by Prakash
“Yes… we are “Patrick and the kids replied in unison.
Ursula went inside the house to make coffee for all of them.
Next half an hour all of them were sipping hot coffee on the lawn.
“Luc, Sophie how do you like your new house?” Patrick enquired.
“Very Big and lot of place to play… Dad” Victor answered. Alice nodded at this.
“Let us go inside and be ready. We have a lot of work to finish “Patrick told all of them.
Patrick and Ursula were busy the whole day in various activities. They had neatly arranged the kid’s bedroom. After that they had arranged the TV set and connected to the cable. The moment TV started Victor and Alice jumped at the couch and their usual cartoon sessions started.
Next day the major task of taking school admission for Victor and Alice was completed. Both were admitted to Oak District School which was hardly a mile away from their home.
By the weekend everything was settled. Ursula even started writing her travel articles for magazine after a gap of nearly 2 months.
Patrick was all set to join his new job in the chemical factory from the coming Monday. During the weekend the William’s visited the Wall Mart for the essential provisions and the school material. Sunday proved to be a complete rest day.
Chapter 5
Patrick William’s sickness
Monday evening when Patrick returned from the factory he was in a jolly mood. The first day at the factory went well. The joining formalities took a lot of time to complete. After that he was taken to his department. He met his supervisor Bob Rice who seemed to be a happy go lucky and a funny fellow. Bob introduced Patrick to his other colleagues. Patrick was asked to undergo a training of a week under the supervision of one of his colleagues. Patrick liked the new factory very much. The shop floor was clean, airy and spacious. The offices were made aesthetically appealing. As compared to his earlier pharmacy factory in Jersey, this one was more modern, more spacious and clean. The supervisor and colleagues also appeared to be cooperative and open minded. The first day at the job was much more exciting than anticipated by Patrick.
Ursula could gauge from Patrick’s smiling and relaxed face that everything at the factory went well. She knew Patrick for years together and could judge his mood and adjust her reactions accordingly. Due to their mutual understanding there were very few incidences of differences or fights between them over so many years.
“Hi Honey… Settled in a new Job comfortably?” Ursula asked
“Ursula, today was the first day… still I have to learn the new job…” Patrick replied.
“For William’s… everything is easy….” Ursula tried to remove any apprehensions which Patrick might have.
Victor and Alice were in couch glued to their favorite TV serial. Their school was to open next week.
After the dinner the William’s retired for the day.
Ursula woke up around 2 am after hearing a scream. When she put the light on she saw Patrick trembling in fear and completely wet with sweat. He was unable to even speak and was just staring.
“Patrick …Patrick… are you all right?” Ursula was trying to hold him and comfort. She somehow managed to calm him. After a cup of coffee Patrick seem to be back to the normal.
“Honey… what is the problem …are you not well …should we call 911? “Worried Ursula was asking one question after another.
“I don’t know what happened. I was feeling like someone pressing my chest making me grasp for breath” Patrick Replied.
“Had you experienced any pain in the chest Honey…?” Ursula was worried.
“No Ursula, no pain but I thought my chest is pressed .I felt breathless for few seconds. I screamed after that “Patrick replied.
By now he was composed and looking quite normal.
“Honey I suspect you had seen some scary dream “Ursula asked.
“Frankly Ursula, even I do not know whether it was a dream or it was real” Patrick replied.
“I suppose it must be due to overwork we had done in last one month” Ursula tried to comfort him.
Patrick was thinking about the incidence while lying on the bed for more than an hour before he could go to sleep. Ursula was by his side stroking him on his forehead to give a comfort to him for more than one and half hour. She went to the sleep after that.
In the morning when Ursula and Kids woke up, Patrick was already ready watching morning news on TV. There was no indication of the night incidence on his face.
“Good morning Dad “Kids greeted.
“Good morning folks ... what are the plans for today?” Patrick enquired.
“Big Plans Dad. Mom is taking us to Big Mac today afternoon” Alice said jumping.
“Wow. Lucky guys. Big Mac...Enjoy “Patrick responded.
“Honey how are you feeling “Ursula asked. She was still thinking about the incidence in the night.
“Ursula, forget it. I am fine “Patrick tried to assure her.
“Let me have breakfast and coffee for all of you “Ursula told them and went into the kitchen.
While preparing the breakfast Ursula was still thinking about the incidence in the night. She had never seen Patrick frightened, trembling and screaming in her last 15 years of marriage. Patrick was always conscious of his health and used to do exercise daily. Ursula was surprised as well as worried.
After breakfast Patrick left for the factory. Victor and Alice as usual glued themselves to the cartoons on television. Ursula got busy in the household chorus. After lunch Ursula want for a nap in the bedroom as earlier night she was awake for almost for two hours.
When Ursula woke up after the nap and went to the kitchen. She was surprised to see a swarm of bighead ant coming out of one of the kitchen corner. Ursula had observed for years that generally bighead ants prefer to be outdoor and rarely prefer to move inside the house. She thought pest control needs to be done on priority to get rid of this ant nuance.
