42
Wednesday, June 7, 2006 – 11:52 a.m.
Aspen Memorial Hospital – Room 511
Maisie, Karen and Claudette sat laughing hysterically. Maisie had just made some wisecrack about Papa Ken’s doll. Claudette, the counselor who had been chatting with both Maisie and Karen for the last 45 minutes was visualizing doctor Slaterbaugh traipsing through the hospital carrying the doll. She could just see him trying to explain what he was doing as he went into some meeting or seminar carrying the doll.
“Hello, I’m doctor Slaterbaugh and this is my patient Barbie,” Claudette said in a deep voice imitating Ken. Everyone roared. “Barbie,” she continued, “would you like to say hello?” Changing to a high-pitched voice, Claudette spoke as if she were Barbie. “Hi everyone. I’m Barbie and this is my friend, Ken.” That line got all of them going. Maisie had tears streaming down her face while Karen laughed so hard that barely a sound emerged from her mouth. Claudette was guffawing to the point where a snort every few laughs burst forth which just added fuel to the flames of laughter filling the room.
Ken stepped into the room unnoticed by the three girls giggling themselves silly. “Hey Ken,” Claudette continued, “want to take a ride in my car? We can go visit my friends at the beach. Come on, let’s go!” Maisie and Karen were still reeling from laughter as Claudette continued to add laughter saturated logs to the fire. Ken stood quietly behind Claudette watching, a small half smile creasing his lips. Looking up, Maisie gave out a startled gasp that in turn grabbed the attention of Karen and Claudette. They both stop laughing with such abruptness that one might of thought that they’d hit a brick wall. Looking at Maisie, they could see that she was looking at something behind Claudette. Both women whirled around in unison. When they did so, they both gasped when they realized that Ken had been standing there listening.
“Doctor Slaterbaugh. Hi. We, uh, were just talking, and laughing. Maisie is doing great! I, uh, thought you’d be here soon. So, umm, I was just getting ready to go. Uh, so when did you walk in? I mean, it doesn’t matter, I was just wondering, because, well, uh …” Ken stopped her in mid sentence.
“It’s okay Claudette. I’ve been here for about 15 seconds. I heard what you were saying, but it’s fine. I’m not upset. I’m just glad to see Maisie is doing so well.”
A relieved expression crossed Claudette’s face when she realized that Ken was not upset about the Ken and Barbie jokes. Still, it didn’t stop her face from turning beet red.
Ken asked, “So you were all able to talk to get some things out in the open?”
“Yes,” Maisie piped in. “We talked a lot about me, my headaches, some of my nightmares and Papa.”
“So how do you feel?” Ken asked walking over next to her bed.
“I feel fine. Besides, I like Claudette. She’s funny.” A sheepish grin crossed Claudette’s face whilst the redness continued.
“I’m glad to hear that. It seems that your day has been going well?”
“Oh yes, Papa.” Maisie snickered. “It’s been just fine. No headaches, no nightmares and no dirty dolls. Barbie is all clean thanks to you.” Maisie tried to hold back her laughter, but a few giggles emerged from her. Karen gave her a ‘that’s enough’ look, but it didn’t help. Besides, Claudette was beginning to giggle again too.
Looking at Karen, Ken asked, “So how are you?”
“I’m doing very well, thank you. Since I saw you this morning, I’ve woke up more so I’m a little more talkative now. Plus, I was able to clean up and put a little make-up on. So, I’m doing well.”
“Claudette,” Ken asked turning toward her. “What’s your thought on future sessions with the girls, or should I say the ladies?”
“I think another two or three wouldn’t hurt. We made some nice progress today. We even talked a little about Papa. Maisie seems very comfortable discussing what happened and how she feels.”
Ken looked at Maisie. She smiled at him with her dimpled cheeks and curly hair.
“So how does that sound to you Miss Shirley?”
“What?”
“Okay, don’t be cute.”
“Oh, you mean talking some more with Claudette?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean, and you know it,” Ken said with a smile and some teasing in his voice.
“That’s fine. Can she come to my house?”
Claudette spoke up. “I’d love to, but it’s best if you come back here. I have a lot of other patients I see so I can’t do a lot of traveling around. However, I’ll make you a deal.”
“What’s that,” Maisie asked, her curiosity piqued.
