-A Hard Night

Dr Bunting pulled up to the hospital just as Helen Boman arrived.  They greeted and walked into the hospital together, right into the middle of dad’s tirade.  The entire ER was in chaos.

“Oh my lord!” Helen murmured under her breath.  Dr Bunting, shocked and taken completely off guard by all he saw, slowly approached dad speaking as calmly as he could.  Marilyn, the hospital Administrator had since shown up as well.

Dr. Bunting and dad talked briefly.  Dr. Bunting knew dad, too.  At that moment, dad didn’t seem to recognize the place or any of his staff.  Instead, he kept shouting and carrying on about nobody knowing what to do, and that they needed to just leave us alone.  Dr. Bunting relented but tried to shift the focus.  He needed to divert dad and hopefully restore some sense.  Dr Bunting was a pilot as well, and knew there were procedural things dad needed to do.

“You have to call and cancel your flight plan, Dr Styner.”  He said.  “They need to know where you are.”

Dad calmed down for a second when he knew Dr. Bunting was right and agreed to go to a phone in an office.  He gave one more shout for nobody to touch us and left the ER.  Dr Bunting followed dad, but paused at Helen and Marilyn.

“Keep up on vitals, and let me know if anyone starts to slip,” he said.  “Nothing else, understand?”

Helen and Marilyn nodded and Dr. Bunting hurried to catch up with dad.  Helen went over to me, laying there next to Kim.  She took our vitals and looked us over.  She had been a nurse here for several years now, and knew all of us were in trouble.  She touched my skin.  It was still all wet and ice cold. 

He heart went out to us, and seeing us there so helpless she felt it start to break.  She was very frustrated she could not be allowed to do more.  She knew she could help us, if she was allowed.

Meanwhile, Chris was sitting near a small table in the corner of the room.  He was quiet, and just sat watching the whole scene.  Marilyn saw him and went over to him.

“How are you feeling?” she said.  Chris looked at her and shook his head.

“I don’t know what dad’s going to do,” Chris said to her.  “Mom pays all of the bills.” 

Marilyn was taken aback.  In her frustration with dad and his rant, she had forgotten in that moment about the tragedy of the whole thing.  This boy’s mom was still out there, dead.  She sighed deeply and patted the little boy’s head.  It was a very hard night.