Not Just and Everyday When

It's Not Just and Everyday When
Friendship is a gift of faith among those where it grows
Teaching all who tend to them to mend each other's woes

"Charles, for God's sake man, you're acting like a fool!   Now settle down!"  Dr. Garrett's voice could be heard all the way down the hall to where I had been napping in the guest bedroom.  "I told you she's resting!  Her father asked me to keep everyone out so that she could until he returned."
"Penelope!"
I heard one door close to mine own slam shut then Mrs. Hazel implore him again.  "Charles, please."
"Just tell me where Penelope is Mrs. Hazel.  She was at my place when this happened, now I want to see her."
"Alright, alright" she tried her best to calm him.  "Let me see if she feels like having a visitor.  She could be sleeping. She's been through an awful ordeal.  You don't want to make that worse now do you?"
"I need to see her Mrs. Garrett."
"But first you need to calm down.  You don't want to scare the poor thing.  Now you wait right here.  I'll see if she's awake and if she wants a visitor.  If she's not you're more than welcome to stay here until her parents returns to take her to Bridge Port.  I'm sure she'd like to see you before she goes."
"Just ask her if she'll see me.  Tell her it's important."
"I will, now, you stay right here and I'll see if she's awake.  Waylon get Charles something to drink he looks like he's been through a long night."  The next thing I saw was my bedroom door open slightly and Mrs. Hazel slip inside closing the door quickly behind her then fixing the lock.  She smiled an exasperated smile as she approached my bedside.  "Did you hear that" she asked.  I nodded yes.  "He looks a mess dear, I'm almost sure he hasn't slept and probably been helping clear the paths."
"It's alright Mrs. Garrett.  You can let him in." 
"Alright, well let me help you straighten up some.  Are you comfortable enough?  Your mother should be back from the store in a few minutes.  She wanted to make sure you had something besides pudding to eat before they tried to transport you all that way to Bridge Port."  She looked at the serving tray still sitting on the table in the corner of the room next to the couch.  "I'll get you some more water."  She picked up the water pitcher from the table then went to open the door.  When she did I heard her tell Charles that he could have time to visit but to keep things as calm and quiet as he possibly could so as not to disrupt me too much.  Then he stepped inside.  He didn't bother closing the door when he came in but Mrs. Garrett eased it closed softly behind him.  He stood at the foot of my bed staring me straight in the eyes for a brief few seconds then looked me once over. 
"Mrs. Garrett's right" I said, "I feel rough enough without having to squabble with you about you needing to calm down so you don't get yourself into any trouble."  He shook his head,  "that's not why I'm here.  May I" he pointed at the side of the bed as if he wanted to sit down. 
"Sure, have a seat."
So he did.  After he eased himself next to me he said, "wow, that's uh, that looks a lot worse closer up than it did from back there."
"It don't feel too good either."
"No I don't guess it does.  Bryce told me what happened this morning when I came in.  I just wanted to see you myself."
I couldn't help but ask, "how are things going out there?"
"Well, much different than we thought they would.  Most of those fellows here and in Hovington that we thought were working for LaFeu are leaving town.  But apparently that new bunch that were coming in from the woods are going to be our problem until we can get a good defense in place.  They started going into peoples barns and sheds to hide yesterday when they came in.  Half of the farms between here and your house have at least ten to twenty strangers sitting in them that nobody knows.  Everybody we had in there watching the paths are trying to hold out without getting found out until we can figure what the other bunch is up to.  That's what I was going to tell you, we decided that we were going to go in all the resident houses and get as much of their personal items out as we could so this outfit don't end up taking off with peoples entire lives and identities.  The plan is to put them in the safe rooms underneath then seal off the tunnels and rig them to implode if anyone tries to break through who don't know the rigging.  Which of course would be anybody but us.  I was going to help your dad at your house and was wondering if there was anything in particular you wanted me to get."
"Father's watch.  It belonged to my grandfather, made in Switzerland.  If my father don't get it first you can remind him.  And while we're on the subject, I didn't get to that box you told me to get.  The one under your bunk.  I went up to get the tool box you asked for first and, well, you know the rest."
"Edison?"
"Yeah."
"No problem, I'll get it.  How long are you going to be gone?"
"I have no idea.  I thought I would be here until all of this happened last night.  And if things are as bad as you say they are we might just end up staying there until everything here returns to normal.  Especially if my father has his way."
"You probably won't be able to do much for a while anyway.  Might be good for you."
"When has being stuck in a house, bored out of your mind,  ever been good for anyone?" 
He was staring at my face.  "Did Edison do all that to you?" 