“You come and see me a couple of more times, and I’ll drop by your house sometime after work one day. Then you can show me your bedroom, some pictures of your Papa, and whatever else you might want to share.”
“That sounds cool. When will you be coming, next week?”
“Well, I’ll have to check my schedule. First, though, you have to visit me at least twice before I come see you. You can come back next Monday if that works for you.”
Karen shook her head. “That sounds okay. What time?”
“I’ll give you a call with a time. I need to look at my schedule.”
“Okay. Let me know.”
“Well, I think that’s about it for today,” Claudette said standing to leave. Her beautiful red hair and fair complexion was always a head turner when the guys passed her by. Ken had noticed, but only in a complimentary way. She was young enough to be his daughter, so he’d never given it a second thought.
Ken spoke up. “Thanks for coming in Claudette. I appreciate your help. I’m sure Maisie and Karen do too.”
“Yes, thank you very much.” Karen stood up and shook hands with Claudette to thank her.
“Thanks Claudette. See you next Monday,” Maisie chimed in.
“Okay cutie. I’ll see you then. Oh, and don’t forget to bring Barbie. You never know. Ken might drop by.”
All three girls giggled again while Ken stood by smiling. Claudette turned to leave and winked at Ken indicating she was joking. Ken nodded slightly as if to say ‘that’s okay.’ Claudette left the room pulling the door shut loosely behind her.
“So, can I leave?”
“I believe you can. Let me see.” Ken picked up the clipboard with the current information for the day. “Yup. Looks good. I say you’re discharged young lady.”
“Woo hoo!” Maisie shouted. “I get to go home.”
Karen smiled a smile of relief and happiness. “She’s been itching to leave since the time she got here yesterday. She never wanted to come in in the first place.”
Ken looked at Maisie. “Just think, if you’d never come in, you’d never have met Papa, never have gotten to eat the yummy hospital food and never would have received your doll Barbie.”
“I know. I am glad of those things, including the food. It was actually really good. Still, you know how it is; home is the best place to be.”
“You’re right. I don’t blame you there.” Signing the bottom of the papers on the clipboard, Ken said, “Okay. You’re all signed out. I’ll give these to the nurse and she’ll come back in a few minutes with a copy for you. I don’t anticipate you needing anything else, but feel free to call if you do. You’ve got the medicine I prescribed and have another appointment with Claudette. I guess that about wraps it up.”
“Will you come and see me,” Maisie asked, her big eyes imploring Ken to say yes.
“I had already planned on doing so. I’ve got your address. I’ll call first before I come by so you can be ready.”
“Thanks,” Karen said. “I’ve never been one for drop-ins, although you’re always welcome.”
Ken smiled and put his hand on Karen’s shoulder. “Thanks for the invitation. I’ll be sure to come and see you both. I’ll also call in a day or two and check up on you both.”
“Thanks for your concern,” Karen said.
“Thanks Papa.” Maisie put out her arms to give Ken a hug. He walked to the side of the bed and gave her a big bear hug. “You take care, okay?”
“Okay.”
“And no more nightmares, you hear?”
“Yes sir,” Maisie said in a deeper voice while saluting Ken.
“Drive carefully on your way home.”
“Thanks, we will,” Karen replied.
“See you soon Miss Shirley.”
Maisie waved, her curls bouncing in front of her eyes. Her left arm was wrapped securely around Barbie. A huge smile covered her face. Ken smiled back.
“Have a good day.”
“You too,” Karen and Maisie said in unison.
Ken left the room, closing the door behind him. Stopping at the neurology desk, he passed on Maisie’s discharge papers to the nurse who said she’d take care of everything. Ken thanked her and went back to his office.
Walking to his desk, he sat down to finish some paperwork that was slowly stacking up. Thinking about Maisie’s case, Ken felt satisfied with the outcome. Although he was totally devastated by the loss of both Benita and Hank, he was glad that the ugly hand of death had not been able to grasp someone so young and in the prime of life. Ken thought about Spike and Slick. He hoped that Spike was living out a full and happy life in 1792, although he was still having trouble grasping the idea of time travel. Slick, on the other hand, could burn in hell as far as he was concerned. What he did to those poor, innocent people was heinous. About all he could hope for was justice to be administered somewhere in the stream of time.
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