|
When I came into the clinic the first patients of the day were ready to be seen. It was still a small town and I knew almost everyone by sight.
Linda Pomaroy the receptionist smiled at me from her desk.
"Morning Dr. Riggins."
"Good morning Linda. Does Alice have the first patient ready for me too work on?" I rubbed my hands together in a mock parody of a mad scientist.
"Room two." She laughed. "But Alice called in sick. She said she would be in later."
"Nothing serious?"
Linda shook her head to the negative. "Just the flu. They sent a temporary over from Hobbs Corners to help out until Alice is back up."
I walked to the number two exam room. "Call Alice and tell her I will stop by her house later to see her, so she can stay in bed and rest please."
"Sure doctor."
In the exam room was a mother and coughing child. More flu to battle.
"Hi katie." I said kneeling down to get closer to the little girls level. She managed a small smile despite her illness. "Still having problems with this darn flu?"
The little girl nodded and stifled a cough.
"Fever still up there Jennifer?"
"Yes I've used the Diamatap and those medicated suckers you gave for her sore throat but she doesn't seem to be improving."
As I looked at the little girls eyes I heard the door to the exam room open and close behind me.
"Well I tell you what this little Chickadee may have hatched out something more serious than the flu. Maybe she found some strep throat out there somewhere. We'll check it out and maybe prescribe some antibiotics. Nurse could you get me a ..."
A tongue depressor appeared near my hand. A nurse with as much ESP as Alice from the hospital at Hobbs Corner. I was impressed.
"Thank you...I'm sorry Linda didn't give me your name. Say Ah for me Katie. I'll need a swab too please."
The swab appeared by my hand.
"Here you are Doctor Riggins. My name is Amanda, but everyone calls me Manda."
I looked up into a pair of violet eyes framed by long dark lashes.
"How?" I croaked.
"We can make choices where I'm from too."
"Fifteen years, were you not sure until now?"
"It was only a second to me I swear. I got there and came right back here. You're the one that let so much time pass. That happens here, not where I was."
Mother and daughter were staring at us.
"She's a ghost." I explained.
"Of course she is." Jennifer replied, thinking I was joking with her. "Just what I always thought a ghost would look like."
"No I mean..." I tried to explain.
Amanda put a finger on my lips.
"Actually I was an angel, but I'm retired now." She told the mother.
The little girl laughed. "Angels don't retire."
Amanda bent down. "Sure they do sweetie. It's just that most times nobody notices."
|
|