Visiting Sister

Three months had passed since Sister had her unfortunate accident, it had been a shock to the whole Clergy. No one had seen it coming, especially Sister Imperator. She was lucky to survive such an horrendous car crash, she could have been killed. There had been rumours that someone had cut the breaks on her car, she had many enemies beyond the Los Angeles Ministry. But they were only rumours, they were soon silenced by the higher ranking members of the Clergy. They hated gossip, but they planned to investigate just in case there had been an assassination attemp made on one of their own.

Sister Imperator was staying in a hospital not far away from the Ministry, she was recovering slowly. But it would be a few more months before she would be well enough to return back to Los Angeles. For now she was stuck in the hospital, but today she was expecting visitors. Papa Nihil had visited Sister a couple of times, he spoke to her daily over the telephone. He still cared for Sister even if he had wronged her in the past, they remained on friendly terms while they prepared Cardinal Copia for his future rituals.

Copia had driven Papa Nihil and the Ministry children to the local hospital, their journey had been an uneventful one. They had gotten lost twice, they had end up at a local outdoor supermarket and then a pet store. But after many detours they finally managed to find their chosen location with the aid of the navigation device Sister had brought Copia for his tricycle. Parking the Fiat Dino Coupé near the entrance Copia took the keys from the ignition, he opened the door and got out of the car. Looking around the car park he memorised their location, he didn't want to mislay the car again. It had happened more than once, he had lost the car the last time he had drove Papa Nihil to the hospital. His thoughts were interrupted by someone banging at the window, he soon heard the old guy's voice booming from inside the car.

" Cardinal, open the door!" Papa yelled.

" Yes, yes!" Copia said. " Right away, Papa."

Sighing deeply to himself Copia opened the door for Papa, he then helped him from the backseat of the car. He was soon followed by the Ministry children. One of the children took Papa's oxygen canister and wheeled it across the car park, the other child waited for their Papa. The old guy slowly began to make his way towards the hospital's entrance, this gave Copia some time to make sure the car was locked before he followed after his Clergy family. He soon caught up with them, but he had to return back to the car. He had forgotten the flowers he had brought for Sister, they were partly dead since he got them for cheap. Hurrying back across the car park the old guy was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairway, he then helped the elderly Papa up the stairs. He was soon shooed away when they reached the top of the stairway. Copia approached the hospital enterance first, his hand resting against the door he peered through the window. The corridor was empty, but there was a nurse sitting at a reception desk. He then beckoned the others to follow him.

" I will get the door, Papa." Copia said.

" Okay, okay." Papa said.

Copia backed into the door and opened it with his backside, he liked entering rooms in this odd manner. Sister always told him to make an entrance, this is why he used his moneymaker. He always made a joke with Sister about using his ASSets, it was their little inside joke they shared. Holding the door open he waited for Papa Nihil and the Ministry children, they entered the hospital. He followed closely behind them, but he soon noticed one of the children giving him a peculiar look. Their gaze met, but the child soon looked away from him. He dared not think what they were planning, he had no idea why they kept playing tricks on him. He had tried on many occasions to befriend them, but they just rejected him. He tried to give them a bag of marbles and two chocolate bars a few weeks ago, but they used the marbles to prank him instead. They soon stopped at the reception desk, the nurse behind the desk soon spoke with them.

" Can I help you?" She asked.

" Hello, I am here to see Sister Imperator." Papa said.

" I'll check which room she's in." She said.

" Thank you." Papa said.

Copia's gazed wandered around the reception area while Papa spoke with the nurse, the sitting area was empty. He left Papa and headed over to a coffee table, there were many magazines on it. Looking at the bunch of dead flowers in his hand he was now regretting his gift choice for Sister, he could have gotten her a criminology magazine or a good murder mystery novel. She enjoyed anything with sinister intentions, she had many serial killer biographies in her office. But it was too late now, he thought some flowers would brighten up the hospital room for his dark excellency. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt someone pinch his thigh, his hand immediately went to the tender area. He looked around the waiting room before his gaze focused on the children, he had a feeling that they were behind his little injury. But they were nowhere near him, he had no evidence that it was them. Papa soon got Copia's attention when he yelled at him, he slightly jumped before he turned around to face him.

" Cardinal, wake up!" Papa said.

" Sorry, Papa." Copia said.

Papa Nihil told the children to leave them, they soon hurried along the corridor and through the hospital doors. Copia watched the doors swinging, he was unsure about leaving the children unsupervised in the car. They had already tricked him today by placing a tack on the driving seat, his butt cheek was still throbbing from that little incident. Papa had laughed about it, he found the whole situation amusing. Turning his attention towards the elderly Papa he listened to him talking to the nurse at the desk, she told them to go to the end of the corridor. Sister's room was the first door on the left, the elderly Papa thanked the nurse before he wandered down the corridor.

