Chapter 10

Dr. Winslow met her near Archie’s room. “He’s still out, but we need to talk.” In her office, “I won’t beat around the bush. We have run out of time. No one will agree to operate, and his tissue is beyond saving anyway. We are risking sepsis and possible death unless we act now. Please sign these forms so I can begin.”

“You’re taking both balls, yes?” Winslow nodded. “And his, uh, penis too?” “No, the penis is less damaged and should recover.”

Bettie interrupted, scowling. “Not that he will have any use for it...”

Barbara Winslow was angry. “Don’t you say that, especially to him! There are treatments that can help.”

“I won’t tell him, but someone will have to explain what happened to him, and why.”

Dr. Winslow took her to the surgical waiting room, then walked inside to gown and scrub her hands. Frank, a male surgical nurse, helped prepare the instruments. An anesthesiologist stood by. In the background a few students gathered to watch the procedure.

Striding through the doors while protecting her clean hands, Winslow checked that her patient was ready. A camera had Archie’s lower torso framed for a larger display visible to the students. “Folks, we’re here for a bilateral orchiectomy.” The surgeon carefully removed the sterile drapes and exposed his groin to all. Frank gasped in shock. Archie’s penis was taped up against his belly, and his testes were nearly unrecognizable in the destroyed area. Dr. Winslow knew she was forced to permanently alter this boy’s future; no other choice was possible.

Ninety minutes later she pulled off her mask and entered the surgical waiting room to meet his anxious mother. “We’re done, he will be fine. Now please try to stay balanced about this; he won’t be as disabled as you think and we can look for assistance to help him recover.”

“Bettie thought she was all cried out, but there were still more tears for her son. “Doctor, I am, we are grateful for all your help. When can I see him?” “In a few hours, when he’s clear of the anesthesia. No, he’s still unconscious, but I wanted to be sure he didn’t move while I was working.”

Bettie sat to make her calls.

“Jessie, Archie is out of surgery. They had to, um, remove his balls. He will need your support going forwards...”

“Bruce, tell Cathie that he is done with his operation. Yes, they are both gone now. Bruce, I hope you can help me with him when he wakes up. Yes, I think he will need some ‘male bonding’ time...”

“Rosie, it’s done. Both of them.” An eloquent series of violent curses erupted from the earpiece. “Yes, I know. No, I don’t have a gun. Yeah, my friend Bruce is on board with you...”

Some time later, Archie was back in his room. Disconcertingly, Bettie saw one eyelid was cracked open while he slept, unaware of everything.

At loose ends, she called her boss at the warehouse. “Yes, I’m still at the hospital. He’s still unconscious. Yeah, I understand my PTO is exhausted, and I can’t come back to work now. Yes. No. Please tell Beth and Larry goodbye from me. Thanks. Goodbye.”