By the time Liza and I got home from our marsupial moment we were wax versions of Gretchen and Penelope oozing out onto the driveway leaving a mirage of ourselves in every step. I dripped to the house and up to top of the stairs desperately trying to free myself from my clothing on the way. Stairs and undressing are a bad combo. . Memories of the pool. My hair was again stuck in my shirt and my pant leg with twisted back around my kneecaps

"Help!! Air! "Liza found me splayed on foyer flailing. Mostly gasping.

Liza was of quick help peeling me out of my sticky ensemble as she was raised in the spit on the wash cloth wipe your face - the band aid off with the scab- zip hoods into chins and if it doesn't fit use a hanger or a stapler school of dressing. So she snapped my shirt off and did that groovey one hand bra snap. Snaps ndeed! Free free at last!!

But three was more than one snap. Both our heads spun to look at poor Ethyl.

Wow. Not right at all.

Lumpy. White hard swollen pulled so tight. I could see - Peter Paul and Mary really were killing her.. She was so sweaty and I think possibly crying. I know I was. I gently coaxed her from trying to hide in my belly button. We turned to snuggle into Liza.

"Ew. Get off of me. You smell like boobie cheese!""

She waddled us into the shower and walked away. I think mine and Ethyl's tears were louder than the spray. Myrtle slipped into my armpit to give Ethyl and I little one on one time with the poof and the Irish Spring. That and I think she was embarrassed that I was still wearing pants. I turned to look in the mirror something I do quite often. Not as a habit of vanity but one of self talk.

My mother allways said " No matter where you go - there you are. Now look at yourself and love yourself. Just the way you are. I do"

I could't help but sob. And laugh. And sob. I am a mess. We are a mess. I made a giant soap bubble nose for myself and pasties for the girls. I put the pouf on my head pulled my wet pants up mom style and stuck the girls nipple to nipple on the steamed glass shower stall. Ta das!

"Well mom. Here I am. One cancer ridden clown!"

Ethyl pried her face off of Myrtle spat off the bubbles and in a rare moment spoke. ( she usually sings broadway Merman style )

"Ummm before you go completely off the rails - and before I get hacked off - do you think I could have a picture. A proper picture - because if this is my last memory of myself - a lot more than sun shine and roses are going to be coming up.. and perhaps out your nose."

I wiped away the soap and the snot.

"As you wish Ethy. I will get Liza to call Suzi. Right now I have to get my pants off and the soap out of my eye. - and maybe call my therapist. Or a circus."

"Ummmm Kelly? Stop talking. Even Myrtle - who by the way is turning blue - thinks you should."

" Yes. Of course."

Always listen to your boobs before you become one.

Once one has come to terms with the enevitable loss of a body part the next step is much like rebounding from a bad break up. You go shopping for a new one. And thankfully Vegas was good to us. Not only did I get smancy new sneaker set for the hospital but I had a large chunk of change for my ' new' Ethyl.

But where does one - in a slightly small town go to find a rather large boob - other than a strip joint or used car lot? Pretty simple. There is only one mastecotomy shop to choose from. So you go there or back to grade 6 and stick socks in your bra.

So we jump in the Porsche because for the first time all summer it is actually summer - not sprinter or sprummer real hot. Actually too hot. Yes Vegas is hot - but they cool the air inside and out. As in you have to wear pants. Maybe even a light sweater. We kinda forgot that and were a tad overdressed. Like two house salads in a retirement home with moist lettuce and 100 000 table spoons of dressing. One with 1000 islands and one with that orange kind. I was the orange one. And not all cool like orange is the new black. That was Bea.

Bea runs the boobateria and is as intimidating as Red but in the absolute total opposite way. Of those 100 angels I mentioned - she is in the top ten. That and she knows everything about boobs! My hero.

I was already sweaty from the car ride and now was even more nervous because Bea is a hugger and as we climbed the stairs to the secret room of requiremt the air beacame as still and hot as goat gas in a mountain cave.

"So you are here for a boobie?" Asks Bea in her fabulous mysterious eastern real European accent. ( it took Penelope everything she had to be quiet but the heat was melting all sense and sensibility)

"Ahh yes" said both Penny and I sounding more like Bob's burger does Laverne and Shirley. "Yes. I am going to need one and perhaps a special bra for when I have the surgery and I have this drain thing..." and on I rambled until Bea said.

"shh. I show you. I know your sizes." She glanced at Liza. Nailed it. Liza was agast. " I go to beaches with my husband. I know all sizes. From little baby b to big triple e. All wowmn are beautiful in all sizes. You will be beautiful too. Just like you are now. "

She looked me up and down thankfully missing - or ignoring he tears welling up in my eyes. Fear and kindness make my face leak. Both were walking all over my brow- rather slithering in my gaping pores.

She rose and strode to a rack of bras. Like 200. Victoria may have secrets but Bea has top secrets. The best ever. She collected a handful of soft sexy and yet very purposeful - oh god. Lingere.

