Volume II

by Ronnie Coleinger

  Trish wiped the first layer of encrusted potatoes and carrots from James face and said, “Son, let’s go wash one more layer of supper from your face, and help Fred inventory the electronic components for the Supross. They are awaiting the components order as soon as the manufacture completes their shipment to us.” Fred stood up and said, “Thanks Trish, I could certainly use your young eyes to double check all those tiny numbers on the transistors. Even the magnifier does not help after looking at hundreds of part numbers.” Fred looked at James and said, “You could help by putting the transistors into the tiny boxes, closing the lids and packing them into the cartons.” James eyes lit up as he realized Fred had included him in the evenings work.

  When the kitchen was empty, Naomi began clearing the table while Jill put a pot of coffee on the stove to perk. Jill began talking to Naomi about her vacation to Quantum with Trish and Monica. Naomi giggled when Jill said that she would have to allow Trish a little time to herself so she could find a man to seduce. Naomi said, “I will stay with Trish in the night clubs until she hooks up, then I will teleport to Monica’s and give Trish her freedom. I will make sure Trish gets laid while she is on vacation.” When Jill looked at Naomi, Naomi’s cheeks blushed very red. Jill gently elbowed Naomi in the ribs and said, “I did not mean to embarrass you.” Naomi said, “I have lived a sheltered life, but it is nice to be able to talk with you and Trish and say aloud the things I think about.” Jill asked Naomi, “Do you need to take a few condoms with you on your vacation? I do not want you being with a man unprotected. I understand you will not get pregnant since you are an Earth born, but there are all kinds of horrible diseases out there just waiting to attack a woman’s body. If you want to take protection with you on this trip, I will take you to the inventory storage locker and help you discreetly pick some condoms. Please, do not be bashful to ask.” Naomi put her hand on Jill’s and said, “Yes, I should take some. Jill that answers one question I had for you.” Jill nodded to Naomi, dried her hands and said, “Let’s take a walk.”

  When Jill and Naomi returned from the inventory control locker, Naomi opened the door to her room, then turned to Jill and said, “Would you join me in my room for a moment.” Jill smiled and said, “Certainly.” When Jill entered Naomi’s room, she realized the room was spotlessly clean and everything was in its place. Naomi had made her bed this morning and her bathroom had clean towels on the hooks. Jill spoke to Naomi and said, “This room is wonderful. I have never seen a room so neat and well organized. I am impressed.” Jill sat down in a chair and Naomi sat down beside her. Naomi got up and began pacing around, acting like a cat about to spring on a mouse.

  Jill spoke to her and said, “Naomi, sit down and find the words to talk to me about what it is that is bothering you. I am your friend, not your father or pastor. I answer questions; I will not judge you for asking them.” Naomi sat down on the edge of her bed and said, “I think I need to see a doctor while I vacation on Quantum with Trish. I wanted to discuss this problem with you before I went running to a doctor like a frightened child.” Jill stood up, walked to the bed where Naomi was sitting, sat down beside her and said, “Can you tell me about the problem? Maybe I can help guide you to the correct doctor or relieve some of your worries before I personally take you to see my doctor.” Naomi started to speak, but her voice broke. She tried again, and this time she managed to speak the words she needed to say, “I have a lump growing in my belly. I am afraid I may have an aneurysm in my belly like the one that killed my mother.” Jill said, “Can you show it to me and allow me to feel it.” Naomi said, “Yes.” Naomi stood up and said, “I need to lie on my back for you to find it. Naomi unzipped her flight suit and let it drop to the floor. She lay down on the bed, took Jill’s fingers and placed them on her belly beside her bellybutton. Jill gently felt around and said, “I feel what you feel, and it is only on one side as you said.”