Patrick returned home from the factory in the evening. Worried Ursula was waiting at the gate.
“Hi Honey … how was the day?” Ursula asked anxiously
“Cool dude … “Patrick replied with a smile.
Ursula suddenly felt relaxed. Whole day she was worried whether Patrick is alright at the workplace.
“Honey ….we need to think of pest control in living and the kitchen “Ursula said while preparing coffee for Patrick.
“Pest control for what..?” Patrick asked watching news on TV from the couch.
“Come inside kitchen and have a look “Ursula replied from Kitchen.
Patrick also got surprised to see a steady stream of bighead ant coming out of the one of the corner of the kitchen. However He knew getting rid of ants was not a big problem.
“Yes, this weekend ... We will call pest control services” Patrick quipped.
“Right now let us try keeping firewood near the corner. Due to heat ants should go away” Patrick added
Ursula placed a burning William near the corner. There was some effect the bighead ants started going back into the corner hole again
In the night Patrick had fallen asleep as soon as he lied down on bed. Ursula joined him after half an hour after completing the work in the kitchen. She smiled looking at Patrick in sound sleep and switched off the lights.
In the late night Patrick suddenly woke up as he experienced a strong wind breeze whirling around him and he could see the window panes moving. He switched on the lights and closed the window panes. He thought due to open window pane he felt a strong breeze. He again fell asleep. In the early morning again he woke up suddenly without any particular reason and was awake till morning thinking on the event of the last night.
Nothing unusual happened in next two days. Ursula was quite relieved. On Saturday as planned, the pest control had carried out the job in the house. The William’s enjoyed their weekend in usual American way.
When Ursula woke up on Monday morning, Patrick was already ready and wa
tching the TV news.
“Good morning Honey …” Ursula greeted while entering the kitchen.
“Patrick…Patrick ...come inside the kitchen “Ursula creamed from inside.
Patrick rushed to the kitchen. Like Ursula he was surprised to see the bighead ants coming out in small swarms from another corner.
“So these ants are not heeding to the pest control also “Patrick remarked.
“Yes. We need to ask someone specialist. Probably the regular chemical is not useful against these ants...” Ursula remarked.
“Let us do the burning William trick again for a day or two till we consult pest control again” Patrick remarked.
“And ask kids to be away. Bighead ant bite is quite painful “Patrick cautioned her and left for the work.
Ursula put the burning William near the corner and again the bighead ants started dispersing in their hole in the corner. Ursula was at a loss to understand how these creatures are making holes and emerging out in swarm within few hours of pest control.
Today was the first day of the school for Victor and Alice. Ursula helped them in getting ready for the school.
While Ursula and Kids were on their way to the bus stop suddenly rag Peter emerged from nowhere.
“Hello little angels, Good morning “he greeted with his yellow teeth shining in the sun.
The kids did not respond and so also Ursula. They were looking scared.
: Do not bother, he is an old beggar in our neighborhood .stay away from him “Ursula told the kids.
At 10 am the school bus arrived at the road and both boarded the bus. Ursula was waving at them till the school bus disappeared from the sight. Ursula was praying that let kids adjust to the new school and new friends as early as possible.
In the afternoon Ursula thought of finishing her travel related article which she started 3 days back. While writing the article Ursula thought she heard someone growling in a low tone. She stood up and started checking for the source of the growl. She checked kitchen, Kids bedroom and the first floor but couldn’t find anything strange. She thought probably that may be the voice from outside and returned back to finish her article.
Kids retuned from the school at 5 pm and immediately glued to their favorite TV show. Patrick returned from factory after a little while.
“Hi Luc & Sophie, How was the first day at the school “Patrick enquired.
“Nice Dad… “Both replied simultaneously.
A little while after turning the light off, Patrick heard some unusual sound appeared to be sounded like footsteps in the living room as he listened carefully it seemed to get louder. Patrick woke up slowly and moved towards living room. He turned on the living room light and the noise stopped. He returned back and fallen asleep. Ursula was unaware of this and was in deep sleep. Patrick thought of not to disturb her in sleep over such a small issue. Patrick could again hear the same strange sound after few hours but this time he neglected it. The sound stopped on its own after a while.
When Patrick woke up in the morning, he was still feeling sleepy as his sleep was broken in the night due to some footstep like strange sound. He thought it might be the Cat from the neighborhood moving around in search of its prey or some open foodstuff. He did not tell the incidence to Ursula. Normal chorus was going in the William’s house whole day. Nothing unusual happened during the day.
Patrick retuned late in the evening to the house as he had stopped midway to purchase some provisions on the way. While returning home he had observed moon missing in the sky. It was a new moon day. When he returned home, kids were studying completing their homework. Ursula was busy in the kitchen.
“Ursula, the stuff you had asked in the morning “Patrick said while getting fresh.
“Thanks Honey…Put it on the dining table “Ursula replied from the kitchen.
: Good evening Dad “Kids echoed from their bedroom.
“Good evening ….” Patrick replied.
