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.
