At eight in the morning, the doctor visits her and asks

"So, how are you feeling? Got any sleep?"

"No, I didn't feel like it. Seventy-two hours of sleep would be more than enough for many."

"Very well. What do you feel like eating today?" he asks, taking her blood pressure.

"I feel like having hot fresh pancakes from McDonald's for my breakfast."

"Sorry, we don't have Mc Donald's pancakes but we do have hospital pancakes."

"You mean pancakes made in the hospital?"

"Yes, it is far cleaner in a hospital kitchen than in any McDonald's kitchen."

"Then I'll have some of that."

"OK, I'll just go and tell the nurse when I've finished checking up on you. Your cakes might take awhile because we make on demand, so your pancake is a hundred percent fresh."

"Can I go out by myself today?" she asks.

"No, you still need a lot rest and today I forbid you to go out of this bed. We'll see how you go tomorrow. If you get enough rest today, I might consider letting you go out for a while tomorrow."

"Fine, can you please take me to my brother the first thing tomorrow morning?"

"I had said we'd see. Now you need to rest." The doctor replaces the clipboard back on the end of her bed and leaves.

.0.

A week ago, her mum and dad had received a letter from Cal's father; he wanted to see him. Her parents hid the letter from Sam. Then a few more days passed and another letter came; he was in town and wanted to see his child. They too had hidden the letters and sent their adopted child (Cal) and Sam with her brother, Johnny to Ireland for a holiday with some relatives.

.0.

In the afternoon, a nurse comes and gives her lunch.

"Excuse me, can I use the phone?"

"Sorry, we don't have a cordless phone but we do have one at the reception. Unless your doctor lets you out of your bed, I can't let you come with me to use the phone."

"Damn!" The nurse gives Sam a sorry smile and leaves.

.0.

It seemed that she had forgotten about coming to Ireland, but how could she remember about the week before precisely but yet not remember the plans about coming to Ireland? Puzzling to some yet, to others it made perfect sense; someone like Samuel or Sami for short, as he was known best by his English nickname name.

So what did this man want with a six-year-old boy? Surely nothing sinister, for he was the boy's father. What we do know now though, is that he is in a dingy-rented apartment consolidating with the elders. His physical self was there - no doubt about it - but his mind is in a different realm.