Chapter 1-3

Chapter 1-3

            Ma dressed quickly, even though she was very drowsy. Mary and Lizzy wake up their sister Betty to get her moving, leaving the other girls in their bedroom with Steve’s wife guarding the door. Pa picked up EJ out of the tub like a limp rag doll. He was so tired. EJ barely opened his eyes, almost delirious. Pa dashed down the hall onto the porch and quickly wrapped him in a damp, cold quilt, folding another around him with some ice to keep him cool. Pa placed him in the back of the pickup with Ma, putting EJ’s head in her lap, and jumped into the driver’s seat with Doc on the other side. Robert and Will climbed in the back with Ma.

            Pa yelled back to Julie. “Take care of the little ones and get some sleep.”

            Doc screamed. “Wayne, mind the ruts, and don’t spare the horses. Let’s go, man. Your grandmother, and they got it, boy.”

            Doc was right. Grandma and the aunts had everything under control. The first thing they did was send Julie straight to bed. “When breakfast is done, I will bring it to you, dear. Now go to bed,” Grandma said.

            “But Grandma, the chores still have to be done, and little ones need to be watched. You need help with breakfast,” she replied.

            “Hogwash, child. You have done more than your share; now scoot off to bed,” she said with a kiss on her cheek and a swift kick towards her room.

            Mary woke Anna and the girls. “All right, you three. We have a very busy day, especially you two,” Mary said as she pointed to Peggy and Donna, placing her arm around Anna. “Anna, dear, your sister Julie has been up half the night, so please let her sleep. Your brothers have gone with your parents to take EJ to the hospital, so you’ll have to help Richard with their chores.”

            “Yes, ma’am,” she replied.

            Anna was a tomboy at heart and preferred wearing jeans instead of nice farmer dresses, unlike her sister, Julie, and mother. Despite being short for her age, at five feet and two inches, she could beat her brothers at wrestling. Her soft chocolate brown eyes went well with her light brown hair, which turned golden honey in the morning sun. Anna had a stubborn streak that matched her mother’s.

            Sometimes, Anna worries that her family has hidden things from her because she doesn’t act as mature as her sister Julie. However, Anna, too, hid things from them, as she had discovered that she could communicate with animals. If she listened closely, Anna could even hear their thoughts. Anna had noticed that plant life seemed to grow more and brighten when she was around it. Anna was afraid to tell her parents about these abilities because she feared they would think she was crazy.

            People often treated her with kid gloves, which Anna found frustrating. She was no longer a little girl but a young woman who hoped to make her parents proud after graduating from high school the next year. She enjoyed spending time with her brothers, sister, and mother, and longed for people to see her for who she truly was.

            “Now then, you girls hurry and get dressed. We have lots to do today before they return,”  Mary said. “Steve, you need to stay in that bed,” she said as he tries to get up, and hiswife sits him right back down in it. “And when Richard finishes the chores, that’s where he is going. We women can handle things just fine around here without you men for a while,” shaking her fingers at them.

            They always let him know Loraine was Steve’s better half. She stood just a few inches taller, with her long, graceful legs reaching six-foot-one-and-a-half. Loraine was three years older than her husband of six years and had been hoping for children, but so far has had none, and not for the lack of trying; times have been hard when they discussed the idea, but there is still hope, more so now, considering she found out she is pregnant and hadn’t yet told him. Perhaps when he wakes and if he has been a good boy, she will tell him her little secret.

            Her high cheekbones set off her green eyes and short brown hair, hiding the gray when tied into a bun. People know her to be stubborn, or just as stubborn as her husband, when it comes to getting her way. Her dress style wasn’t that much different from Martha and her daughters, even though she might not be in a woman’s fashion magazine. It was comfortable and yet plain. She was a stay-at-home wife caring for other people’s children in her home for extra income to help pay the bills. She rubbed her stomach, feeling a minor bump, thinking how nice it would be to raise her own children for a change.

 

* * * *

            Pa parked the pickup right at the hospital doors; Payson Hospital wasn’t as large or fancy as Provo’s, with only thirty-five beds, and had no emergency room like the larger hospitals. Pa picked EJ up in one swoop in his arms; the boys helped Ma out of the back of the pickup. Doc was in the lead and banged on the doors so the nurse could let them in.

            “I’m sorry, sir. We’re not open yet,” she replied as the nurse came to the door. “Can you come back in a couple more hours?” She asked.

            Doc and Wayne forced their way through the door. Doc said. “Listen here, missy. I will not come back in two hours; we need that, Doctor. NOW! Doc stands right up to the nurse, his face turned red. He walked right past her down the hall with Wayne, Ma, and the boys right behind him. Another nurse pops right in front of Doc. He just pushed her to the side as he grabbed a gurney for EJ for Wayne to set him on.