"Not all of it.  Bryce gets credit for the shoulder; I'm sure he mentioned tackling Edison and I.  But Edison's the one who dragged me down and gave me all of these" I motioned towards my face.  "It could've been a lot worse if Mr. Reese hadn't have been outside there.  He's the one who kept a stack of old tires from falling on top of me.  He didn't say anything but I'm pretty sure one or two of them fell on him while he was covering me."
"Mr. Reese?  Right, the fellow that knocked Saville out."
"Yeah, Mr. Reese."  I looked out the window wondering where he was at the moment.
Charles said something while I was wondering about Reese that I didn't actually hear because I wasn't paying him any attention.  "Penelope?"  His voice finally won my attention.  "What" I asked to see what I had missed. "You were saying something about?"
"I said Bryce said he was one of LaFeu's scam victims."
"Who?"
"Mr. Reese" Charles said his name again.
"Right, Mr. Reese."
"Are you alright" he asked.
"Yeah I'm alright."
"You look a little confused at the moment."
"I'm just thinking about everything that's happened; trying to gather my thoughts.  You will send word to me in Bridge Port about what's happening here, won't you?"
"If you'd like for me to, sure.  I'll work something out with Bryce so he knows to send you word everyday.  I'm sure he won't mind." 
It was then my mother opened the bedroom door and entered in two steps.  "Charles" she greeted him kindly.  "Mrs. Garrett said you were here."  He stood up from where he had been sitting then went to greet my mother.  "I'm sorry I disturbed her but I really wanted to make sure she was alright for myself."
"No you're not" mother smiled at him broadly.  "You've never made apologies for being a stubborn, borish, grump when you wanted your way.  You've been that way since you were a child.  Have you ate anything this morning?  I was going to make Penelope something to eat before we left for Bridge Port.  You're more than welcome to join her if you'd like.  I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you joined us, would you" she looked in my direction when she asked. 
"Not at all" I answered. 
Charles made a half glance back over his shoulder before he said, "yeah, sure oh and uh, would it be too much of a problem to ask for a little coffee.  I've been awake awhile.  Could use a little more than water to go on."  Mother nodded her head smiling.  "Sure, I can make you some fresh coffee."  She then walked past Charles to sit a large shopping bag down on the couch.  "I bought you some clean clothes to travel in.  We'll try them on after you eat to make sure they fit."  "What about you" I replied while pointing at her dress that had been stained over night from my nose bleed.  She walked to my bedside and leaned over to kiss me on the top of the head.  "I bought me some too.  We'll clean up after we eat, alright?  Now I'm going to take this" she held a small bag in her hand up, "to the kitchen and make us something to eat before we go.  I bought a few things for our trip as well.  It's a long drive."
After mother left the room Charles stood by the door.  "I'm going to go over to the garage and see how messed up Edison Saville left my place.  I'll be back in a few minutes.  I shouldn't be gone long, I'll tell your mother where I'm going so she'll know to check on you.  Do you need anything before I go?  Is there anything I can bring you from the store or maybe the soda shoppe?  I know you like Mrs. Voiles pretzels."  His comment made me grin a little.  "No, I'm fine.  But thank you."  Then out the door he went.  After he left the room I pulled the covers back off of me then eased myself up off the bed.  By the time I was close enough to the window to see out of it I saw a long black car, much fancier than anything I'd ever saw in Riverton, pull up beside the sidewalk and park.  I stepped back from the window to stay out of sight.  When the driver of the car opened the back left passenger side door Madison Longfellow stepped out on the car.  I turned immediately away from the window and made my way to the bedroom door.  I opened the door stepped into the hall then tried to speak as loud as I could manage through my sore mouth for my mother to hear me.  "Mom?  Mom, come here.  Quickly please."  Just as I finished speaking I saw her appear from around the corner at the back of the house.  "Penelope darling what is it?"  I didn't bother explaining I just turned back inside the room.  She followed me and closed the door.  "He's here" I told her.  "Who's here" she asked.  "Madison Longfellow, he just pulled up outside."  Mother looked towards the window then went to look out.  I followed her but stopped at the foot of the bed.  "He's not at the car" she said.  "I know, he walked around the house like he was going to the porch."  Mother left the window then came to where I was standing.  "Who's Madison Longfellow" she wanted to know.  I then proceded to tell her the details of all the events that had occurred before today that had led up to this moment.  She listened very close to everything I told her.  "Your father did mention him but he didn't mention all of that.  You have had quiet a rough week, haven't you?" 
"If he's here he's probably snooping around" I went on to say.  "I didn't want you out there with him.  Stay in here until he leaves.  I'm sure Dr. Garrett won't tell him anything." 
