Chapter 13: Convalescence

Groggy. Blurred vision. Lights are too bright. Attempt to shield my eyes with a forearm fails. Can’t lift my arms. Wrists restrained, ankles too.

“Where am I”

“You’re in the hospital.”

Pleasant voice to my left. Rolling my head in direction of the nice voice.

“Hello”

“Just relax, you are recovering from surgery. Doctor will be with you soon.”

Surgery, hospital, doctor, memories surface.

“You tell that...”

Whoa, boy! Shut yourself up! You’re at these people’s mercy. Don’t antagonize them. THINK!

“My parents here?”

“They’re waiting to see you as soon as you’re allowed visitors. Doctor will check on you shortly.”

“Tell, my parents...” Tell them what? “Tell them to go home.”

“You can tell them yourself after the Doctor sees you.”

“Why am I strapped down?”

“Because, this is Two North. Lie quiet. I’m not supposed to talk to you.” Why not?

“Because, you’re a suspected sex maniac. Says so on your chart. Says you’re dangerous to women. Warns, do not chat with patient.”

Two North! Doesn’t exist, but it does. I never believed this was a real ward. Figured it to be just a myth. They have me strapped down in the gaol-darned psycho ward! Sex maniac? I’m in a bad spot. Bad enough they neutered me, the bastards! Looks worse. Maybe they’re planning to have me committed as well. Got to talk my way out of this predicament. Be smarter than them. Play them like a dumb cunt.

“How are we feeling, Earl?”

I feel like ripping off your head and shitting in your neck, butcher!

“Better, I think. Hate being strapped down and helpless like this. When can I go home?”

“We’re going to keep you for observation a few days. You had a violent episode just prior to surgery.”

Violent episode? Resisting what was happening to me wasn’t holy justified? Arrogant bastard1 One of these days, I WILL have you under MY knife. We’ll see how hard you struggle to avoid fate.

“Can you really blame me fo being upset? You and my own loving parents scheduled me to be neutered like a mutt. Quite a shock, doc. My world twisted into something intolerablt ugly. I fought it.”

“There is never any excuse for violence, Earl. Violence is intolerable.”

“You believe you would have acted differently in my shoes? Calmly accepted sterilization as, ho hum, just another shit sandwich served up by life to the unwary and too trusting? I say you’re full of shit, if you claim that would have been your honest reaction.”

‘That will be all, nurse. Send in an orderly.”

She left, looking back over her shoulder, at me, a worried expression on her pretty face.

“You frightened the nurse, Earl. Unacceptable. We may need to keep you longer than we originally expected.”

“Okay, doc. You’re the warden with the keys. I’ll play nice.”

“That’s a more reasonable attitude, Earl. Rest and heal, son.”

Son? Everybody that calls me son from now on, is enemy!

They kept me for two weeks. All my convalescence was accomplished imprisoned behind barred windows in Two North. I joked around with the orderlies, won them over to my side. They gave doc good reports of my benign behavior and my cheerful acceptance of the status quo. I won my discharge late one afternoon, fully recovered, and went home to my wife, Ruth. The house is dark and shuttered. Ruth isn’t there. Where has she gone? I need her!

As much as I dislike the idea of facing them, I visit my parent’s home. My old room is empty. Where are my drums I bought and stored here? My parents sold them to cover the deductible on the hospital insurance. The sale price didn’t cover all of it, I owe them.

Bastards. Where’s Ruth? Where’s my wife?