Page 24 of The Wish

‘Hey, Jesse, take a photo of me!’ Ryan calls, now wearing Amy’s hat.

Alex shows Jesse how to press the shutter. She snaps the shot.

The next hour becomes a free-for-all. Jesse plays with Kelly’s hair; the teens trade off posing and taking pictures. Kelly ends up in some, both staged and candid. Jesse insists on taking photos of Alex and Kelly, catching them mid-glance, laughing.

Amy gets creative when it’s her turn. She lies on the ground, shoots from picnic tables, angles everything.

Then Jesse hears her name, and Sam and Mandy appear.

‘We were told you’d be here. What’s going on?’ Mandy asks, grinning.

They join in the fun, and Alex snaps a flurry of joyful moments: Jesse laughing with Mandy, Jesse lifting Sam, the two girls kissing Sam’s cheeks, a sweet family portrait.

‘Mandy, Sam, do you mind if I get a few shots of Jesse with Amy, Luke and Ryan?’ Alex asks.

‘Of course not. Come on, Sammy, let’s watch,’ Mandy replies.

Mandy and Sam stand with Kelly. The other three don’t need an invitation to join Jesse and for the next while the four teenagers do what teenagers do, joke, push, poke, hug.

‘It looks like the girls are practising flirting with the boys. Safe environment to do it in with us here.’

‘I think you’re right. I also think the boys are doing the same. This is quite a privilege, being here, observing them. I feel overwhelmed at what they are letting us in on, letting us witness.’

Mandy hugs Kelly, wiping away the tear that spills down Kelly’s cheek.

Jesse pulls Alex aside. ‘Can you take a picture of me with Mum and Sam?’

‘Sure,’ he says, and snaps away. At first, Mandy is hesitant, but then she warms up, and her resemblance to her daughter really shines through, the same dark brown eyes and warm smile.

Sam starts goofing around and Mandy and Jesse join in.

He takes shot after shot after shot. There will be some brilliant footage for the wish here , he thinks.

Jesse breaks away. ‘My turn,’ she says, holding out her hand. ‘I want to take some pics of my friends and you now.’

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.’

At the nurses’ station, Sandy and Kelly are sorting releases.

‘I need a favour,’ Alex says.

They exchange a look.

‘Can I come back later? Jesse wants to photograph her dad.’

‘Think that’s a good idea?’ Kelly asks.

‘Probably not. But maybe he can’t say no to her.’

‘That’s fine,’ Sandy says.

‘There’s more,’ Alex adds. ‘She might tell him the camera is yours, Kelly. I said she should ask you first.’

Kelly sighs. Sandy nudges her.

‘OK. No problem. This wish is getting us into some irregular territory.’

‘But it’s worth it, right?’

The three share a look. Then Kelly blurts, ‘Can I buy you a coffee or something?’

She instantly regrets it.

‘I’m busy,’ Alex says, awkwardly.

‘Of course. Forget I asked.’

‘No, sorry, I mean . . . I’m filming this afternoon at the beach where Jesse lives. But later?’

‘Sure.’

‘We can walk to a café down the street. Better coffee than here.’

‘Thank goodness. Six o’clock?’

‘Six.’

The café is noisy. The street is crowded. Alex and Kelly find a table outside.

‘Menu?’ the waiter asks.

Kelly fumbles. ‘Uh . . . I hadn’t—’

‘Just a drink will be fine, thanks,’ Alex quickly rescues her. ‘I’d like a beer, a lager if you have one. Do you want a glass of wine, or did you really want coffee?’

‘If you’re having a beer, I’d love a glass of wine, your house sauvignon blanc, please,’ Kelly says.

When the waiter leaves, they sit in silence, fiddling with napkins.

‘We’ve seen a lot of you lately,’ Kelly says.

‘Is that a problem?’ Alex asks.

‘No. Though isn’t work getting tricky for you?’

‘I didn’t volunteer for this, remember. This is my work. Though it’s become something more.’

‘Oh, I see. So, there’s no problem then?’

‘We’re good.’

‘Good. Good.’

‘Why’d you invite me here, isn’t there some rule about you seeing people you work with outside the hospital?’

‘I’m pretty sure the rule is more about patients and their families, seeing them outside of the hospital. I’m sure you see people you work with away from the office.’

‘So, this is all right then?’

‘I think we’re OK.’

Alex nods, not sure of what to say.

The awkward moment is saved by the arrival of their drinks. Thanking the waiter they both play with their glasses, moving them around the table, each unsure if they should offer to ‘cheers’. Neither do and they both take a sip.

‘Did you grow up here, in the city?’ Kelly asks.

‘Yeah. You?’

‘I grew up on a dairy farm, watched my parents work from sun-up to sun-down and beyond twelve months of the year and couldn’t wait to get away. Not the life for me.’

‘Sounds idyllic to me. You don’t like getting your hands dirty?’

‘It’s not that, I don’t mind hard work, I don’t mind long hours, but there’s no let-up because the cows have to be milked twice a day, every day of the year. I knew at an early age that life wasn’t for me, so I studied hard to get good grades, move to the city and find a career.’

‘So, you’re a country girl. I thought there was something different about you,’ Alex says, studying her, forcing Kelly to look away.

‘What do you mean by that?’

He looks at her appraisingly. ‘I’m not sure but I think it’s something about the way you dress.’

‘What’s wrong with the way I dress?’