"Alright, I will," she said.  "Let's sit back down.  You're color is rather pale."  I made my way back to my bed then sat down.  Mother sit next to me where she could see through the sheer curtain lightly blowing from the wind through the window which was open less than an inch.  Longfellow wasn't there long, maybe fifteen minutes or so, before he left.  Mother and I watched as his car pulled away from the curb then disappeared.  Before mom left the room she summonsed Mrs. Hazel to make sure what had just happened was now over.  "Yes, he only stopped by to ask Waylon to visit the constable's office.  He said the man who hurt Penelope was there under his custody and needed medical attention.  Waylon's going over there now unless you need him to stay Penelope."  I shook my head no to answer her.  She said the house was empty again besides the three of us and Dr. Garrett.  She left the room first then mother followed her out the door.  I sat there staring into a room full of nothing but my thoughts.  There was a light knock on the door but before I could respond Charles stepped back inside carrying a small duffle bag.  I'm not going to lie, I was a little shaken up after seeing Madison Longfellow again.  Charles must have noticed something had happened while he was out because his first statement to me was, "you look like you've saw a ghost."
"He ain't a ghost.  Madison Longfellow was just here."
"Longellow?  In that black car I saw pulling off?"
"Yeah, hired Dr. Garrett to look after Edison Saville."
Charles looked out the window, "Saville?"  He huffed before saying, "I'm glad your dad's getting you out of here.  This place is crawling alive with all kinds of swindlers.  Why would he be helping Edison Saville if he ain't still in business with LaFeu?"  I couldn't answer him. I didn't have a clue of an answer to give.  I just sat there.  "Here" he opened the duffle bag to remove it's contents from the inside, "this is for you.  Keep it with you.  There's some stuff in there I think you should read."  He handed me a wooden box about the size of a family bible.  "Here's the key" he gave that to me next.  "You'll be away for a while, I'm sure, until we can get all of these fellows of LaFeu's and Longfellow's out of here.  That will give you something to think about while you're away.  Hold on to it as best as you can.  You might need it one day.  But don't open it until you get to Bridge Port.  Wouldn't want you to lose anything out of there before you had a chance to see it for yourself.  Keep the duffle.  I bought it for you at Peavy's and Li's to carry the box in.  That and anything else you can fit in there.  Thought you could use a carry bag for your trip."
"Thanks" I managed to say.  No more than I had said that my mother reappeared at the door carrying a small serving tray.  "Charles, you're back already.  Good, I'll sit this here and go back to the kitchen for you a plate.  You are still eating with us aren't you?"
"Sure" he said while laying the hand bag over the top of the wood box to keep it out of sight. 
"Good, I'll be right back."  She left the room again.
"I know you'll probably end up showing that to your mom" he referred to the box, "but you should look through it first by yourself.  Or, I would want to see that before I talked to anyone about it.  Oh, almost forgot," he reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled out a small beaded necklace.  He took the key from my hand, slipped it on to the necklace then fastened the necklace around me neck.  "Thought that was a good place to keep the key.  If anyone asks just say it's a gift.  Which it is."  Mother returned to the room with yet another small tray covered with dishes and silver ware, coffee cups and napkins.  "Are you two ready for something to eat" she went about handling the serving tray to arrange it on the table next to the other one she had sat there earlier.  Charles took the bag and the box from my lap quickly replacing the box back inside.  "What's that" mother asked when she turned and saw the bag. 
"A gift for Penelope" Charles answered immediately. 
"Well isn't that nice" she went right on with her duties never acting interested at all.  "Charles would you please sit over here" she motioned toward the couch.  "I'd like for Penelope to eat something a little more sturdy than pudding before we get started with her day."  Mother gathered a bowl in her hand then sat down on the bed with me.  "I made you a nice bowl of grits and eggs with some cheese.  You don't have to eat all of it but do try to eat at least part of it.  Charles there's more there on the trays.  Help yourself." 
As we ate Charles filled mother in with all the details he knew about Riverton's position with Madison Longfellow and Gaston LaFeu.  Mother listen closely to what Charles told her without interupting him occassionally glancing at me shaking her head in disbelief.  We had all finished eating when Mrs. Hazel opened the door to announce, "Penelope, you have some visitors here to see you.  Is it alright Glenda?"
"Certainly" mother replied. 