            “You can’t go in there, sir!” the nurse said as she tried to step in his way.

            “Watch me, missy! I have just about enough of this! Now git me that Doctor on the horn!” He said as he watched that nurse turn white.

Robert whispers to Will, “I’m wondering if Doc Hatfield might need a doctor,” watching the blood vestals pop on his head. “I’ve never seen him so mad, but man, can he make a nurse jump?” Robert said, watching them scurry down the hall.

Ma wiped the sweat off EJ’s head with a towel she had found on the cart, and Doc found more ice for them.

            “What’s all the racket in my hospital?” Doctor Whitmore asked, seeing Doctor Hatfield walking through the door. A nurse pointed at Doc Hatfield. “Well, I’ll be a Sunday preacher if that doesn’t sound a lot like Doc Hatfield,” he said.

            Doctor Kollie Whitmore. Kollie was Born and raised in a small village in Kenya, Eastern Africa, near the Indian Ocean. His parents died when he was two, leaving his grandparents to raise him, and when he turned nineteen, they sent him to the Emory University School of Medicine to become a doctor in specialized medicine and served in the Vietnam War, where he met Doctor Hatfield and worked by his side for nearly five years. During that time, they traveled to the United States, training nurses, and young Doctors for the Red Cross.

After meeting his young wife Renee at a local dance in the small town of Evansville, Kentucky, where he was stationed at the time, they decided to get married a week later. Not once has he ever looked back as he held a locket of her hair around his neck. He towered over most men, reaching seven feet tall because of his long legs. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and a strong jawline, like his grandfather’s and his mother’s aristocratic nose. Kollie loved his life as a doctor and being the father of two boys, Frank and Mark, the spitting image of him when he was a boy.

            “Doctor Whitmore, he’s early, according to the schedule. He’s not supposed to be seen  until noon. “Doctor Whitmore, he’s early. You are not supposed to see him until noon,” the nurse replies.

            “I see,” he said, looking at the schedule. “Doc, you must have had a good reason,” Doc Whitmore said as he looked at the boy on the gurney.

            “I did, or I wouldn’t be here, you know that?” Doc said as he turned red again. “Let’s take a look and see then, shall we?”

            The nurses stepped in his way. “You can’t, Doctor. Your schedule is full, and they’re not even checked in,” she replied.

            That did it. Doc Hatfield blew a gasket right there in the middle of the room as his face was about to explode fiery hot. Robert and Will knew that the nurse better run because she would need a doctor soon. Before Doc could mutter one single word, Doctor Whitmore just picked up the clipboard with the schedule and tossed it out the door.

            “Now, as I was saying,” he said, bearing down on his nurse. “Let’s have a look-see, shall we?” The nurse looked at the clipboard on the floor, then at the Doctor, her lips trembling. He just muttered calmly. “Just have them rescheduled since they are here already,” and went on about his work. “Now then, Doc, tell me what you have brought me?” He said, seeing EJ all wrapped up like a Thanksgiving turkey. “I see, yes, hum, which is a problem.” As Doc tried to explain. “Can’t keep him cool enough, infection bad, wounds won’t heal. Hmm, I see,” Doctor Whitmore said.

            “Well, Doctor, let’s get a cracking instead of standing there looking at him,” Doc Hatfield replies.

            “Doc, simmer down; you need to calm down a bit. How many cups of old Joe have you had today?” He asked.

            “Why you?” Doc Hatfield was getting redder by the minute, steam blowing out of his ears.

            “All right, all right; man, you have gotten uptight over the years since I’ve known ya,” Doc Whitmore replies. Doc Whitmore slowly uncovered EJ. “What a mess,” seeing some wounds that were still healing. EJ, incoherent and mostly dozy-like sleep, mumbling of heat and pain as Ma wiped the sweat off his face and head, wiping a tear from her eyes with the back of her right hand. “You are right, Doc. This boy is burning up, and those wounds are infected. Let’s get an x-ray of those ribs. Nurse, find this boy a sheet and some ice packs. Move it! You say these are his parents?” Doc nodded his head yes.

            “Nurse, give them the paperwork while we’re getting the x-ray. Oh, that schedule�"cancel it. It looks like I’m booked for the day. Well, Doc, let’s go, or are you just going to stand there?” he said, throwing him a white coat. “Yes, I see,” Doc Whitmore said as he looked at the X-ray pointed with his finger. “Snapped clean through, and this pouch behind the ribs got something in it, got to be removed, nasty business, Doc. This boy will be in a lot of hurt after we re-break these ribs, but if we, maybe, yes, I think I can do it by re-breaking two instead of three,” putting his hand on his chin and looking at the boy.

