Free Colette and the Silver Samovar by Nancy Belgue

hoping to recognize the mother I’d seen two days ago, when she’d said goodbye and told me she’d pick me up to take me to the art gallery.
    Grandpapa took my arm and guided me into the hall, where the bright light made me blink. The doctor came out too and bent over so that he was looking right at me. “My name is Doctor Maluk,” he said. He had brown eyes and brown skin. His black hair was slicked back from his face, and he had a little white tag on his coat with his name on it. “I am your mother’s doctor. Perhaps we can go over here and talk,” he said, pointing to a waiting room.
    â€œHow old are you, Colette?” asked Dr. Maluk.
    â€œNine years, three months and twenty days,” I said.
    He smiled. He had white, even teeth that reminded me of my father’s. “That’s a very good age,” he said. “I loved being nine. But I know that you might not feel that way at the moment.”
    I nodded.
    â€œYour grandfather tells me you are staying with him and your grandmother right now. How do you like that?
    I shrugged.
    â€œIt must be strange for you to meet your grandparents under these circumstances.”
    â€œYes, sir,” I said.
    â€œYour grandfather has told me that your grandmother is angry about what has happened to her daughter. She is having a difficult time accepting the situation.” He waited for me to speak, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. All I knew was my grandmother seemed angrier at me than anyone.
    â€œHow are you and your grandmother getting along?”
    â€œAll right.”
    My grandfather stirred in the seat beside me.
    â€œDo you know what happened to your mother?” asked Dr. Maluk.
    â€œShe was hit by a car,” I said.
    â€œDo you know what a coma is?” said Dr. Maluk.
    â€œKind of like a sleep,” I said.
    â€œThat’s right. In your mother’s case, she is asleep because she has had a brain injury. We are waiting to see how long she will sleep. She might wake up in a few days.”
    I listened closely.
    â€œAnd then again, she might stay asleep for a longer time,” Dr. Maluk said.
    â€œWill she be all right?” I asked.
    Dr. Maluk studied me very carefully. “We don’t know, but we hope so.”
    â€œCan I come to visit her?”
    â€œOf course you can.” Dr. Maluk looked at my grandfather. “It’s good for the patients to hear voices and have their family with them. We don’t always know how much they hear, but it’s usually most helpful. How do you feel about coming to visit, Colette?”
    â€œI want to come every day!” I burst out. Inside, I wasn’t so sure. The beeping machines and the strange expressions that flickered across my mother’s face were scary.
    â€œAre you sure?” Dr. Maluk asked.
    â€œI think so,” I said. Tears sprang to my eyes. “It’s just that she looks so different.”
    â€œIt’s okay to have mixed-up feelings,” Dr. Maluk said. I liked his quiet voice.
    â€œWhy don’t you start by coming a couple of times a week and see how that goes?” Dr. Maluk suggested. “We’ll take very good care of your mother, and if anything changes, you’ll be one of the first people we call. And if you ever want to talk about anything, just tell your grandfather, and he’ll bring you to see me.”
    My grandfather stood up and shook Dr. Maluk’s hand. We walked back out into the corridor and along the white hallway toward my mother’s room. Grandpapa asked me if I wanted to say goodbye. My grandmother had come back, and she glanced over her shoulder when we came in. My mother flinched as if she was having a bad dream.
    Grandpapa said, “I am taking Colette back to the house, Emily.”
    Grandmama nodded. “There’s some stew in the fridge.” She got up and came to the door. “Did you talk with the doctor?” Her hair was