Mrs. Hazel stepped outside the door but left it open.  I heard her say, "it's alright, she's ready now."  Seconds later Isabella came through the door leading Boris on his leash followed by Matilda and my father.  It was so very good to see them, I was most happy when I saw Boris enter the room.  He came straight to my bed and when he saw I was there he didn't hesitate to jump up on the covers next to me.  Everyone in the room laughed playfully noting how long the dog and I had known each other.  Isabella sat down on the bed next to me, slipped herself between my hands petting Boris and gave me a warm hug.  "You look dreadful" she whispered in my ear.  "I know" I whispered back.  "I was so worried about you.  I told your father to tell you that I was thinking of you."  I eased away from her a little then said, "he told me."  I looked up at Matilda.  I held my hand out to her to welcome her to me.  "And how are you" I asked.  She moved to me, took my hand and bowed over slightly to kiss the top of it.  "Oh darling I'm fine.  I'm just fine" I noticed her looking at my facial wounds closely.  "It's me who should be asking you that question."  Boris moved over to the left side of the bed and tried crawling under the splint Dr. Garrett had made for my arm.  I tried not to show how uncomfortable it was when he did so but father knew immediately and commanded Boris right away.  "Boris, get down."  Boris looked at me, I repeated the same command.  "Get down" I petted his head as I spoke.  He licked my hand several times then followed my instructions, jumping off the bed onto the floor.   Mother was the next to speak to the crowd in the room, "we've just finished eating so you all are more than welcome to stay for a short visit while I clean up these dishes."  Matilda stepped away from my bedside allowing mother enough room to retrieve one of the trays.  "Please Mrs. Lochlan, I can help with those" Matilda said holding out her hands to receive the tray in mom's hands.  "Nonsense, you're already dressed for our trip.  Don't want to spill anything on that beautiful dress you're wearing."  After a few minutes of offers to clean up and counter offers to assist it was my mother and father who gathered the trays off the table to take them back to the kitchen.  Charles was still seated on the couch, Isabella was seated on the bed next to me, Matilda was standing at the foot of my bed and Boris was standing next to the bed with his head laying on top of the covers.  Everyone was looking at me in silence. 
"So you two stayed at the Prat's last night" I opened the conversation but no one said a word.  All Isabella and Matilda did was nod their heads yes.  "Did you get any sleep, Matilda" I asked. 
"Some" she answered the question but said nothing else. 
Isabella finally spoke up removing the burden of conversation from me.  "Did you get any rest?"
"Yes I rested rather well actually.  Mom stayed with me all night.  It's been busier this morning around here though than it was last night."
"Have you had a lot of visitors" she asked.
"Well yeah I guess you could say that.  Mom and dad were both here, Charles has been here, then Madison Longfellow stopped by but not to see me."
"Longfellow?  Here?" 
"Yes, he wanted the doctor to visit Edison Saville over in the constable's office." 
"The brute" Matilda scoffed. 
Charles stood up from the couch to excuse himself.  "Ladies, it's been good to see you both again.  Hopefully the next time we meet it will be during much better circumstances.  I'm going to go Penelope.  Take care of yourself.  I'll be in touch, alright?"
"Thank you for the handbag.  I'll take good care of it" I responded to him. 
"You're welcome; safe travels."  Then he left the room leaving just Matilda and Isabella in the room with me and Boris.  
"Penelope, your" Isabella started to say something then stopped, looked around the room, then said to Matilda "be a dear will you and find a cold wet wash cloth.  Her lip looks like it's starting to bleed." 
"There's one over there" I pointed to a chest of drawers sitting on the opposite side of the room.  "On the top next to the..."
"Shhh shh shh" Isabella insisted, "try not to talk."
I put my hand on my lip at the area she was looking at and sure enough, I could feel the damp leaking seepage of the wound on my mouth moistening.  I kept my mouth and lips from moving but told Isabella, "there's bees wax there too.  Bring it."  Isabella relayed the message to Matilda who recovered the items that had been requested then brought them to Isabella.  She gave me the wash cloth to hold to my mouth.  "Does it hurt much" she asked looking between my nose and my mouth.  I shook my head no, "a little sore where the scraps are.  My nose throbs some from time to time but my shoulder's the area that's most uncomfortable right now.  Mom's been giving me asprine."  About the time I said "mom" her and father reentered the room.  When she saw the washcloth she squinched her nose at me, "your nose or your mouth" she pried.  "Mouth" Isabella answered for me.  I held up the jar of bee's wax.  "Have you put any on yet" mother asked.  I shook my head no.  "Isabella, I'm going to take a bath and get ready to go.  Will you look after Penelope until I return?"  Isabella said yes then mother gave her instructions on how to apply the bee balm after the bleeding stopped.  Father bid us all good bye saying he would return with Mr. Prat later to help load the car before we left.  Mother gathered her personal belongings from the shopping bag then they both left the room together. 
In the hall father asked "Glenda do you think Penelope's strong enough for a trip that long?  She's still bleeding.  What if something happens on the road?" 
"I bought some things to make a bag of ice packs with before we leave here.  Hazel's been working on them for me so I could spend time with Penelope.  If she starts bleeding we'll just ice her down as best as we can until we get to Bridge Port.  I'll make a stop in Pembrook and send you word on her condition when we get there before we go on.  If we need to we'll spend the night there.  I wouldn't put her life in danger Percival."
