Maybe Yes, Maybe No

“Maybe” the doctor said to the bald girl laying in bed Her eyes widened in surprise “Maybe yes?” she sighs The doctor has already left the room So the girl is alone to assume The small boy asks “ice cream after lunch?” His mother shrugs and he has a hunch “Maybe yes?”he whispers quietly The mother nods with invisible anxiety The boy screams with great thrill but the mother turns pale and sits still remembering the maybes her daughter used to say before she left and went away The mother hears a car pull up The father walks in, He mouths “Bankrupt.” they both glance at the small boy Who is alone is his joy The parents quietly converse The boy knows he will get no dessert A older girl sits bored in bed Her phone vibrates and she instantly dreads She picks it up, glances at the screen drops it on the floor and silently screams she dials the number, fingers shaking tears seep from eyes, heart aching The familiar voice from the other side of the line says that everything is going to be alright The older girl moans “I'm supposed to be helping you” The younger girl says wisely “You can do that too.” They talk for hours about everything ahead They say a quick “Goodbye” for the battery is dead She makes one last call Inquiring if she can visit the hospital “Maybe” the man says unconvincing “Maybe yes, maybe no?” she questions, wincing She hears the beep as the phone goes dead She is pained by what went unsaid At six she hears a knock at the door She opens it, he says “Any more?” Shakes her head no, offers a feeble excuse He shrugs, his dark hair loose She walks to the car, pulls open the door And is greeted by a family of four The family will visit later in the day small boy, worried mom and dad without pay They journey to their heart's base it takes a short time in such a small place The older girl bursts into the room The younger girl tells her “I'm maybe headed to my doom.” The older girl lets her fears show “Maybe yes, Maybe no?” A shadow crosses the small girl’s face Maybe… is the dictionary's disgrace