  Chapter 13 – Naomi Confides in Jill

  Naomi got up from the bed and put her flight suit back on. Jill said, “Come with me my friend.” Jill walked to the control room, sat down in the pilot’s chair and motioned for Naomi to sit in the copilot’s chair. Jill pressed the button beside her and the control room door slid shut. Jill spoke to the computer and said, “Computer, the radio conversations to follow and all the conversations Naomi and I just had in her room are private to me and are to be marked as such.” The computer chirped three times. Jill contracted her doctor on the planet Quantum who was on staff at the hospital and had delivered James. When the doctor joined them on the line, Jill greeted him and then began to explain what was going on with Naomi, and the short story of her mother’s death during Naomi’s birth. Jill’s doctor thought for a moment and then started asking a million questions, some of which embarrassed Naomi, but then the doctor said, “Jill I do not want to take a chance with whatever Naomi can feel in her belly. Aneurysms can be hereditary. I want to put my hands on it, and right now is my choice, if that is possible. Can you and Naomi come see me at the hospital yet tonight? I have finished rounds and it is a perfect time. Naomi will not sleep again tonight anyways if we do not relieve her worries.” Jill looked into Naomi’s frightened eyes and said, “Yes, she and I will be there in a few minutes.” The doctor gave the computer the teleport address and then cleared the channel. Jill said, “You remain here for a moment and let me handle your father and Trish, I will be ready to teleport in five minutes.” Jill walked out to the kitchen, took a Misenall tablet with some water, and then put the package into her pocket.

  When Jill located Fred, Trish, and James working in the growing gardens, she said, “I need to tell you both something and I do not want you to fall apart. Naomi has a small lump in her belly and I am taking her right now to see my doctor on Quantum. Please do not make a big scene or she will panic, just hug her and send her off with me, okay?” Fred said, “Why did she not tell me, I am a registered male nurse and her father?” Jill said, “Husband, sometimes we women do funny things when we discover lumps in our bodies, and talking to her father was just too difficult for her. She will talk to you when she is not so frightened. Be supportive with her, not judgmental, please.” Fred nodded and said, “Jill I understand, and I thank you for helping my child.” Fred and Trish walked to the ready room, hugged Naomi and said they would see her when she returned. As Trish, Fred, and James watched, Jill and Naomi teleported to the emergency room of the hospital where the doctor met them.

  The grey haired man hugged Jill, and then when Jill introduced him to Naomi, he hugged her. Then he said, “Naomi, please call me, Doctor Tom.” Naomi said, “Thanks for seeing me so suddenly. I have been scared to death for two weeks now, and was afraid to talk to my father.” Doctor Tom said, “Well remember to always tell someone when you need medical help. I understand it is difficult for young ladies to talk to a Father sometimes, but Jill was an excellent choice in your case. Let’s go into the examining room and see what is going on in your belly. Naomi, would you mind if Jill stays in the room while I examine you. All my nurses are very busy right now.”

  Naomi reached out, took Jill’s hand and said, “I hope Jill will stay close with me. I seem to be trembling like a tiny frightened child.” Doctor Tom said, “Take a deep breath Naomi, and we will soon find the answers to your worries.” The doctor examined Naomi carefully and again asked all the questions Naomi did not want to discuss with any man, but she did. Then the doctor took off his gloves and said, “Naomi, I do not believe the lump in your belly has anything to do with an aneurysm, what I do believe is going on here is a small hernia has developed in the wall of your belly that has filled with fluid. I would like to numb your belly as your dentist would numb a tooth, and then take a sample of the fluid to see what is there. Will you allow me to do that?” Naomi said, “Yes, but you will need to send Jill to another room while you do it or she will cry and pass out.” The doctor looked at Jill and said, “Ah yes, Jill, I remember the tears from a simple flu shot, please leave us. Naomi and I can manage
for a few minute without you please.” Jill smiled and said, “I guess I know when I am not wanted, but thanks for excusing me.” When Jill stepped out of the room, a nurse stepped in with a tray and assisted the doctor in taking the fluid sample. The nurse stepped out in a couple minutes and told Jill she could return now, and Jill went back in and sat with Naomi until the doctor’s tests results came back.