Panic. More perspiration. I have only ever worn a sports bra. Except once in a play. Disaster. How do these even do up? That thing is not gonna hold up Myrtle.

Who by the way was checking out the potential Ethyl replacements sitting oddly in a box to my right. Ethyl? No worries. She thinks we are still in Vegas. She does not freak out until later.

Bea catches all three of us - staring at the giant boobies in a box. The bras land on the desk. Bea is delighted.

"You can choose your nipple too. Look" she grabs the boob from the box and essentially tosses it at me. There was a thump behind me which might have been Liza fainting but I was too busy feeling up myself to compare the fake boob to Myrtle. Woa.

OMG. It feels the same!!! I was far far too enthusiastic. In a second the back of the foobie had been peeled off to reveal zillions of little suction cups and Bea slapped it on my skinny clammy little arm.

I tried to shake it off. I turned and flung my arm at Liza who was a colour I have never seen before. Kinda a crimson winter wheat with a side of bleached blotchy violet. Uh oh. I spun around.

"Holy crap! This sucker is not coming off!!" I was on my feet now - flailing -visualizing myself skiing and swimming with my new invincible Ethy. I was so losing my grip on realty.

"AND!" says Bea we have them in every size. You are 11 let me show you 22!!"

Another thump. This one I saw. It was like a ginormous naked sea turtle had jumped a wave and died on her desk. Ethy and Myrtle seemed so - well. Teeny. All was still. Goat gas had steamed the windows. I just stared and thought of my Mom.

Now I understand why a 22 gauge double barrel shot gun blows your shoulder off. And now I know why my Mom had deep dents in her bones. Point made. I sat down. Deep breath. Bea took off the foobie with some groovey twist.

"But before this you need these." She handed me the beige pile of lady things.

I rose again but this time the perspiration and shame had pooled in my pants. My beige lady pants. Oh god. I was soaked. Stuck to myself with a nasty Hanes no ones way wedge. I manoeuvred to the change room.

I could here Lizchatting as I attempted to ooze myself out of my shirt and bra. The girls were molten wine gums. I wrestled them into a new bra. Wow. Comfy. Perky. Stable.

"Uh all is good. This one works. But what are theselooking down inside the bra.

"Those are the spots for your drains. You will have a tube that pulls the fluid out of your nodes and it will collect in the little balls." Yes. I lost it. Little balls. Giggles.

Bea tossedr another garmentr over the door.

"You will need this too. This is a surgical corset to support your Myrtle ( she was listening ) an lpin your drain and put the ball in the pouches."

I was a little light headed as I took off the bra and began to stuff myself into the thick full front zip iron maiden corset from hell. I was beyond stuck. My arm was pinned under Ethyl and I zipped my finger into something made of Velcro. I figured I had about a minute or two of air left in the change room. I was wrong. I was almost unconscious when I flung open the door with my chin completely unable to free myself from the straight jacket I had tied myself in. As I stepped forward I lost my balance and began hopping to find my feet.

My head was out the right arm and my hair was tangled in a clasp. Both arms were now twisted and clearly I had it on inside out. I knew this because when I looked down the pouches were on the outside.

Bea was hysterically silent laughing. Liza was was hysterically silent staring.

I got my feet up under me and snapped upright in one last pathetic sweaty hop.

"LOOK LIza!" I panted as I motioned to my dangling pouches " I am a marsupial!!"

Bea collapsed into her chair. None of us had a shred of mascara left. Liza took out her wallet.

"Write her up Bea. "And make it two. If cancer does not kill her maybe this will."

Says the Dr. The very nervous Dr. The pale DR. dressed all in black that is going to tell us what the MRI has decided. The kind eyed shaky handed Dr. that we have never met before. The DR. who is standing in the doorway looking back and forth to each of us..  totally confused - who gently ask us - with the voice of an angel -

"Which one of you is Kelly?"

Well that blew that prank.

Liza and I got the call to come to the Doctor's office just 48 hours after the fabulous MRI surfing experience. Panic. Quick news is bad news. My chest plate had joined Ethyl in mutual bruising and I was still a one side only Pam Anderson special. It had been a long 30 days since the fateful pool incident. Naturally we were and still are -  a bit wound  up. Keliza style. Which means to cope with terror - we turn into a gay version of Patsy and Eddie  - in our world Penelope and Gretchen. 

So we - P and G are sitting in the Dr.s office laughing and joking and posing for pics. I am Penelope. I have a trashy Euro accent. Gretchen is slightly Parisian and totally creepy. 

"Ohhhhhmm Penelope  - let me look in your ear - on  my i can see right thru - no Kansaire in there. "

"Gretchen dahrlink - please put those dirty dirty little things down - and hop up on the table - ohh look gloves -  small medium and no chance of a pap smear with those !  Egads -  they are huuumungeous!! " SNAP

"Ohhhhhhhmmm Penelope - you are sick - " " i know Gretch Gretchy that 's why we are here."  