Today had been a very hectic day for Patrick at the factory. His training was over and he had been allocated to work independently on a separate machine. It took some time for Patrick to master the various knobs and the signals on the allocated machine. The supervisor was taking a round from time to time to ensure that Patrick was doing the right thing on the machine. By the end of the shift Patrick was completely exhausted more due to the mental pressure on keeping a watch on knobs and signals than the physical exhaustion
After getting fresh he just lied down on the couch.
“Honey ... are you ok?” Ursula asked seeing Patrick lying silently on the couch.
“Yes dear. Lot of work in the factory so got exhausted “Patrick replied.
“Dinner is ready and set, Victor, Alice …” Ursula called.
“Coming…Mom” he replied back
In the night, Ursula was woken hearing a scream. When she put on the lights she saw Patrick again in a shocked state and completely shaken up. His T- shirt was completely wet.
“Patrick … are you ok “worried Ursula asked.
There was no answer from Patrick. He was just staring at her.
She shook Patrick’s shoulder “Patrick… are you ok?” she asked again.
“Ursula I had omitted Blood. See the whole bed sheet is covered with it “Patrick told Ursula.
“No Patrick ... there is nothing there. This is your imagination. There is no blood anywhere” Ursula comforted him.
” See this…it is all red “Patrick again pointed to the bed sheet.
“Honey… there is nothing. I think you have a bad dream “Ursula replied.
Patrick was still looking shaken and was looking at Ursula with disbelief.
Ursula immediately offered him some water and coffee.
After 10-15 minutes Patrick was back to normal.
“Honey, I think you have experienced some bad dream and got scared “Ursula tried to further pacify him.
“Dream ... I don’t know. But first I thought somebody is just hitting me on my chest so heavily that I was omitting blood. I could see blood coming out of my nose and mouth and entire bed sheet was wet with bright red blood “Patrick tried to tell Ursula.
“See this is the bed sheet... is there any blood on it? “ Ursula asked.
“Not now but it was there few minutes before “Patrick replied with low voice.
“Honey ... that happens only in magic shows... nothing happened to you .You only had a bad dream “Ursula was firm.
“Perhaps you were too exhausted today and sometimes such things happen “Ursula advanced her rational.
“I do not know but I still feel heaviness in the chest “Patrick told Ursula.
“It may be due to the dream, you are getting this feeling “Ursula again tried to comfort him.
“May be. I am sorry 2-3 times in last 2 weeks I had woken you up “Patrick looked apologetic.
“That is ok Honey …take rest you will be alright “Ursula replied.
She put off the light. Rest of the night Patrick was trying to sleep but somehow he was getting woken up again and again due to the memory of the incidence.
In the morning when Ursula woke up. She was relieved observing Patrick in deep sleep. She went to the kitchen and started preparing coffee and breakfast for all of them.
“Ursula …come here “Patrick was calling from the bedroom.
Worried Ursula rushed to the bedroom.
“See I told you ...somebody hit me on my chest….” Patrick pointed to greenish patches on her chest.
Ursula could see herself 4-5 greenish patches on Patrick’s white Chest.
“Honey are you sure you did not have these greenish patches the day before “Ursula asked,
“Ursula, I am hundred percent sure, this is the result of night’s incidence ...someone did hit me and I omitted blood “Patrick was looking frightened and shaking.
“Come on honey… even if I assume that somebody hit you on the chest. Show me the blood you omitted “Ursula asked.
“I am confuse
d, I am not getting what is going on Ursula …I will go mad “Patrick was literally in tears.
“Patrick listen. Nothing has happened to you. Last 2 months both of us are running pillars to post during the shifting from Jersey to here. Such hectic efforts to create some health issues either physical or mental “Ursula tried to calm him down by offering explanation.
Patrick shook his head. He was not ready to believe that explanation.
“Or am I suffering from some disease?” Patrick asked.
By this time both Victor and Alice woke up due to loud conversation and came to the room.
“Daddy are you ok ...”Victor asked. Alice was still rubbing her eyes.
“Yes Luc... I am good. Let us get ready for school “Patrick replied.
Ursula took Patrick’s hand in her hand. “Let us consult a doctor, if you are feeling so...” Ursula told Patrick.
“But I am confident ...this is just a thing like nightmares due to anxiety “Ursula tried again to cheer him.
” Let us get prepared, I will bring coffee and Breakfast you for all” Ursula ordered Kids and Patrick.
Patrick was feeling weak due to lack of sleep but he could not afford a leave as the job was new, unwillingly he got ready to leave for the factory. Kids also went to the school.
Ursula alone was thinking about the chain of events in last 2 weeks, she was worried a lot. She was unable to conclude whether Patrick was having some illness or it was a result of fatigue and depression. Anyhow now she had decided to see a doctor. She tried searching information from the telephone directory but was unable to figure out the doctor or clinic to be approached. Finally she decided that as Patrick has complained first time about heaviness in the chest and second time about being hit was the chest, a cardiologist would be the best one to begin with. If needed they might consider meeting a chest physician afterward.