  They only waited about twenty minutes and a nurse came in and said, “Naomi, the doctor would like to see a scan of your belly if that is all right with you. He would like to see if there is a tiny tear in your abdominal wall just under the lump you feel. The nurse spoke very softly to Naomi and said, “I realize you are Earth born, but is there any chance that you are pregnant. We would not want to injure a baby with the scanner.” Naomi looked the nurse in the eyes and said, “The answer is no, there is no chance.” The nurse helped Naomi off the table and into a wheel chair for the scan, which took all of fifteen minutes.

  By the time the doctor walked into the examining room, he was carrying an image of Naomi’s belly with him that he put into a light box so the girls could see. The doctor looked Naomi in the eyes and said, “Naomi, you have a tiny hernia that has allowed fluid to accumulate under your skin and formed the soft lump you feel. It may feel like it is very deep in your belly, but is actually between the muscle layers of your abdominal wall. The hernia is repairable and is not serious if we fix it soon. I worry that your internal organs could begin to push through the torn abdominal wall if we let it go for any longer. If we repair it yet tonight, you will be good as new in a few weeks. Jill saw Naomi tense in her chair and Jill reached out her hand for Naomi to squeeze. Naomi looked at Jill and said, “May I use some of The Empress’s funds to pay for this repair?” Jill said, “No.” then giggled as Naomi struggled with her answer. Jill looked at the doctor and said, “I will pay with Galax when you send me your bill, Doctor Tom, or I will have the money transferred in advance of the surgery.” The doctor said, “Your word is sufficient. I will schedule the surgery and give you a report within the hour. Naomi, do not eat or drink anything until after your surgery. I will have a nurse prep you. I will see you in the operating room in a short while.” Naomi looked at Jill and said, “I am going to p….”

  Naomi quickly pulled the trashcan to her and emptied her stomach in the can. When she could speak she said, “Well there goes my wonderful supper.” Jill said, “Naomi, are you so frightened that you are now ill?” Naomi just nodded her head as the nurse stepped into the room to see why Naomi was sick to her stomach. The nurse talked to Naomi for a few minutes and reassured her that the surgery was very simple and she would be just fine in a few days. The nurse giggled and said, “Well, now that your stomach is empty, the doctor will not have to worry about you choking during the surgery.” The nurse helped Naomi onto the table, and then began moving her to the surgical prep area.

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  When Jill stepped into the room where Naomi was recovering, Naomi opened her eyes as the nurse spoke to her. When Naomi saw Jill beside her, she immediately began to cry, but Jill quickly comforted her and said she was okay, and the surgery was over. Jill continued to talk to Naomi, but Naomi’s eyes soon closed again and she fell back to sleep. Jill told the nurse she was going to notify the rest of the family that Naomi was just fine and would then return. When the computer put Fred on the radio, he was almost in tears after hearing of Naomi’s surgery, but quickly got himself under control. Jill explained that she and Naomi would be in the hospital for the night and then the doctor would release her around noon tomorrow. Naomi could not teleport for a couple days, so Jill said she would take Naomi to Monica’s house by private taxi. She would message the computer on The Empress when they arrived so Fred could come visit his daughter.

  When Jill returned, the nurses were preparing to move Naomi to another room, where she would remain until her discharge. She was now awake and smiled for the first time in many hours. Jill said, “I like it when you smile again, Daughter.” Naomi looked at Jill and said, “I like it when you call me Daughter, do not stop. I often feel like you are my mother, and I love the feeling. Thank you for being with me the last few hours, I was scared to death over this lump.” Jill said, “Don’t make me cry again. I cried a river while you were in surgery.” As they talked, Jill’s travel watch beeped twice, then twice again. Jill read the message and said to Naomi, “Do you feel up to a visitor? Trish is frantic to check on you, if you do not mind her company.” Naomi smiled and said, “Please, I want to see her.”

