Paradigm: After the End - Part III

Later, a faceless and perhaps nameless nurse brought me a tray that was my nightly meal. Everything on the tray was in the shape of an ice cream scoop. It was served exactly at 6 o’clock. I wasn’t even hungry.

In addition to the meal, I was bathed in a quiet ceremony that more than made up any lack of dignity with institutionalized rigidity.   

I was dressed and helped back to bed, an experience that made me thankful I wasn’t shy or shameful. Afterward, a visitor stopped by.

“Hello Mr. Burke.” Dr. Shavers stood at the foot of my bed, smiling, arms folded behind him. He seemed to be uneasily awaiting the departure of the nurse. If she sensed this, she gave no indication as her face remained solemn and granite-like.

When the nurse finally left, the door barely clicking shut, Dr. Shavers revealed what he had been holding behind his back. He unveiled it, presenting it with both hands. It sat gloriously across his palms.

He held a full size Milky Way chocolate bar. “This is certainly against protocol, but I don’t think one treat will hurt you.”

“Well provided chocolate didn’t kick off the apocalypse, I don’t mind if I do. Thanks Doc, that’s good of ya.” I accepted the gift, sitting it beside my tray.

Dr. Shaver’s expression was part pride, part delight. And he stared at me for such an abnormal amount of time that I began to contemplate if he had ever done anything nice for anyone at all. He wasn’t in his scrubs and lab coat as usual. He had on a light blue polo and jean shorts. He looked like a regular dork.

I tried to break the silence, “I really appreciate this Doc. When do you start sneakin’ me in the filet mignon?”

Shavers, still standing, threw back his head and gave a hardy laugh. “That’s good, that’s a good one Mr. Burke.” He drummed his fingers across the railing of the bed. Abruptly, “Alright, well I must be off.”

“Have a good one.” I smiled.

This time before leaving, he smiled back, a full on grin this time. “See you tomorrow Mr. Burke. Good evening.”

 

 

Later that night, after my small dinner that was followed by a rather satisfying Milky Way, followed by the typical battery of evening medications, sleep again came for me with force. Under normal circumstances this wouldn’t have been such a burden had it allowed me at least some opportunity to dream. I couldn’t be sure, when I reached backwards into my memory to check, but my conscious mind at least seemed to confirm that I hadn’t dreamt for some time. I began to long for that window into my subconscious, because even a dream might’ve shown me a glimpse into the events that put me here. Instead, I rested heavy like a rock at the bottom of a dark sea.

***

                The sun came and went, then came again, leading into another day. While it was a tedious routine, it was at least a routine, and that made me happy. In addition, I felt better, stronger, for before Dr. Shavers had entered the room to check on me, I was already awake.

                “My, up early. We must be feeling better?”

                “I’d say so Doc.”

“Let’s get a look at you, see how you’re doing on the inside.”

Dr. Shavers ran through the same routine of tongue depressor, stethoscope, blood pressure, otoscope that your current family practitioner and his predecessors have been using for decades. This battery was typically a nuisance before, but it seemed this time I didn’t mind going through the exaggerated faces for Dr. Shavers. On the contrary, I was happy to. The quicker I could get a clean bill of health, the quicker I could start to pick up the remnants of my life and even begin to start over.  

“Looking good champ.” Dr. Shavers smiled. Rather than his typical upturned effort, this time it more resembled the real thing.

“Champ?” I laughed loudly. “Been several years since I’ve heard that; I was probably striking out in tee ball.”

                “Well you’re definitely on the road to recovery. It shows.” Another smile.

Change seemed to be in the air in more ways than one. On this day, I did not have to prompt Dr. Shavers for my Q&A session.

“So what’s on your mind this morning, Mr. Burke?”

 “Quite a bit.” My eyes drew towards then fell away from the window. “How is it out there?”

“May I ask how you presume it be out there?”

“Doc, I’m guessing that it’s a shitstorm on toast, but minus the toast.” Shavers threw his head back laughing, though I soon found out, it wasn’t at my toast comment.

“You expected looting, rioting, chaos in the streets?”

I nodded furiously, my mind unwinding through all the perils it could imagine, “Ya, I would think mass panic, desperate people would be the only ones leftover. Lack of food, water and human services. The economy going down the toilet. Oh, and I was never really politically active but-”

“Pshh, quite the opposite. With the absence of most of the U.S.’s populace, resources are now more abundant. While this doesn’t speak well for the economy, the idea of bartering has become extremely popular. With industry at a standstill, people have resorted to actually crafting items for their own use based on their talents, and trading with others that maintain different areas of expertise.”

I was amazed, but still responded with a quip. “Do doctors often ‘Pshh’ their patients?”

Shavers giggled along with me, stuttered only for an instant, perhaps wondering if he was being too personable rather than professional. In passing, I thought of my brief exchange with Dr. Toledo, maybe Shavers was too.

“Only when they are practicing medicine in a High School,” followed by a guffaw, but immediately he began speaking again. “Now, in all fairness, we have dropped from the world’s leading superpower to a blip on the proverbial radar. But that being said, our allies have stepped in and offered us protection, and advised the rest of the world; another attack on us would be viewed as an attack on them.”

Transfixed, I listened, mostly dumbfounded. Not only had I missed the apocalypse. I had missed the world- or at least America, become the country of brotherly love, pretty much over night. It seemed too good to be true.

“Do you realize, Mr. Burke that in the last month and a half the United States as a whole has had the lowest per capita crime rate since the early nineteen 60’s?”

“So no anarchy in the streets?”

“Oh God no. And speaking of God, church attendance has rallied too.  I’m afraid however, politicians are still politicians.” Dr. Shavers made use of the floor, pacing dramatically, equaling the passion with which he spoke, “Arguments persist on how best to move forward, but the country is a much smaller place now. Congressmen and women are no longer just beyond the reach of the public’s dog chain. Ineffectual behavior, party lines and filibustering, as I see it will be a thing of the past in no time.”

  “Wow Doc, that’s heavy.”

“Indeed it is. I can’t say this plague solved all of our problems. Though, it has certainly put them in perspective, and motivated the American public in a way no one would’ve dreamed- most of all, those that visited it upon us.”

  “Think it will last?” it was an innocent question to the point of being simple-minded.

“What lasts Mr. Burke? Everything ends and nothing does. The world changes and then those changes are overwritten, like the tide. ” Dr. Shavers, paused smoothed back his hair, stuffing himself back into his own professionalism. “Ahem, it’s hard to say.”

“Were you on the debate team in school Doc? Drama?” we shared another laugh, “That was a pretty stirring speech.”

When Dr. Shaver had been speaking, his eyes were alit with fire, now he turned those studied eyes of his on me. “You survive the end of the world you begin to understand that making an impact everyday becomes more important. You’ll come to understand that soon.”

I looked down at the bed that had been my home for weeks. “Already do Doc, I already do.”

Shavers nodded at me knowingly, “I know Mr. Burke. You catch on quick.” He smiled again, “Do you need anything else before Nurse Ratched comes to drop your breakfast off?”

“Why Dr. Shavers? Was, was that a joke?” Shavers blushed at the comment. “You are in rare form today. Nah, I’m good.”

Smiling one last time, Shavers made for the door. “What can I say; I’m working on my people skills? Trying to make an impact. Enjoy the rest of the day Mr. Burke.”

I waved as he shut the door.

In fact, I did enjoy the rest of the day. Relishing in breakfast, lunch and dinner, even my series of meds. I could tell my attitude was getting better right along with my body.  I felt like things were finally coming together, making sense in the way you want them to after a tragedy.