            “Doctor, he’s burning up again,” the nurse replies.

            “Thanks, nurse. Let’s dip him in the cold tank first and give him something to help him.

            “Doctor, what about those stitches?” The nurse asked.

            “We will have to reopen them, so it will not matter much. Just put the boy to sleep and cool him off.”

            “Yes, Doctor,” the nurse replies.

            Ma, Pa, and the boys went down to the waiting room and paced back and forth as they seemed to wear the floor out. Doctor Hatfield walked into the room. They rush over to him.

            “He’s doing fine. They just put him to sleep, cooled him off, and removed all the infection. The Doctor is just getting ready to,” Doc swallows. “To re-break those ribs, Martha, to remove that pouch. There’s a small cafeteria down the hall if you folks want to grab a bite. He’ll be in surgery for at least another hour or so,” he said.

Martha Wayne tried to smile. Doc placed his hand on Martha’s shoulder.

            “He’ll be fine,” Wayne said and walked back down the hall. Wayne wrapped Martha in his arms and held her close to him. He did what he could to comfort her and the boys. None of them really felt like eating, but Pa took them down there anyway to pass the time away. After an hour, then two, then three went by, Doc Hatfield found them grinning ear to ear, nearly laughing as he carried a small jar.

            “Wayne, Martha, boys, he’s in his room recovering. You can see him if you like, but I’m afraid we’ll keep him overnight. Martha, you would not believe what we found?” Doc said, showing them the jar. Inside the jar were bits of pieces of Mr. Scarecrow and some tiny bits of glass and straw unwrapped. “That scarecrow was the source of the infection behind his ribs; the glass would keep reopening the wound,” Doc said.

            Martha didn’t find it nearly as amusing or as funny. In fact, she wanted to take that glass jar and toss it to the moon if she could. “I never liked that scarecrow,” Martha said, her eyes bearing down on Doc and that jar. Boys and Pa didn’t say a word; they knew better than to mess with Ma on this point. Doc carefully put the jar back into his pocket and wiped the smile from his face, keeping the treasure for himself. Doc leads the way down the hall toward EJ’s room, safely tucked in bed.

            “Doctor Whitmore says he’ll still have the fever for a couple more days at least, but it won’t be as bad. He just needs to sweat it out, Martha. Now, we have to keep him overnight so they can monitor him. You are welcome to stay if you like, but he needs his rest,” Doc said.

Martha found a chair in the room’s corner near the window. “You got that right, Doc. I am not leaving this spot,” as she pulled a chair right by his side his bed, taking his hand and placing it in hers.

            Doc turned to Wayne and the boys. “Wayne, I’d doubt you could drag her out, so stay a few minutes, then we’ll head back to the farm,” he said.

Wayne nodded his head, watching Martha take EJ’s hand in hers and stroke the other against his cheek. Then, bending down, he kissed her on the head. “Wayne, I won’t leave him, not for another minute, dear,” as tears ran down her cheeks.

            “I’ll take the boys back, dear, and come back,” Wayne said.

            EJ, sound asleep, Robert, Will, and Pa each placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear. “Stay put,” Pa whispered. “I will be back. Stay put, and Ma’s right here.”

            Doc followed them out the door, leaving orders at the desk, telling them to make up a bed for Martha in the same room, and they would check on him throughout the day. “And next time when I come, you better let me in or else!” Doc said, glaring down at the nurses.

            Pa, Doc, and the boys returned to the farm. Pa thanked Doc for all his help and sent him on his way. Once inside the house, Pa informed everyone about the news and then sent his boys back to bed. Seeing the womenfolk have the run of the house, they pushed him out the door. “Wayne, we don’t need you; we’re fine. Go back to your son and your wife,” Mary said.

            Grandma opened the door with a swift kick to get him moving. Now scoot, boy, and stop doodling.”

            Pa laughed. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned the key and returns to his son and wife with another clean sheet for EJ and an overnight bag for them.

            Ma sat in the chair next to the bed. Holding EJ’s hand, EJ woke up. Ma could feel his fingers moving in her hand and looked at his face as his eyes were slowly opening. Still drowsy from the medication, he moaned from the pain on his side and between his legs.

            Ma leaned over close to his face and whispered. “It’s ok, EJ. I’m here, son, your Ma’s here,” she said, kissing his cheek and stroking his hair. The nurse came into the room. Ma sees her, and she tells the nurse he’s waking up to find the Doctor.

            The nurse nodded her head, making a quick note on the chart. After a few minutes, Doctor Whitmore walked into the room. Ma nearly gasped at the sight of him. Doctor Whitmore laughed at her. “Oh, this?” He said, pointing at his clothing. “This is my native clothing from my homeland,” he said as he spun around. It’s called a ‘Kitenge gown.’ It is very comfortable, I might add and keeps me cool and dry. My wife made it for me,” he said.