" This way, Cardinal." Papa said.

" Papa..." Copia said before he followed after him. " Will the children be okay by themselves in the car?"

" Yes, they will be fine." Papa replied. " I left the window rolled down, it won't be too hot for them."

" I didn't mean... never mind." Copia said.

Copia shook his head slightly, he hadn't meant it in that way. He didn't trust the Ministry children, especially with the car. They enjoyed causing mischief, he didn't want to leave them unsupervised. He continued walking with Papa down the corridor, he soon noticed a vending machine. He eyed up it's contents while he walked passed it, but he soon retraced his footsteps. He had noticed some venchi chocolate bars, a memory from his childhood soon came flooding back to him. Sister use to buy him venchi chocolate when he was a boy, they use to share a bar of chocolate together while watching television shows on Sunday nights. Venchi chocolate and reruns of The Brady Bunch, how he had enjoyed those evenings when he was a child. Rummaging around in his cassock pocket he found enough money for one chocolate bar, but he soon noticed Papa Nihil curiously watching him. His pale eyes lingered on him, his voice broke the silence between them.

" What are you doing?" Papa asked.

" I want to get Sister some chocolate." Copia replied.

" Fine, don't be too long." Papa said.

" Okay, okay." Copia said.

Papa shook his head at the boy before he ventured down the corridor with his oxygen canister wheeling behind him, he grumbled something to himself. Copia put his coins into the vending machine's slot, he then typed in the code number. The chocolate bar soon dropped into the collection point, taking the chocolate bar from the vending machine he walked down the corridor. Papa had already gone, he was fast sometimes for an old guy. Copia turned left into another corridor and stopped outside of a door, he knocked on it twice before he reached for he door handle. Opening the door he stepped inside the room and closed it behind him, but something wasn't quite right.

" Sister?" He asked.

The scent of damp lingered in the air, the room was dimly lit and small. He noticed the outline of some mops and broomsticks, he was in the janitor's closet. He swore to himself while he reached for the door handle, he stumbled around inside the closest before he managed to open the door. Tripping over his own two feet he entered the corridor, a few of the mops followed after him. The silence of the corridor was soon disturbed by clanks and clunks of the cleaning equipment. The noise soon caught the attention of two nurses at the other end of the corridor, they watched has Copia tried to tidy up the mess he had caused in the corridor.

" Ah shit!' He said.

Copia tried his best to put the cleaning equipment away, but it wasn't going to plan. Every time he put a mop back into the closet a boom fell out instead, he couldn't get them to stay in the closet. He finally gave up and adjusted fascia, his attention was soon caught by the two nurses. His mismatched eyes grew wide, he had no idea that he was being watched. He awkwardly laughed and waved to them before he hurried back along the corridor, he had embarrassed himself in front of the hospital staff. He kept on going until he reached Sister's room, he took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

" Okay, we are here now." He said.

Resting his hand on his chest Copia peered through the door's window, he could see Papa Nihil and Sister inside the room. The elderly Papa was helping Sister with her glass of water, he was surprised to see the old guy being helpful for once. Sister ended up having a coughing fit, but it soon passed. Copia knocked his knuckles against the glass window before he opened the door, he then entered the room and held his arms out at his sides.

" Ta-da!" He said.

" Cardinal!" Sister smiled.

" Sister." He said with a bow of his head. " Hello, Papa."

" Cardinal..." Papa said.

Papa Nihil wasn't too pleased with the boy's presence, he had been enjoying his alone time with Sister. Copia closed the door behind him and made his way over to the bed, he was happy to see Sister again. He had missed her, it had been months since he had last seen her. Sister smiled at him, but she couldn't move. Her body was wrapped up in bandages, her arm was being support by sling and she wore a neckbrace. He could only see parts of her face due to the bandages, she was truly mummified.

" It's so lovely to see you, Cardinal." Sister said.

" Likewise, Sister." He said before he offered her the flowers and chocolate bar. " I brought you some presents, it's just a little somethin' somethin' to brighten up your room and sweeten your taste buds."

" How lovely, thank you." She smiled.

" I will put them on the cabinet." He said, he motioned over at the cabinet. " The nurses can deal with them later, the flowers may need some water. But they are a little dead now..."

" It's fine, don't worry about it." Sister said with a smile. " They are just what my room needed."

" The scent of death to cover up the beach smell?" He asked.

" A homely touch." Sister replied.

" Right, right. Very good." He said.