‘Nothing, it’s lovely. It’s just different and I’m the sort of bloke who doesn’t know what’s different, just that it is.’

‘OK. You’re right actually, I prefer clothing from previous decades, the sixties and seventies, and I mainly thrift my clothes. I’m all about recycling.’

‘Good on you. I saw how you were with Max, comfortable, not scared. I take it you had dogs on the farm, too?’

‘Well, yeah, we had dogs, but they were working dogs not pets. But yes, I love dogs, cats anything with four legs that doesn’t argue back.’

‘Ah ha, now I get you.’

They are startled when someone calls out Alex’s name. His colleague Sarah and her wife Claire walk towards them.

‘Sarah, hey. First time here. This your local?’

‘One of them,’ Sarah says warmly.

‘Kelly, this is Sarah. We work together. Sarah, this is Kelly.’

‘Nice to meet you,’ Sarah says. ‘So, how long have you two been seeing each other?’

Alex and Kelly exchange uncomfortable glances. ‘What? No. She’s the hospital social worker. We’re working together.’

‘Ah . . .Well, it was nice meeting you, Kelly, see you at the office, Alex,’ Sarah says, taking Claire’s hand and walking off, an amused expression on her face.

Alex looks around, aware he had been too blunt in introducing Kelly. ‘I’d better get going. Dean’s probably left by now.’

‘OK, I’ll take care of this. See you there.’

Alex lingers watching her searching for her wallet in an overcrowded handbag. She looks up triumphantly when she finds it and he smiles a thank you before heading off.

As Alex walks towards the hospital entrance, he looks up at the wards above.

Figures walk past windows; some patients and their visitors can be seen on a small balcony outside their rooms. Alex tries to recall if Jesse and Amy’s room has a balcony.

Most rooms are brightly lit, he sees a series of windows where only dim lights filter out into the night, and wonders what that ward might be.

His gaze continues up to where the brightness of the full moon and stars competes with the lights of the houses and buildings below.

He sighs. He used to drive past hospitals and barely register them.

Now he feels that powerful sense of all those lives within the building, living through tragedy, pain, loss – and sometimes recovery. It’s overwhelming to him.

Walking past the nurses’ station, Alex gets the thumbs-up from Sandy. He finds a beaming Jesse sitting on her bed, waving his camera at him. Taking the camera, he nods towards the glass door. Sliding from her bed she lets him lead her out onto the balcony from her room.

He positions her at the railing. She tilts her head up. He lies on the ground, framing her with the night sky. Her face is calm, dreamy. She waves to the moon. Twirls. Hugs herself.

Suddenly overcome with exhaustion and emotion, Alex stops shooting and slumps against the wall, transfixed by Jesse, lost in the moment, in herself, it’s as if she could fly away from all the pain and heartache that makes up her short life.

Sadness threatens to overwhelm him. Jesse senses he has stopped shooting and stops twirling, turning to Alex with a beaming smile that drowns out the moon and stars. He can’t help but smile back at her.

From inside the room, Kelly watches the beautiful scene playing out on the balcony. She sees Alex slump against the wall and Jesse finally stop and look at him. This is her cue to step outside so Jesse and Alex can end the moment. She helps Jesse back inside where Amy waits for her.

After a few moments Alex comes back into the room. ‘Thank you, Jesse. Now, you get some rest.’

‘You too, Alex. This was one of the best days ever.’

‘Hey Alex, you’re actually pretty OK,’ Amy calls.

‘Thank you, Amy, you’re pretty OK yourself. I’ll see you, girls.’

‘WE’RE NOT GIRLS!’ they yell in unison.

Alex mimes shooting himself in the head.

‘Would you like me to walk you out?’ Kelly quickly says.

‘No thanks, I know the way,’ Alex says, throwing Amy a wink. He turns back, suddenly feeling shy. ‘So, um, thanks for tonight,’ he says.

‘Yeah,’ she says softly. ‘Yeah, it was nice.’

‘I’d better, um . . .’ He points towards the door. ‘Lots of work to get through tonight.’ He colours, feeling the eyes of Jesse, Amy and Kelly on him, looking at him, it seems, with amusement. ‘But we should . . .’ he says helplessly.

‘Yes,’ Kelly says, rescuing him. ‘We should. Let’s chat soon.’

‘Totally,’ Alex replies. He glances at Jesse and Amy who are grinning at him like Cheshire cats. They’re not making this easy. ‘I’ll see you all tomorrow, then.’

‘Bye, Alex!’ the girls chorus, and their laughter follows him out of the ward.

Back in his home office Alex works furiously, downloading photos, sorting them out into the ‘to be used’ and ‘just for fun’ files.

He then goes through the beach videos he and Steve made earlier, once again mixing long shots with close-up scenes.

Videos and still photos merge and change from one screen to another.

He places still photos of Jesse, Mandy and Sam on the beach as he anticipates filming them in the studio, looking at the skyline, the receding tide, manipulating the photos so it seems the family are interacting.

He likes what he sees. When a photo of him and Kelly side by side, each casting a sideways look at the other appears, he is shocked.

He smiles to himself, knowing this was the work of Amy.

A ping on his phone tells him it is midnight and breaks his concentration.

It also wakes Max who stands, stretches and wanders over to Alex, knowing it is time for a last trip outside for the night.

Placing his head on Alex’s lap he looks up to see Alex concentrating on one photo.

A photo of Kelly. Max wags his tail approvingly.