" Muahhahahhahahah!!  laughter as G and P plot to role play Kelly as Liza and Liza as kelly. Why we thought this would be funny was beyond comprehension. But i guess it was Liza's way of saying please let it be me and not you. And my way of having a condo over looking denial.  

"Here darling sit up there and look sickly - worse worse yes yes can you tear up a bit?  - maybe chew your hand?" OH Yes good idea Penelope - i will sit here looking all concerned and conventional. Pass me those glasses. Oh dear she is blind and has cancer how sad."

Enter the Dr. Exit P and G. Enter reality. 

" I am.  This is my partner Liza. " I am ashamed of myself as i make an effort to explain what we were plotting and apologize  profusely to the Dr. for being essentially an -  intensive dork. 

We go over the pages and pages of results. It is bad. It is official. I have cancer. Three kinds - three spots - grade three - three options.  I continue to try and sooth the Dr. who is still shaken  - I ask her how she is   - " This must be hard to tell someone you have just met this news." I got a very strange look and a raised eyebrow. 

" Why Kelly, are you being so nice to me?  What is it you do you do? You are being so brave.."

"Well Dr. You are telling me something i already know. I have had lots of time to prepare. You have not .That and i work with kids, and sometimes no matter is happening in my head or world, it has to be 100% about trying to help them - right now  this is like that - it not about me - this is about us. All of us ( with a wink) Even Gretchen and Penelope."

 The Dr. just shook her head, smiled and asked if i was going to be ok? "

My answer was, is and always the this - i looked up at Liza - 

"I have to be."

After the ultrasound - which was physically painless but emotionally challenging- as the machine gently dings every time they capture an image. My imagist was making her own 11 minute mega Kenny G style elevator remix of Ethyl. Which is why Liza's face was wadding up .  

The music was nasty and she could see just how big ole scary Mary was. And with the biopsy next she new it was soon to be big ole scary Bloody Mary. 

Enter the Dr. Really.?. A baggy golf shirt and shuffly feet? Hmmm. The doctor who does these is a woman. This is a dude. This is a resident. This has suck potential. Back up -check- activate sarcasm-check-activate leaving my own body and joining Liza in corner - check.

"Hello I am Dr. Blah blah and I will be doing your blah blah biopsy blah blah"

Zero bedside manner.

"What is you date of birth and do you have any allergies"

"Yes I look great for my age and I am allergic to bad outfits."

"Wel I don't know what you came in wearing - so I can't comment."

Ok. You will do. I got back into my body.

Dr. Dry explained the process. Cold. Numb. Burning sensation from the local freezing. . Then he would make an incision and insert the needle which would take about a cm of tissue. I would hear a noise as it snapped the samples. Likely 3.

"Ok. My pool is colder. I have been numb for days. And yes that burns. "

"Ok. Tell me if you feel something sharp."

Enter the scalpel. Into my flesh. Which I can feel. Liza is still in the corner. She looks like she is at the coroner already. Can living people really be that colour?

OMG, I say to myself. Tell me if you can feel my feet wrapping around your neck and strangling you.

But I cannot say anything. I am just squeezing the sheets and watching my stomach convulse. Like the time I had a manwhich and threw up in my friends hair.

Liza appears at my side and holds my arm down so I do not punch him in the teet.

"I can feel that" I whisper. " I think he is talking the biopsy from the back forty."

I can hear mumbling. Then I felt more burning. Them I heard the noise. Then I felt a long pulling feeling. Like my eye was going to be on the end of that needle.

Dr. Dry is well aware this is not going well. He is shaking too. The technician is holding his elbows to steady him. This is like doing surgery on top of dryer full of towels.

"One more. " He says meekly. All sense of in your face bravado long gone.

"Ok." I grip onto Liza. Her face is different now. Softer. And yet very very serious. I find out later that my face was essentially blue. With a few plaid bits. So gay.

I can feel something warm slowly moving down my side. It is not tears. It is Mary.

Bleeding.

" Not enough Saran Wrap." I whisper to Liza.

Chunk number two comes out. Oh Mary is so angry and she is telling me all about it by spewing herself everywhere.

"Done!"

"Good job Kelly." Says the super nice woman who is holding my side and blotting up Mary by applying the kind of pressure you might use to roll out pie dough.

Dr. Dry asks me one more time what date of birth is. This time i just answer and he leaves - my insides in a can under his arm.

"Now be sure to take some Tylenol and ice yourself. There will be some swelling. The steri strips will come off in about a week. You can shower as normal tomorrow and swim if you like. If you have a fever or any bleeding go to emergeny."

Ok. Swelling. Bruising. Reasonable. Not having any of that other stuff.

I eased myself back into my giant sports bra. Thanked her profusely and wandered out.

I am so in shock I do not really feel or hear anything around me. I am ok I tell Liza.

"Good" she says with a manical smile.

" Because my sisters are coming over. All four of them. "