Copia placed the flowers and chocolate bar on the cabinet, he then sat down on a chair near the bed. But he soon jumped up from the seat when he heard a buzzing sound, looking at the chair the nurse button was on it. He awkwardly laughed and looked at Sister, she found the little situation funny. But Papa Nihil didn't look too amused, he was disapproving of the Cardinal's behaviour yet again. Moving the nurse button Copia sat back down and cupped his hands on his lap, he then took a look around the room. It was very bright and clean, just the colour white on the walls. There was a small television set on the other side of the room, the window blinds were partly drawn. Hosptal machines and medical equipment were near the bedside, there was even a private bathroom. Copia turned his attention towards Sister, he learned forward and spoke with her.

" So Sister, how are you doing?" He asked.

" I'm a little wrapped up right now, but I'm feeling better." She replied.

" Oh, I see what you did there!" He said with laugh. " Very good joke, well done Sister."

Copia and Sister laughed together about their little joke, but Papa Nihil didn't find it amusing. He never laughed about anything these days, he was a grumpy old man. But his health was getting worse, he hadn't been well for the last couple of weeks. Bringing his oxygen mask to his mouth he took a deep breath before he exhaled, he then spoke with Sister.

" Did they say how long you would be in hospital?" Papa asked.

" A few more months the yet, Papa." Sister replied. " I'm still healing, but I've decided I would like to reenter the Ministry when I'm fully recovered."

" Oh Sister, what a great idea!" Papa smiled.

" Yes, a very good idea." Copia said.

" I'm glad you both think that." Sister said. " It's time we got down to business, we have a lot of work to do. There will be an introductional tour, we have to ease the Cardinal into the spotlight. After Papa Emeritus III got dragged off the stage we need to tread carefully, the world has to be ready for a new Papa Emeritus."

" Of course, I agree with you." Copia said.

" Sister, may I have a word?" Papa asked, he leaned towards her. " Cardinal only just got anointed, he's not ready yet! You haven't had to live with him, he's a menace. He's got a long way to go yet until he becomes the new Papa, I have concerns..."

" I know, Papa." Sister replied. " That is why we have to have a plan first, but something big is coming, I recived some very exciting news before my accident. We have two Word Tours planned, I can't tell you their names yet. The Clergy are fully backing these tours. Even the Old One has gotten involved."

" It sounds intriguing." Papa said.

" And you Papa will have your second chance at some point." Sister said.

" Holy mackerel!" Papa smiled.

" I will have to tour with Papa?" Copia asked.

" Not exactly, it will just be one concert in the future." Sister replied. " A one off special, the last date of the second tour. The final curtain. The Clergy thought we could end the second tour with a big bang. And what better way to do that with a saxophone solo from Papa Nihil."

" Wow!" Papa smiled.

" Yes, wow indeed." Copia said.

" But tour preperations are on hold for now until I'm fully recovered." Sister said, she cough slightly. " I cannot work from my hospital bed, but the future of the Clergy will be great."

" We will discuss it when you are feeling better." Papa said.

" Thank you, Papa." Sister said.

" Of course, Sister." Papa said before he got his feet. " We will let you get some rest, I will visit you next week. Come on, Cardinal. It's time to go now."

" Okay, okay." Copia said, he got to his feet and bowed his head at Sister. " Hopefully I will visit you again very soon, it's been nice seeing you. Get some rest, get some sleep. Bye bye, Sister."

" Goodbye, Cardinal." Sister smiled.

" Take care, Sister." Copia said.

" Goodbye, Papa." Sister said.

" Sister." Papa said.

Papa Nihil winked at Sister before he began walking towards the door, he wheeled his oxygen canister behind him. Copia lingered at the bedside for awhile longer, he lovely touched Sister's hand. She squeezed his hand and smiled at him, she told him she would see him again very soon. But she also mentioned that his time will come, she had plans for his future. Cupping her hand Copia bowed his head at her before he followed after the elderly Papa, he then opened the door for him.

" After you, Papa." Copia said.

" Thank you." Papa said.

Copia looked back at Sister and waved to her, he then closed the door behind him. Papa was already halfway down the corridor, he was fast sometimes even if his health wasn't great right now. Copia hurried after him, his hand slipping into his cassock pocket he searched for the car keys. But he soon stopped dead when he couldn't find the keys, they weren't in his pocket. He looked back along the corridor, he began to panic. Papa wouldn't be pleased with him if he knew he had lost the car keys, he soon jumped when he heard Papa's voice calling to him from along the corridor.

" What are you doing?!" Papa asked.

" Papa, I don't have the car keys..." Copia replied.

" Do not worry, the children have them." Papa said.

" They do?" Copia asked.

" Yes, they took them from your pocket." Papa replied.

" They did?" Copia asked.

" Yes!" Papa replied.

Copia paused and thought for a moment, they had picked his pocket. That would explain the pinch he had felt in the reception area, he had no idea they were capable of pickpocketing. But he wasnt surprised, their mischievous ways were endless. Sighing to himself he wandered down the corridor, he was dreading the drive back home.