"I know you wouldn't" he kissed his wife's cheek.  At the end of the hall where they stood Charles Samuels was standing looking out the front door.  "He's probably waiting on me" Percival concluded.  "I'll be back as soon as Hank has the car ready, expect us between eleven and twelve alright.  That should give you all plenty of daylight hours to travel in." 
When Percival joined Charles at the door the two of them left Dr. Garrett's together.  Father suggested that Charles go to get some rest until sundown then they would change out the guard in the tunnels again.  Charles wasn't in much of a mood to argue with him so he made his way over to his garage to see what he would need to make the repairs to his shop.  He was fast asleep when Percival arrived back at Dr. Garrett's with Mr. Prat to help load the four of us and our belongings into Mr. Prat's car.  It took a few minutes of extra time and positioning to get us all in comfortably given the fact that the splint on my arm was hindering the situation.  But once we were all loaded father patted the top of the car indicating to Mr. Prat that it was time to leave.  I sat in the back seat of the car on the left passenger side with Boris sitting between myself and Isabella who was sitting on the other side near the window.  Mr. Prat was driving, mother was sitting in the middle of the front seat and Matilda was sitting next to her near the passenger side door.  About a mile outside of town we came up on one the first road block I had ever saw.  Mr. Prat stopped, showed the men tending the barrier a piece of paper, then we were allowed to pass through.  My shoulder was starting to feel more uncomfortable than before as we rode down the road.  But both my mother and the doctor had agreed that I should wait to take more asprine until I had at least made the ride to Pembrook.  Isabella kept me entertained for a while with her remembrance of the night before that she had spent with Matilda at the Prat's safe house.  Not long after her story I began to feel sleepy.  Dr. Garrett had sent along a few small pillows for me to use for comfort so when I found myself unable to keep my eyes open any longer I had Isabella help me arrange one of the pillows so that I could rest my head.  Isabella made Boris change places with her so that she could sit closer to me thinking that my mouth or nose might start to bleed again.  After they exchanged positions she arranged the pillow on the top of her shoulder and said, "there, how's that?"  I only said "thank you" before I laid my head over on the pillow and closed my eyes.  I slept through the rest of the trip to Pembrook and never bothered to wake even when mother had made a stop to send father word that our trip was going smoothly.  The rest of our trip went just as smooth as the first had.  I woke up just in time to see the "Welcome to Bridge Port" sign as we crossed into the city's limits.  Isabella had drifted to sleep somewhere along the way as well.  Mother and Matilda were chatting about the upcoming events scheduled there while we would be visiting.  Mother gave Mr. Prat instruction on how to get to her house there and we stopped to unload the car first.  Mr. Prat helped Isabella, Matilda and her tote our luggage inside then mother returned along with Mr. Prat to the car to take me on to the hospital.  "But what about Boris" I inquired when mother got back into the car.  "He's with Satchel playing.  Isabella said she would look out for them until we returned."
"Did you tell Matilda about the other dogs?  She's not very use to having animals inside the house." 
Mother looked at me and softly smiled.  "We discussed it on the ride here.  I showed Isabella which rooms the dogs could be in so it wouldn't be a problem.  Don't look so worried" she encouraged me.  "We'll be back to the house before you know it.  You'll see." 
"But what if I have to stay over night" I wasn't satisfied with her comment.
"You're anxious about that, aren't you?"
"I've never had to stay in the hospital before; was only in one when father was hurt."
"I know" her calm voice reassured me.  "And that's when we met Isabella wasn't it?"
