Page 21 of Risk It All
“She really is.” Madeleine smiles.
“Ready?” Dr. Knowles asks. I nod and follow the doctor and Madeleine through the double doors of the children's ward.
My first impression is that it looks like an orphanage, with two long rows of cots lined up along the walls. Some children are hooked up with IVs and others wear oxygen masks, although to my untrained eye, the equipment looks dated. Over every bed hangs a malaria net similar to the ones over Madeleine's and my cots. I wonder if they are the result of work by the Gates Foundation. It donated a hefty amount to that cause.
A nurse joins us and as Dr. Knowles stops by each cot, she fills him in as he checks on the children. In some cases, the child's mother, or who I presume is the mother, is there asking questions.
We make our way through the room, crisscrossing until we reached the last cot.
“Ms. Madeleine,” the young girl in the last bed exclaims. Her smile lights up the room, reminding me that good exists even in bad situations, if one is looking for it.
“Chisara.” Madeleine gives the child a hug. “I brought you something.”
“A present!”
Madeleine reaches into the pocket of her cargo pants and pulls out a small coin.
“Money?”
“Not quite. It's an old subway token from New York. They're not used anymore so they're rare.”
Chisara's dark brown eyes light up again as she takes the token and studies it like it was the greatest gift in the world. I'm not surprised that Madeleine brought her a gift. She might be closed off to romantic love, but she's clearly a kind and generous woman, with a deep passion for making change in the world.
Madeleine gestures to me. “I brought a friend. This is Max Delecoeur.”
Chisara gives me a big smile. “Hi, Mr. Max.”
“Nice to meet you.” I smile and reach out my hand to shake hers. She's so tiny and frail, I worry that I might hurt her.
“Where are you from?” she asks.
“Chisara has an interest in world travel.” Dr. Knowles nods toward the world map hanging by the child's bed. Pictures of people, postcards, and tacks with little slips of paper decorate it.
“I'm from California.”
She points to the map. “Where?”
I go to the map and use my index finger to circle California. “This long state here. I grew up in this area.” I point to San Francisco. “But I live down here now.” I point to Los Angeles.
“Madeleine is on the other side.” Chisara points to the east coast of the United States.
“Yes.” I nod as I notice a slip of paper with Madeleine's signature on it tacked onto New York.
“Is there anything interesting where you're from?” Chisara asks me.
I think about Disneyland and movie stars, but I'm not sure Chisara would know or care about them.
Instead, I point to Los Angeles. “There are tar pits here that trapped dinosaurs millions of years ago. They have a museum where you can see the bones.”
Chisara shrugs.
Tough audience. “Right here, connecting this bit of land to this one.” I point to the San Francisco Bay. “There is a red bridge.”
“Red?” She looks at Madeleine as if she doesn't believe me. Madeleine nods. “Why red?”
“Well, it gets foggy. You won't see it otherwise.”
“That would be interesting to see. Does your family live there?” she asked me, her eyes showing genuine interest in me.
