Sleeping Jose

I don’t know how long I’ve been holding and kneading Jose’s warm soft hand. Or had it become warmer because of my own hand?”
“That didn’t really matter,” I said and continued with my silent and burdensome thoughts.
“What matters is that, at least in my heart I felt, I was there –his mother– by his side.”
“Does he hear anything, mommy?” Claire, my youngest daughter interrupted me.
“Yes, honey, he does,” I said.
“But why don’t I hear you when I’m sleeping, mommy?”
“Because you’re still a baby, dear,” I said and embraced her while trying to swallow the  lump forming in my throat.
Jose had unexpectedly fallen ill. The doctors could not pinpoint the cause of his erratic severe headaches. In their last attempt to do a lumbar tap, Jose suddenly entered into a deep coma. My heart too, seemed to have entered into one as I contemplated my son’s unmoving body.
“Can he feel?” Claire asked, interrupting  my accumulated memories of the incident almost a week ago.
“…Yes, yes. Look…” I took her hand to touch Jose’s hand.
“It’s also warm,” she replied.
“You see?”
“But why can’t he move, mommy?” Claire was still puzzled.
“I don’t know dear, but in time we pray and hope that he will.”
* * *
“Anna, you’re taking in too much!” Vivian said.
“What else must a mother do, Viv?”
“What I meant….” Vivian interrupted herself.
“Thanks, so much. I know how much you care.”
“Want to  go to the parish and say a prayer there for Jose?”
“That’s so kind of you, Viv. In fact, I don’t think there’s much we can do, and this is the best we can do!”
“And afterwards, you will have to take early dinner and catch some sleep. I can watch over Jose tonight.”
“Oh, no. You really don’t have to. Dave and I have already talked about the shifts…and…,” Anna started to break down.
“It’s all right, Ann. You can pour it all out on me,” she said embracing her best friend.
“Ann, I know that Dave is also working very hard these days to meet his deadlines. I’m just offering the best hand I can.” Vivian explained.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Viv,” Anna replied.
“We’re going to pull through this one together,” she nudged her shoulder.
* * *
“Look,” Vivian pointed at something inside the Church.
“What are they lining up for?”
“I don’t know, let’s check it out before we pray our Rosary.”
From behind the line of people, they saw an image of St. Joseph. But what caught their attention was that it was a statue of St. Joseph sleeping.
“Is that what I think it is?” Anna whispered.
“Yes, I believe it is. It must be a copy of the St. Joseph that Pope Francis talked about. He said he would slip his intentions under the statue,” Vivian said.
In fact, people in line were slipping pieces of paper under the statue after silently praying before the image. The two friends looked at each another and smiled. They had just read one another’s thoughts.
* * *
That same evening, Anna was back in the hospital accompanying her son. She started whispering stories to Jose.
“Well, I went with your Tita Viv to the parish to pray, and you know what we saw there…?”
“Mom, can I come in?” asked Claire peeking through the door.
“Claire? You’re supposed to be home sleeping,” said Anna.
“Yes, but daddy…,” her daughter explained as Dave’s head popped out behind Claire.
“Honey…? Aren’t you supposed to be finishing deadlines?”
“Shhh!” Dave said. “I managed to escape for a few hours.”
“But….”
“No buts! Here we have some of your favorite mango crepes. I’m sure you haven’t had dessert,” he said greetingd her with a kiss.
“So kind of you. Oh, before anything I have some updates from the doctors. Let’s talk outside.”
“Claire, can you watch Jose for a while, dear?”
“Sure mom!”
After a few minutes the couple returned.
“Well, I guess it’s bedtime for you, young princess!”
Claire nodded and let out a big yawn.
“Let’s go, my lady,” her dad said.
Anna was once again alone in the room. She couldn’t help feel grateful for having found such a faithful and affectionate life partner in Dave.
She started fixing things around the room. Afterwards, she worked on the mussed blankets of the bed and tucked the loose ends around Jose’s body.
Suddenly, she felt something under Jose’s leg. It was a sealed envelope. Anna thought it must have been a prescription left by a doctor or the nurse. But the handwriting on the outside was enough to reveal who had placed it there.
* * *
The next day, Anna was alone in the kitchen preparing lunch and the grocery list for the remaining days of the week.
Claire entered and headed to the water station for a refill.
“Claire, did you leave that note under Jose?” she asked.
“Yes, mommy, why?”
“What made you do that dear?”
“‘Coz in school we have a new statue of St. Joseph….”
“Sleeping…?” She interrupted her.
“Yes, how did you know, mom?” Claire was evidently excited by her mom’s reply.
“It’s a long story, dear, but what about the note?”
“They told us in school that we write St. Joseph for anything. But I thought I could put mine under Jose, because he’s also asleep like St. Joseph.”
Anna couldn’t believe what Claire had just said.
[RIIIING!]
“Hello… Yes… Whaaa… I’ll be right there,  Doctor!”
* * *
Jose was still very weak but he was evidently more conscious and was communicating with his eyes and by slowly nodding his head.
“Jose! Jose! You’re awake!” Claire embraced him as she entered the room.
“Claire, not so hard, little Amazon. Let your older brother breathe,” her father said.
“Sorry, but I’m so happy because St. Joseph answered my prayers,” she exclaimed.
“What did you ask St. Joseph,” Dave asked.
“I didn’t, Jose did. Didn’t you Jose?” Claire looked at her still groggy brother who said nothing.
“But how could he even know if he was asleep?”
“I slipped the message under him last night!” She replied.
“What message?” Her dad was confused.
“This one,” Anna said, holding the still sealed envelope.
“It’s still sealed, so how could Jose even read it?” Dave said.
“I did,” Jose’s hoarse voice surprised them all.
“You did?” Anna thought her son was still delirious.
“It says: ‘Tell St. Joseph to wake you up!” Jose said.
Anna’s fingers trembled as she opened the envelope.
Inside was a folded note.
Unfolding it, she read: “Ask St. Joseph to WAKE YOU UP or you’ll be late for school!”