"Yeah" I looked out the window watching the city window's on the buildings pass by.  I had forgot how much light was down town in the evenings here.  Everything glistened and glittered with light shining from passing cars, street lamps along the sidewalks, and traffic lights standing in the middle of road intersections displaying their ability to turn red, gold and green.  The streets were still littered with pedistrians walking to and fro from one side of the street to the other; some of them pausing only momentarily for passing cars.  Someone had built a new flower stand at the end of one of the sidewalks and placed a hanging string of light bulbs across the top of their sign; mother said they sold some of the prettiest flowers she had found in all of Bridge Port at a much better price there.  Mr. Prat made a right hand turn at the next light the proceded on towards the hospital.  At the very next stop light I could see the Bridge Port city welcome center.  It looked exactly the same as I remembered it with it's giant round globe street lamps sitting four to a post on each tall metal post surrounding it.  The fountain was still flowing from it's spout on the top twickling water from one small basin at the top into two more bigger basins in the middle which ran off into one very large pool at the bottom.  One the other end of the building sat the same old pretzel vending cart that father and I visited each trip we had made to Bridge Port when I was a child.  Across the road on the corner still sat the fruit market and on the adjacent side of the street from there was the newspaper stand where I use to buy a small cherry candy stick when father would stop to collect the old newpapers Mr. Baumgartner would give him for the garden in our back yard.  "Does Mr. Baumgartner still work in the newstand" I asked mother when we passed by.  "He does indeed" mother returned my question with an extended answer.  "And he still asks about you and how you're doing every time we see him.  His son in law just opened another newstand on the other side of town last month.  They donate one news paper to the perodicals collection at the library every day.  Your father usually picks it up on his way to the library in the mornings.  We'll make it a point to see him as soon as you feel better."  I said alright then sat quietly until we came to Chin's Chinese Restraunt.  "Can we go there too" I asked.  "Where" mother asked unaware of what I was referring to.  "To Chin's, they make the best egg rolls I've ever tasted."  Mother toyed with me by looking over the back seat saying, "the best huh?  Even better than mine" she feigned being petty.  I tried to smile for her before I said, "Mrs. Chin's are different.  She puts shrimp in mine for me.  Remember how she use to say it, ' I do it for you just you cause you like'?"  Mother giggled at me trying to imitate her accent with my mouth swollen.  "Well you know, if you'd like, we can visit her this evening before they close if we finish up at the hospital in time.  If we don't finish in time or you have to stay, I'm sure I can order some and have them deliver them to your room."  I nodded yes then said, "maybe I'll wait.  I'd like to see Mrs. Chin.  I miss seeing her when I'm in Riverton.  She's always so cheerful and she let's me watch her work in the kitchen." 
"Alright darling, oh look, we're here" she said as we drove through the arched gate of the hospital parking lot.  Mother instructed Mr. Prat on which way he should go through the parking lot to the back doors.  She had called the doctor in Riverton and ask him to meet us there when we arrived.  After we had parked Mr. Prat helped me out of the car then escorted us to the emergency room doors that were locked up tight.  Mother pushed a small button on a box mounted on the brick wall and waited.  No more than a minute later a young man dressed in a white shirt and pants opened the door.  Mother spoke to him first, "Yes, my name is Glenda Lochlan.  This is my daughter Penelope Lochlan.  Dr. Hanley is expecting us.  I called in advance."  The young man took a clip board off the wall next to the door and looked at the paper clipped to the front of it.  "Ah yes, Mrs. Lochlan" he spoke to mother then looked at me standing behind her next to Mr. Prat.  "That must be our patient" he smiled at me. 
"It is" mother agreed.  "And that is our driver Mr. Prat.  He'll be accompanying us this evening."
"Of course" the hospital orderly responded then opened the door wide enough for mother, myself and Mr. Prat to enter the building.  Once we were inside he brought a parked wheel chair to offer me a ride up the long corridor.  "I'd rather walk if it's alright.  I've been in a car most of the afternoon." 
"Are you sure" mother almost pleaded with me to use the chair "you should really take it easy if you want to visit with Mrs. Chin later."
"I'll walk.  If I feel like I can't make the journey I'll tell you.  I promise." 
Mother reluctantly agreed with my decision then told me to take my time and move at my own pace.  The orderly agreed then introduced himself by name.  "My name is Luther Millen.  If you change your mind just let me know.  I can retrieve a chair if you want it.  Looks like you have every reason in the world to use one at the moment.  This way."  He stepped in front of the rest of us and began slowly walking up the corridor.  We all followed in silence.  As I walked I began to feel a slight pounding around my nose and cheek.  My shoulder began aching ever so slightly more but I was determined to make the distance for my own good.  Both mother and Luther looked at me in short glances asking if I was alright as we made our way.  I didn't bother speaking except to say yes, when asked, so I could concentrate on my footing rather than my discomfort.  My head felt lightly swimmy for a moment or two but not enough to make me dizzy.  We made it to the end of the hall.  Luther pushed another button beside the door we were standing at.  The small sound of a buzzer sounded shortly there after and the door locks opened.  Luther ushered the three of us through the door in front of him, waited until the door closed and locked, then looked at me and said, "alright, now here's the part where I have to put you in a chair or on a gurney.  From the looks of that splint I'm guessing you'd prefer sitting up rather than laying down."
"I would" was my reply. 
