Fear Thy Neighbor (66)
Though she was in severe pain, Alison looked out the window, taking in the city. She’d never been this far outside of Middletown and had no idea what to expect. There were buildings, roads wrapping around one another, some crisscrossing over the top of the other, cars driving so fast she thought for sure they would crash into the taxi. Her eyes widened each time one car got close to the cab.
Violet must’ve sensed her fear, because she placed a hand on her lap. “We’re safe, Alison. It’s not much farther.”
She just nodded, hoping they didn’t get in an accident. She’d never been in a car that was going as fast as they were now. It scared her, but at the same time, despite the pain she was in, she felt a thrill, excitement at the thought of racing down this great highway. When she could, she’d buy a car 3of her own, and if she wanted to drive as fast as the cab driver, she would. If they made it to the hospital without crashing.
The taxi driver took the next exit, then a few minutes later, he pulled into the parking area of the emergency room. “Safe and sound,” he said, then slid out from the driver’s seat, opening the door for Violet. She reached inside a little dainty white purse with pink roses embroidered on the outside and took a wad of cash, handing it to the driver. “Thank you so much,” she said.
“You got any idea how long you’re gonna be inside? If you do, I can return and take you two back to the bus station.”
Violet shook her head. “No, but thank you for the offer. If you have a phone number, I could call when we’re ready.”
He took a card from his shirt pocket. “Here, ask for Al. If I’m available, I’ll be back in a flash.”
“Very well, Al. Thank you,” she said.
Alison couldn’t believe her luck. First Violet, now Al, both going out of their way for her. “Thanks, Al,” she managed to say. “It was a good ride.”
“Anytime, kid,” he said before returning to his cab.
Violet waved as he screeched out of the parking lot. “That man does know how to drive a car,” she said with admiration. Alison smiled, even though she felt like she was ready to pass out from the pain. “Now, let’s see what these doctors can do for you.”
Inside, the emergency room throbbed with activity. People of all ages waited in the main room. Stacks of magazines were scattered around a large table. Alison eyed the soda machine and snack machine in the corner. She wished she had some change. She was thirsty, and a soda would be heavenly.
Violet touched her shoulder. “Let’s register,” she said, leading her to the admissions area.
“Okay,” Alison said, feeling nervous. What if she’d waited too long to see a doctor? What if they had to amputate her arm? She hadn’t had much medical care, except when she was little. She had been vaccinated so she could attend school.
Violet spoke to the admissions clerk with such confidence, Alison admired her even more.
“Let’s get her to X-ray now,” the admissions clerk said when Violet was done. “You’ll need this,” she said, tying a plastic bracelet on Alison’s right arm and giving a sticker for Violet to place on her blouse.
The double doors buzzed, then automatically opened. A nurse wearing dark blue scrubs appeared, her hair twisted in a bun. She held a clipboard in her hand, glancing at the information. “Follow me,” she said.
Alison heard sounds of moaning, crying, and in one area, a woman yelling at the top of her lungs. What had she gotten herself into? She’d rather suffer.
“Alison, don’t be frightened by these folks. They’re injured or sick. People tend to get a bit loopy in these types of situations,” the nurse reassured her.
Relieved, though a bit puzzled that she knew her thoughts, Alison just nodded.
“In here,” said the nurse in the blue scrubs.
The small area had a long bed with all kinds of buttons and handles. Behind the bed were various cords plugged into different receptacles. She’d never seen this stuff before.
“Have a seat,” the nurse said. “Let’s get your vitals before the X-ray team gets down here. They are pretty darn fast.”
Alison sat on the bed, surprised at how hard it was. The nurse checked her blood pressure, took her temperature, then stuck something on her finger. As soon as she finished, she wrote on her clipboard. “Your stats are decent, though your blood pressure is a bit high for your age. But you’re in pain, so that’s very common; nothing to be concerned with. I’m going to get an IV going. We’ll give you some meds and make you feel as happy as a lark.” She removed supplies from a cabinet opposite the bed. She ripped open some packaging, tossing it aside, then took Alison’s right hand and cleaned it with alcohol. “This might pinch a little, but something tells me you’re a tough cookie.” She inserted a large needle, then added tape to hold it in place. A bag of something clear was attached to a pole above her right side. Tubing connected to her IV. Alison was scared, hoping they didn’t inject her with poison.
“You okay, hon?” the nurse asked.
Alison nodded, then directed her eyes on the giant rolling machine being pushed through the door. “You guys are fast,” the nurse said. “We’ve got an open fracture, swelling, a few cuts,” she told the X-ray team.
A tall African American man smiled at Alison. He looked at the bracelet on her arm and asked her to repeat her name and date of birth. She recited the information back to him, unsure why it mattered.