Page 79 of My Boss

“Because of me?”

“You didn’t mention, Maria, that your brother, in addition to trading cars, also specializes in cardiology.” Jan’s voice sounds right next to me.

Everyone’s gaze switches to my boss towering over them.

“And you are…?” Arek asks.

“Jan Engler. I am Maria’s direct supervisor.”

“Probably not only her supervisor,” interjects Paulinka mockingly, and I feel like slapping her on that stupid blonde head.

“Well, dearest sister, it seems that you were getting your kicks with your boss, and Ma was so concerned that you didn’t come to Christmas Eve that her heart stopped,” she says, spitting her words out, full of vitriol.

I can’t stand it! “Her heart stopped and she is walking on her own!” I explode. “None of you even bothered to contact me and ask why I was late. You guys don’t give a shit about me. If mom cared so much about my presence, she could have at least called.”

“You ungrateful wench,” my mother says, finally regaining all faculties. “Since you were a child, you were spoiled and did not appreciate what you have.”

Ahhhh, here we go.

“Yes, I know, I underestimated my awesome gift, and I’m wasting my life away. I’ve heard this from you hundreds of times before.”

“Because it’s true,” adds Father.

God almighty, how they annoy me… I clench my hands into fists. I’m about to give them a piece of my mind, when unexpectedly a male voice interrupts me.

“On the contrary,” says Jan. “Maria makes her own decisions regarding her life and does exactly what she should do with it.”

I raise my eyes to him, and he is staring at my family with such indifference, as if they were nothing.

“It’s not your business, mister… This is our family matter, and it shouldn’t concern you at all,” says father.

“But it concerns me, and I’m not going to listen to this nonsense,” Jan replies in a determined voice. “Maria is the most intelligent, hardworking and persistent woman I know. You are not worthy of her.”

What? I’m so stunned that my jaw drops and at the same moment we hear a woman calling from the hospital door, “Mrs. Gabara, you forgot your discharge papers!”

I glance at my parents, and they are standing there like a bunch of jackasses, still digesting what they just heard from Jan.

“Mrs. Gabara!!!” An aproned nurse in flip-flops and pantyhose is waving a piece of paper.

“I’ll go.” Arek’s spontaneous reaction immediately arouses my suspicions. And that’s because my brother is so lazy that he won’t even pass you the sugar for tea that is on the table right next to him. I was always the one who had to take out the garbage for him or wash the dishes when we were younger.When he grew up and got married, he began to use his wife instead: “Paulinka, do this,” “Paulinka, get that.” But now he’s walking eagerly toward the nurse.

Something is not right here. What’s in this paper?

I hurry after him, and he speeds up. I start running, and he runs too. Well, something is really up. I catch up to him effortlessly because my brother is way more than eighty pounds overweight and moves as slow as molasses.

“And where are you going?” he gasps.

“To get the discharge papers.”

“It’s none of your business. Go back!” he yells as if I am a dog.

“Try to stop me.” I overtake him easily, leave him behind, then take the stairs and reach the nurse.

“I am the daughter. May I?” I take the paper from her hands, glance at the printout with my mother’s name on it, read it, and almost drop dead.

“Diagnosis: gastroesophageal reflux, recommendations: an easy-to-digest diet, omeprazole 10 mg once a day on an empty stomach, avoid physical exertion…”

Reflux?! This is it? Holy shit, what liars! My mother stuffed herself with fried carp, a plate of cabbage pierogi and sipped wine, and these guys are trying to make me feel guilty that she ended up in the hospital because of me! Well, of course, because of me—she probably also gobbled up my damn portion of Christmas Eve supper and got heartburn!

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