He stepped to a large door, opened it, removed another wheel chair then asked me to sit down.  I did as he requested.  Then he spoke to mother and Mr. Prat, "when we get to the nurses desk they'll want you to fill out some paper work for her.  One of the other nurses there will probably take her on back to a room to weigh her and clean up some of the wounds there around her nose, mouth, and eye.  Once you finish the paper work they'll reunite you with her before the doctor sees her.  Mr. Prat, there's a small waiting room I'll show you so you can wait for these ladies.  There's a fresh pot of coffee there, along with a few vending machines."  After he said all of that he opened a door, propped it open with a peg on the bottom of the door then pushed the chair I was sitting in through to the other side.  Mother and Mr. Prat followed.  We were greeted by two ladies at the nurses desk, one of whom said, "Glenda Lochlan, oh my goodness, is that really you?"  Mother recognized her as well.  "Ella, you're still here."  They spoke only for a few minutes reaquainting themselves to each other then to me and the others.  Afterwards Ella gave instruction to the orderly as to which room he should take me to then reassured mother by saying, "now don't you worry about a thing.  I'll tend to Penelope myself while you fill out the paper work in the lounge there.  When you're finished just give the clip board to Martha and she'll bring you back to where we are."  I heard mother thanking her as Luther rolled my chair down to the first door on the left then inside.  The door was still open when nurse Ella walked in.  "Thank you Luther, please see to Mrs. Lochlan and Mr. Prat will you?  We have some fresh honey buns and brownies in the nurses lounge.  Offer them some of those as well.  They've had a long drive."  Luther agreed then left the room. 
Mother must have finished the hospital forms as soon as the doctor arrived because just as Nurse Ella had finished cleaning my face they both entered the room.  Dr. Hanley asked Ella to stay and assist him.  She handed him a pair of rubber gloves.  He first examined the outside of my mouth, then gently tried to examine the inside.  When he did my lip started bleeding again.  "We'll definitely have to put a few stitches in there" he said.  "And that nose looks like it's cracked pretty good if not broken.  We'll need an xray to see for sure.  Now let's get a look at what this splint is supporting."  As soon as Ella opened the front of my shirt he said, "no question there, that's a broken collar bone, and a severly dislocated shoulder.  We'll need a picture of that as well to see if we can reset it by hand or if we'll need to do surgery."  I looked at mother and shook my head no.  She gave me a brave face but I could see that she was disappointed with his initial observation.  "But before we do any of that and start moving her around let's give her something for the pain in her shoulder.  Have you took anything today for the discomfort?"
"Asprine" I answered.
"Asprine" he smiled.  "Did it help ease you?"
"A little."
"Have you ever had any type of pain medication before?"
"No sir."
"Are you allergic to any type of medication?"
"I don't know.  I've never took anything besides an asprine."
"Alright" he patted me on the knee that was sore.  My leg responded on it's own to his touch.  "What's going on there" he asked.
"Skinned knee" I said.
"Let's have a look."  He pulled up my pant leg then looked at the bump on my knee.  "Have any problems moving it?"
"No sir."
"Alright good.  Ella it's still bleeding too so clean it up good and see if it needs a stitch or not.  Glenda you'll have to wait here while she goes to the xray room.  She shouldn't be gone too long.  Penelope, do you have any questions or is there anything else I need to look at?" 
I shook my head no. 
"Mom, how about you?  Do you have any questions for me?"
"Not right now" she answered the doctor.   
Dr. Hanley left the room momentarily then came back to the door with a wheel chair.  "Let's go" he instructed.  I got back in the chair, Ella opened the door, and Dr. Hanley gave me a ride in the chair down the hall.  After the xrays were finished he returned me back to my room and said he would be back to talk to mother and I as soon as the pictures developed where he could see them. 
When he did return the news was better than we expected.  "Well Ms. Penelope, it looks like your shoulder isn't broke; only dislocated but not to such a terrible degree that it can't be reset.  Now your collar bone, that is fractured but not broke.  It's what we physican's refer to as a hairline fracture.  Meaning that there's a small crack in the bone but it didn't break all the way through.  Which is a very good thing.  And your nose, well your nose is broke.  So what I'm going to do is give you a mild sedative to help ease your discomfort and help you sleep for an hour or two while I reset your shoulder back into position.  I figured that would be easier for you to endure than having to be awake while I did it; much less painful anyway.  I'll adjust your nose there some as well and I'll put in a few stitches there around you lip where it's busted.  So when you wake back up you will feel much better."  I looked at mother wondering if she was okay with what the doctor had said he was going to do.  She nodded her head gently to express her agreement.  Dr. Hanley looked at me then to her then back to me.  "Do either of you have any questions?" 
"What's a sedative" I asked.
"It will be an injection with a needle into your arm there with some medication that will help ease the discomfort in your body so we can lay you down to reset your shoulder.  I'm going to give you enough of it to help you fall asleep but like I said, only for a couple of hours.  Any more questions?"  As he explained my mind wondered back to when my father had been here in the same hospital years before.  I had never been present with him when they were doctoring his injuries.  I looked at mother then back to the doctor.  "No" I answered. 
"Mrs. Lochlan" he looked to mother.  "Have you got any concerns or questions for me before we get started patching up Penelope?"
"Can I stay with her while you tend to her" she wanted to know.
