he asked.
She smiled.
"Don't you think that digging up the past is a bad thing?"he asked her, still eating the burger.
"I feel that we need to dig deep and know our roots, don't you? We deserve to know"she said.
He could see the fire in her eyes.
"Oblivion won't kill you, knowledge will"He mumbled loud enough to be heard.
"Eat that burger In peace, we have to leave, am in hiding remember"she said, wanting to change the topic.
She wanted to call and keep in touch, she contemplated who to call.
"Not Tia, not Lily not Kareem..."she instantly knew who to contact.
They finished and the waitress brought the bill.
After payment, Rosey hinted him to leave.
He took a bow before her.
"I appreciate the meal"he said and she blushed.
Rosey pulled him outside with her and opened the car doors.
She walked to the payphone and slipped in a coin.
She called him.
He picked up.
"Daniel it's Rosey"she said.
"Are you okay? Thank God you called! Where are you?"he asked.
"Am okay, am hiding from the cops, but am fine"she said.
"You can come to your father and end this"he said.
"You sound irritated"she said.
"Tell me, what about the man? Has he hurt you? Is he conscious or..."
She looked behind her, to see him, playing with the gear and steering wheel.
He tooted the horn and jumped at the loud sound it produced.
"Am just fine, and he's conscious, how's everyone..."
"Doctor Daniel the surgery room for the first lady is ready"a voice in the background said.
Rosey gasped, she heard Daniel cuss over the phone.
"Rosey! Rosey!"she dropped the phone and ran to the car.
"I just discovered the moving box is a musician..."he immediately noticed her current condition.
"What's wrong with you?"Acker asked seeming worried.
"Am taking us back"she said and started the engine.
"What?"he asked.
But a tear fell from her eye, she reversed the car and drove away.
"Is there any danger?"he asked her, but she kept her focus on the road.
"At least let me manipulate the moving box"he offered.
"You might cost us our lives"he said teasingly.
"Not in this lifetime"she managed to say.
A/N: Thanks for the collections love!
See you all next time.