If I Should Die Before I Wake by Lurlene McDaniel

“It’s a neat play,” Deanne continued. She made up what she was going to say quickly. “It’s going to be about life here on the oncology floor told from the patient’s point of view. We were talking about asking you to be the star.”
    “Really?” Pam asked.
    “Sure,” Deanne said, crossing her fingers.
    “You know what we’re going to call it?”
    “What?” Pam asked.
    “
Hairless
,” Deanne said in her most deadpan voice.
    Suddenly, Deanne heard a little snicker come from beyond the door. “W-What?” Pam asked. Deanne could tell Pam was trying not to laugh.
    “Hairless,”
she repeated. “In fact, the only reason we were hesitant about using you is because you had all your hair. . . ,” she paused. Then she heard a click. The door slowly swung open and Pam stood there looking out at her.
    “In a few weeks, I’ll look like Telly Savalas,” Pam muttered.
    Her long hair hung in clumps. Deanne could see several bald spots on her head. “Then I guess you’ll be just right for the part,” Deanne smiled broadly.
    Pam gave a half laugh. “You could say that.”
    “Come on, Pam,” Mrs. Stewart said, taking her hand. “Let’s sit down and talk about it.”
    She led the girl across the room to a chair. “I’m sorry,” Pam said,
    “It’s all right,” Mrs. Stewart told her. “It’s tough, I know. But you’re not alone. Many, many kids lose their hair with the treatments. It’s a small price to pay if you get well, isn’t it?”
    Pam nodded. “It’s
only
hair,” she said. “I can get a wig.”
    “Or wear a scarf,” Deanne added. “You’re still YOU .”
    “
Hairless
, huh?” Pam said with a half-smile.
    “Thanks,” Mrs. Stewart said to Deanne. “You can go on now.”
    “Listen,” Deanne said as she neared the doorway. “Matt and I will still be waiting for you and Paul in the rec room this afternoon. Want to play some Scrabble?”
    “Sure,” Pam smiled. “It’ll keep my mind off my problems.”
    Deanne hurried off down the hall to go find Matt and tell him about her adventure.

    * * * * *
    Deanne became a minor celebrity among the nurses and volunteer staff. She kept her cool and talked a patient out of a potentially dangerous situation.
    Everyone seemed to know her and admired her for her fast thinking. “I said the first thing I thought of,” she told Susan. “I remembered that she liked plays and stuff so I said the part about her starring in a made-for-the-hospital play. I’m just glad she thought it was funny and came out.”
    A few days later, while she was on her way to take Matt down for a radiation treatment, she heard her name called from an open doorway.
    “Miss Vandervoort.” Deanne froze in her tracks. The voice was that of Mrs. Sanders.
    “I would like a word with you, Miss Vandervoort,” the voice called out. Slowly, Deanne turned to face the tall, starched form of Lillie Sanders.
    “Y-Yes, Mrs. Sanders,” she said.
    “I’ve heard about your recent action with the young patient in oncology.” Deanne felt her heart pounding.
    Mrs. Sanders’s face broke into a smile. “Good work!”
    Deanne sighed with relief. “Thank you, Mrs. Sanders,” she said.
    “In fact, I was impressed with your suggestion. I’ve told the Child-Life Specialist, Mrs. Coffman, that she should get with you and the two of you should write such a play.”
    “What?” Deanne gasped.
    “It’s a good idea,” Mrs. Sanders continued. “These patients need a way to express their feelings about the doctors, the hospital, the treatments—everything that’s happening to them. A play is a great way to do it. We have video cameras, TV sets, plenty of kids to play the different roles. Yes, I think a play we could record on videocassette for incoming patients about cancer would be a wonderful idea.
    “I want you to get with Mrs. Coffman today. You can start planning it. I want you to help write it and pick out kids for the different roles. And why not call it
Hairless
? It’s