            “Where are you from, Doctor Whitmore, if I might ask?” She asked.

            “Oh, didn’t Doc tell you? Well, that old sawbones. I’m from East Africa, and I came over during the war,” he said. “Let me see,” he said, turning towards EJ’s chart. He glanced over at him and saw him starting to wake up. “Yes, yes, I see. Good. He’s coming around, nasty business, those wounds of his, but I think we got it.”

            Wayne entered the room, and Doctor Whitmore’s eyes nearly hit the floor. He’s never in his life or thought he saw a man in the dress. Now he’s looking at his son. Martha laughed, seeing his expression, and whispered in his ear, “He’s from East Africa, dear. It’s called a Kitenge gown,” trying not to stare. “EJ is waking up, dear,” she said as she pointed to the bed. Pa smiled at EJ, not yet fully aware.

            Doctor Whitmore turned to Wayne. “Give him another hour; he’ll be awake, I think. Then we’ll bring him in some food and lots to drink, lots, and lots.” He made another note in the chart. The nurse would be in a few minutes to give him something to help with the pain. I’ll be back in a while after I make my rounds.”

            Wayne and Martha watched him leave, staring at that colorful dress he wore going out the door. It had so many colors that seemed to blur together. Three kinds of reds and yellows, and what you might think was bright orange as bright as it was. It had a V-neck with white lace around the neck and the sleeves and was almost as long as a woman’s dress, except it went only past his knees. He even had a necklace of a sort of tooth and black beads on a gold chain.

            “Oh, my dear, did you ever see such a thing?” Wayne said as he disappeared around the corner.

            EJ, hearing voices in the room. “Ma, is that you?”

            Ma leans over to his bed, taking his hand. “Yes, son, I’m here, and Pa is here, too.”

            Pa grabbed a chair sitting on the other side of the bed, taking the other hand, and leaned over so EJ could see him. “I’m right here, son.”

            EJ sighed with relief, relaxed a bit, and turned his head. “Ma, it really hurts, and it’s so hot,” he replied.

            “I know, son. The nurse will be here in a minute to give you something to relieve the pain. Doc said the fever will lessen in a couple of days.” Ma said as she wiped his forehead and face with a cool towel, sat with him, and tried to make it as comfortable as possible. The nurse finally came in with the meds; Martha gave her a stern look as if it had taken her long enough.

            It wasn’t till later that afternoon when the Doctor appeared again; EJ’s eyes went wide as he walked in the door, seeing this man in this flowing robe dress. EJ whispers to Ma. “That man’s wearing a dress, Ma?”

            Pa and Ma were trying very hard not to laugh or stare at the Doctor’s dress. She whispered back. “I know, son. Try not to stare,” she said.

            “Well, well. Look who’s awake,” as the Doctor walked in. Doctor Whitmore went over to EJ and picked up his chart. “Son, I see you have been busy, yes, sir,” Doctor Whitmore said, sitting on the bed, picking up his dress, and bending his knees. EJ’s eyes never left the sight of this man’s dress. It could stop a horse in the middle of the street; they would go blind by all the colors. “Let’s take a peek, shall we, at those stitches,” he said.

            EJ’s eyes drifted toward Ma and then at Pa.

            She nodded and whispered in his ear. “It’s all right.” EJ swallowed hard, shook his head, and closed his eyes. Ma and Pa held his hand while he let the Doctor look. “It would be much better if I didn’t say so, and I do. Yes, you are going to be very tender for quite some time. I understand school starts in a couple more weeks.” EJ nodded as they covered him back up. Well, you won’t be going, not with those wounds, I am afraid,” he said. 

            Ma turned to the Doctor. “We have already been informed. Thank you, Doctor,” Ma said as she brushed EJ’s hair.

            Doc laughed. “I know, Martha Wayne. Doc Hatfield filled me in,” he smiled, rubbing EJ’s head. Old sawbones doesn’t miss a trick,” he said as he stood shaking his dress. He said you had a problem, and I have the solution,” he said as he spun around in his fancy dress.

            Martha gasped. “No, Doctor!” Her eyes go wide. “You got to be kidding?” She said when she looked up at him and EJ in the bed.

            “Martha, when I was a boy in my country, we were poor. This is what we wore. In fact, we still do, but it’s just not as fancy as this. Here, I brought some pictures,” he said as he set down a photo album from his country with him and Doc in it. Wayne and Martha turned the pages, eyes glaring back and forth. Never had they seen such a sight. Doc never looked so young. “Doc was the one that brought me and my family over after the war, you know. That old rascal, a country Doctor; who would ever have thought I ever see him again?”