The parson was taking advantage of the long wait in the clinic’s waiting room to get some quality reading in. His Kindle was opened to Diana Butler Bass’ latest book. Legal pad rested on his lap waiting the application of notes for future reference. Strange how these twice a year pilgrimages to the university hospital to be prodded and poked and stuck and admonished had become times of enjoyment.
He’d already had a sonogram on his carotid arteries. It has been a pleasant experience. So pleasant was it that his first admonishment of the day had come from the technician conducting the sonogram. “Wake up, Parson, wake up. You need to stay awake during this part.” The parson acknowledged her instruction while wondering why, if she wanted him to wake up, she’d asked him to lay down.
Now back in the waiting room he was deep into his reading while waiting for the vascular surgeon to return from an emergency at the hospital to go over the tests.
“Excuse me,” the voice said.
The parson turned to see a child about six years old standing before him. “Yes?” asked the parson.
“My mommy is with the doctor. She said you were the Parson and if I needed something I should tell you.”
The parson cast his glance about. Then he said, “Your mommy left you out here by yourself?”
“No,” said the child. “That’s my grandmother over there.” She pointed toward an elderly women in a wheelchair. “She’s taking care of me, but I need some help.”
“What kind of help?”
The girl leaned forward and whispered. “I have to potty. I don’t know where the bathroom is.”
The parson stood up. “I can help with that. Come with me.”
The parson walked over to the grandmother. He introduced himself. He learned the child’s mother had visited his church a couple of times. The parson asked if it was okay for him to escort the child down the hall to the restroom. Having received permission he led the girl away.
The parson stood, leaning against the wall in the hallway reading his Kindle, while he waited for his young charge to step out of the Ladies Room. In less time than expected she did. The parson turned the Kindle off and the two headed back to the waiting room.
The grandmother was dozing in her chair. The child stood before her grandmother and looked to the parson. She shrugged her shoulders.
The parson invited her over to where he was seating. He got a chair for her and then went to a corner where he retrieved some checkers and checker board. A coffee table was placed between the two. The sat down.
“Do you know how to play?”
She did. She made the first move.
Fifteen or sixteen games later, the child’s mother came out from her exam. She saw her other asleep in her chair and headed directly to the parson and her daughter.
“Oh, I’m so sorry Mom fell asleep. I told her if she needed anything to ask you, but I didn’t mean you would have to entertain her.”
“She’s entertaining me,” said the parson.
The mother and the parson talked a while. The parson encouraged her to visit his church again. And then the mom, grandmother and child left the room.
The parson returned the checkers and board to their place, retrieved his briefcase and extracted the Kindle. He was about to turn it on when he heard his name called.
“I’m sorry, Parson,” said his doctor, “that you had to wait so long.”
“It’s not a problem,” the parson rejoined, “I found something really important to do.”
Note: The parson's test were great. In fact a carotid artery that was 89% blocked ten years ago is now below 60% through diet and exercise.
Glad to hear your good results!
Posted by: Songbird | June 10, 2009 at 10:21 PM