"Yes, sure" Dr. Hanley answered.  "I'll tell Ella you'll be joining us."
"Alright" mothered smiled at him then to me and winked. 
The doctor left the room to find Ella and prepare for the procedure he was going to perform.  I sat on the table he had seated me on while mother stood next to me holding my hand.  "Thank you" I said to her.  "For what" she asked.  "Asking if you could stay with me" I told her.  "I wouldn't have it any other way" she smiled then softly kissed my cheek.  "This is the first time you've ever been to a doctor.  It's much different than me or your father cleaning a scraped knee or wrapping a cut finger." 
"Yeah" I said.  "You look exhausted."
"Well, don't worry about me.  We'll both have plenty of time to rest after this evening.  Hopefully you'll be more comfortable so you can sleep better too."
As she finished speaking Dr. Hanley and Mrs. Ella came back into the room.  Mother gave me another light kiss on the cheek then stepped away from the table to the other side of the room where they could stand near me.  Ella held a small metal tray in her hands that was lined with different types of instruments including a syringe.  Dr. Hanley looked at me and asked, "are you ready?"
"As ready as I can be" I said. 
"Right" he smiled.  "Glenda if you will stand on this side of me while I give her the injection then you can help us ease her down to the table when she's asleep.  Oh, almost forgot, I need you to change into a different shirt for me.  I'll step out of the room and your mother can help you after I give you the sedative.  Ella" he spoke to the nurse, "get her one of those that open in the back.  Glenda, loosen her bra there some on this side, maybe take the strap off of her shoulder where I can move it easier.  I'll be back in when she's ready.  Ella here will let me know when we're all ready.  Alright?"
"Alright" I responded then watched as he took the syringe off the tray, held it up to the light, tapped the side of it a few times, ejected a small drops from the end of the needle at the tip then injected the remaining fluid into my left arm.  He cleaned the injection sight with a small cotton ball that smelled of rubbing alcohol then left the room again.  Ella followed him out.  Mother unbuttoned my shirt then proceeded to slip it down my shoulder.  "I'm sorry if I hurt you darling, I'll be as gentle as possible."  As she folded my blouse back away from my body she saw the necklace that Charles had gave to me earlier with the key hanging there.  "That's lovely" she smiled.  "Where did you buy it?"
"I didn't" I answered, "it was gift."
"From Isabella" she wondered. 
"Charles, he gave it to me before we left Dr. Garrett's."
She smiled at me while she unbuttoned the cuffs on my shirt.  "I still think he has a small liking for you that he doesn't talk about." 
I rolled my eyes, "mom please.  I feel bad enough." 
She giggled, "well he always has had a way of hovering around you for some reason.  No matter where we were or how old you two are he always seems to run to you when something's going on."
"So does the dogs" I said before I realized what I was actually saying.
She laughed then pretended to scold me, "Penelope, he's a very nice young man who cares about you.  More so than he says believe it or not."
"I know" I replied.  "But we know each other too well to be anything else besides friends."  After I said that she conceeded the conversation back to, "yes, you two have been very good friends over the years."  I nodded my head in agreement.  In a minute there was a light knock on the door and Ella entered.  "I brought your gown.  Do you need help Glenda?"
"Yes please, will you hold her arm steady for me while I remove this" she asked.  "Certainly," Ella responded.  As soon as they finished changing my clothes Ella stepped back out of the room then returned with Dr. Hanley.  Mother stood next to me holding my hand, the doctor and the nurse both stood on the other side while Dr. Hanley administered the injection.  "You'll probably start feeling a little drowsy here in a few minutes.  While we wait I'm going to prepare the stitches for your lip.  Have you ever saw sutures before they were sown in?"
"No sir" I replied. 
"Well look here then, I'll show what I'm going to do with this."  As he was explaining the details of how he would proceed with his work on me I began to feel the pain in my face and shoulder leave.  Not completely, but enough to be able to tell the difference.  He went on to say how he remembered my father.  While he was doing so, describing my father's injuries, my head began to feel thick with the sedative he had gave me.  Mother was the one who must have noticed it working around inside me because she asked, "are you feeling sleepy dear.  Maybe it's time to lay down.  What do you think doctor?"
"Yes, yes of course.  Say she's never had any kind of pain reliever before besides asprin?" 
"No" mother answered him while they manuvured me on to the table. 
"Alright, well the one I gave her is a strong one" I heard him say as my mother's dress blocked out the view from the rest of the room.  "Penelope, I want you to count backwards for me from one hundred.  Can you do that?"
"Yeah" I said out loud then started to count.  Mother's voice softly speaking was the last thing I heard before I felt my eyes close.  "I'm right here Penelope.  I'll be right here."

Between the Minds of Myths and Faiths