Chapter 14

Charlie heard the door open, but kept his eyes closed until he heard Katie's voice. She was his favorite nurse, so the least he could do was look at her.

"Charlie!" she hissed again.

He opened his eyes.

"Let me help you sit up," she said, starting the procedure before he even answered her. She seemed oddly…preoccupied, so Charlie guessed it was a busy night for her and let her rearrange him however it suited her. She stepped back and looked at him. "Okay," she was still speaking very quietly, and Charlie had to strain to hear. "That's good enough. Now watch the door. I've got something to show you." Her voice grew excited at the end, and although he was confused, Charlie looked obediently at the door.

David Sinclair walked in. "Hi, Charlie," he said, but he did not approach the bed. Rather, he headed for the far wall, still talking. "I just want you to know that I had the easy part here, but if I didn't shave my head already…"

"David?" Charlie asked, confused. But David was looking back toward the doorway, so Charlie did also. He had a headache, and he was sure his eyes were playing tricks on him. It looked like Don was walking in — but he was bald! Charlie rubbed his eyes and looked again, just in time to see someone else lurch through the door, someone obviously pushed from behind. Colby Granger looked embarrassed, as he ran a gloved hand over a bald head.

"Hi, Whiz Kid," he muttered, and then, to someone behind him, "Knock it off, ya little runt!"

"There is no need for such language," said a bald Larry, entering the room to join the line.

The sight of Larry, dwarfed in the hospital gown and mask, and bald, almost did Charlie in. "Oh, my G-d," he whispered, looking from one to the other of them. "Oh, my…"

"Wait, Charles," said the Evil Elf pretending to be Larry. "The best is yet to come!"

He held out his hand toward the door, and Charlie saw the most amazing, and stunning, sight of his 30 years. Stepping into the room, holding gloved hands and giggling, were Megan and Amita. Blue gowns, blue masks, flesh-colored gloves — and bald.

Charlie's mouth dropped open, and he felt the blood drain from his head.

"I hope you don't mind," Megan was saying, "but I'm having my hair made into a wig. I thought it would be more professional for work, but I'm already having second thoughts." She winked at Amita. "Amita and I were just noticing on the way over here, bald chicks get a lot of respect."

The room filled with quiet chuckles, but they were soon interrupted by Katie. "All right, that's enough for one night," she said, watching Charlie. She used the control to lower the head of his bed a little while she grabbed his wrist to check his pulse. "You really need to leave anyway," she said quietly, "before I get fired for letting you all in here. Only one person can stay this evening."

Don leaned out to catch Amita's eye, but she was already halfway across the room. She said on the edge of Charlie's bed, and cradled his head against her. "Shh," she said gently, "Shh, don't cry sweetie…"

Charlie's voice was thick was tears. "But your hair, Ami, your beautiful hair…"

As Don joined the others in filing quickly out of the room, he turned one last time to look at Charlie and Amita. "It's all right, baby," she was saying, pushing him away so that he was sitting up. Then she grasped his head with both of her hands, and pulled him back toward her far enough so that she could kiss his bald head. "It's only hair," Don heard her say as the door swung shut behind him. "We can grow it back together."