As soon as she saw what was happening, Mrs. Johnson knelt in front of Ben. “Lift your arms into the air, Mr. Stillman!” Ben gave her a quizzical look, but followed instructions. His left arm didn’t make it all the way up and started down again. “Call 911, Mr. Campion,” Mrs. Johnson commanded.
The left side of Ben’s face seemed frozen, and Mrs. Johnson stroked his cheek. “Can you feel that, Mr. Stillman?” He frowned at her. “Manashement taggits. Mush to do. Less cobborate.”
“His family, Mr. Campion! Does he have someone?” All these years she had not been told anything personal about Ben Stillman, her boss, either by Orville or anyone else. So she had not asked.
“His mother lives here, but they’re estranged,” said Orville. “They’re going to be reunited now,” said Ayana. “Call her! When the ambulance came, she went with Ben.
Orville did not have Edna Stillman’s phone number. He knew Ben took care of her apartment rental, but he was certain that Ben never visited her. Ben had been adopted by the Stillmans when he was a toddler, and there had been some difficulties that Orville didn’t know a lot about. Edwina must have her number, though, because Edwina collected all information that came their way.
Edwina was at work and didn’t understand at first. “Ben’s mother? Why do you need to call her? What? Oh, that’s awful, Orrie. What can I do? Oh, the number! But where is Ben now?” Orville was pleased Edwina seemed friendly toward him, but this was an unusual circumstance; he could assume nothing, and there never seemed to be an appropriate time for THE conversation. She was elusive lately, never stopping to talk to him, going to bed early or staying up late.
Orville rang the bell for E. Stillman at a two-story brick apartment building on Mockingbird Way, near the river but not within view of it. Mrs. Stillman appeared in a purple velour tracksuit with a cigarette in her hand. She was probably past 60 by now. Still a bleached blonde, thought Orville, somewhat shocked, though he’d been slightly acquainted with her in years past when Ben still lived “at home.” She did not ask him in.
“Thanks for the call, but what do you want me to do, Orville? I’m not a doctor, and Ben doesn’t consider me his mother, so…”
“I thought you might want to ride with me to the hospital, Mrs. Stillman.”
“To stare at him while they try to figure out what happened? No thanks. And I have my own car, honey. I’m not helpless." She grimaced, or maybe it was a smile. "You keep me updated, though.” She unceremoniously closed the door.
Orville was irked that he’d had to leave the store for this, and then caught himself. Was he all business? No, he was not that kind of guy! This was part of what he was supposed to do. And now he was supposed to go to the hospital and see if Ben was still alive! To heck with sales and service! But Ben was so much a part of his routine that this scenario seemed unreal. Ben NOT at the store? Ben NOT able to speak?
The Pantheon Medical Center was a multi-faceted beehive of doctors’ offices and clinics. These were the source of their bread and butter! Prescriptions were written, recommendations were made, for supplies from Stillman & Campion! Orville felt a rush of both indebtedness and gratitude. There was a small hospital building on the other side of a garden-like courtyard. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed bright yellow and pink flowers, and the color took up more space in his brain than he felt he could spare.
Ayana Johnson magically appeared in the lobby. “He’s doing well!” She exclaimed. “It was one of those mini-strokes. He’s talking now. I’m so glad!”
“Is it spring already?” was all Orville could say.
— Macoff
The left side of Ben’s face seemed frozen, and Mrs. Johnson stroked his cheek. “Can you feel that, Mr. Stillman?” He frowned at her. “Manashement taggits. Mush to do. Less cobborate.”
“His family, Mr. Campion! Does he have someone?” All these years she had not been told anything personal about Ben Stillman, her boss, either by Orville or anyone else. So she had not asked.
“His mother lives here, but they’re estranged,” said Orville. “They’re going to be reunited now,” said Ayana. “Call her! When the ambulance came, she went with Ben.
Orville did not have Edna Stillman’s phone number. He knew Ben took care of her apartment rental, but he was certain that Ben never visited her. Ben had been adopted by the Stillmans when he was a toddler, and there had been some difficulties that Orville didn’t know a lot about. Edwina must have her number, though, because Edwina collected all information that came their way.
Edwina was at work and didn’t understand at first. “Ben’s mother? Why do you need to call her? What? Oh, that’s awful, Orrie. What can I do? Oh, the number! But where is Ben now?” Orville was pleased Edwina seemed friendly toward him, but this was an unusual circumstance; he could assume nothing, and there never seemed to be an appropriate time for THE conversation. She was elusive lately, never stopping to talk to him, going to bed early or staying up late.
Orville rang the bell for E. Stillman at a two-story brick apartment building on Mockingbird Way, near the river but not within view of it. Mrs. Stillman appeared in a purple velour tracksuit with a cigarette in her hand. She was probably past 60 by now. Still a bleached blonde, thought Orville, somewhat shocked, though he’d been slightly acquainted with her in years past when Ben still lived “at home.” She did not ask him in.
“Thanks for the call, but what do you want me to do, Orville? I’m not a doctor, and Ben doesn’t consider me his mother, so…”
“I thought you might want to ride with me to the hospital, Mrs. Stillman.”
“To stare at him while they try to figure out what happened? No thanks. And I have my own car, honey. I’m not helpless." She grimaced, or maybe it was a smile. "You keep me updated, though.” She unceremoniously closed the door.
Orville was irked that he’d had to leave the store for this, and then caught himself. Was he all business? No, he was not that kind of guy! This was part of what he was supposed to do. And now he was supposed to go to the hospital and see if Ben was still alive! To heck with sales and service! But Ben was so much a part of his routine that this scenario seemed unreal. Ben NOT at the store? Ben NOT able to speak?
The Pantheon Medical Center was a multi-faceted beehive of doctors’ offices and clinics. These were the source of their bread and butter! Prescriptions were written, recommendations were made, for supplies from Stillman & Campion! Orville felt a rush of both indebtedness and gratitude. There was a small hospital building on the other side of a garden-like courtyard. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed bright yellow and pink flowers, and the color took up more space in his brain than he felt he could spare.
Ayana Johnson magically appeared in the lobby. “He’s doing well!” She exclaimed. “It was one of those mini-strokes. He’s talking now. I’m so glad!”
“Is it spring already?” was all Orville could say.
— Macoff
“Manashement taggits. Mush to do. Less cobborate.” - -- now I have to go back and read the previous episode to see if i can figure out what exactly he was trying to say! :P
ReplyDeleteOf course Edna wants to be updated - - she might be losing her meal ticket. I wonder if Ben put her in his will. I appreciate, however, how you make me think about the difference between "indebtedness and gratitude". Poor flustered Orville. Thank heavens for Ayana - - I think maybe Ben will feel INDEBTED to her now. ;)
ReplyDelete"As soon as she saw what was happening ..." to "Is it Spring already?" offers another layered chapter for these characters and their relationships and also has the supports and nuance to make a standalone short story. Me too on appreciating the difference between "indebtedness and gratitude." Guessing - hoping - Ben won't begrudge Ayana the additional pay for full-time hours. I love "Pantheon" as the name for the medical center.
ReplyDelete