  Once, Trish teleported back to The Empress, Fred teleported down to visit his daughter. Fred did not scold Naomi or judge her decisions about not telling him of her problem. Instead, he praised her for being so grown up and taking responsibility for her life. When he was ready to leave, he kissed Jill and whispered in her ear, “Thank you for helping Naomi, I love you and the tiny child growing in your belly.” When Fred had left the room, Jill looked at Naomi and wondered if she had discovered the secret or maybe the computer had been responsible. Jill was certain that Trish would not tell anyone, but somehow Fred had discovered her secret. Naomi was again sleeping and Jill used the time to contact Monica and Frederica to explain about Naomi and ask if Naomi could recuperate at Monica’s house. Frederica said, “I am picking you up in my vehicle when you are discharged. Do not argue with me Jill, as I will not hear of Naomi riding in a taxi after surgery.”

  Jill’s next call was to The Empress where she talked to her husband. Jill said, “You spoke words to me as you left the hospital that you could not have known were true. Where did you get that information my husband? Fred said, “I was filing charts for my patients when your name popped up on one of the charts. The last name, Yutaka, stands out whenever I see it; I could not have missed it. I must confess I looked at your chart. I will have to apologize to you for that when we are alone, but I did get the answer to why my wife was vomiting and not eating breakfast until later in the morning than she normally would. I did not want to say anything to you until you felt comfortable telling me. I know you planned the pregnancy without my knowledge and you can apologize for that when we are alone, but I could not be happier. The words I said in the hospital slipped out after I cried with my daughter, I did not mean to ruin your surprise.” Jill said, “Fred I only kept the pregnancy secret from you until I was certain I would not miscarry. That possibility still exists, and I am certain you understand that very well. The women in my family tree have dealt with this problem for centuries. Husband, do not fall in love with this unborn child just yet or your heart may be broken in the very near future.” Fred said, “I love you Jill, and we will keep trying if needed until our child is born.” Jill cleared the channel and returned to Naomi’s room.

  The following morning when Jill entered Naomi’s room, she was awake and sitting up in a chair eating mashed potatoes, meatloaf, and peas. Naomi smiled at Jill when she entered and said, “I am afraid the hospital mashed potatoes do not in any way compare to the ones you and James made last night for supper.” Jill smelled the food and said, “I did not realize I was hungry until I smelled your meal. I think I will step down to the cafeteria and feed my own stomach.” Naomi said, “The meatloaf is excellent if you like beef from planet Earth.” Jill twitched her nose and said, “I will stick to fish and poultry, thanks.” Just then, the doctor stepped into the room and talked to both Naomi and Jill. He asked Naomi if she could stand for a second. He looked at her incision and the perfectly aligned staples and said, “You may leave this hospital young lady, but do not teleport for another twenty four hours. Come back in ten days and I will remove the staples, which by the way is painless, so do not fear their removal. The robot did a perfect job with your operation and repaired the tear in your belly with a membrane mesh to give it strength. Do not lift anything larger than your toothbrush for ten days, understood?”

  The doctor put his hand on Naomi’s shoulder and asked, “Is there anything that you and your doctor need to discuss pri
vately before you leave this hospital?” The doctor looked directly into Naomi’s eyes and she finally said, “I think I am healthy, and I have two wonderful female friends that answer all my girl questions as they arise.” The doctor smiled and said, “Perfect, when did you last have a complete physical. Naomi, I am talking about a doctor checking you from the tips of your toes, to the longest hair on your head and all the parts in between them.” Naomi blushed but said, “Father always made sure I saw a female doctor every year. I think he felt I was not getting the answers to my girl problems answered properly since my mother died at birth, so the answer to your question is, I saw my doctor about a year ago, and I am probably due again. I no longer have a doctor on Earth, would you accept me as a new patient for my physicals.” The doctor smiled and said, “Yes, but we also have a female doctor here on staff if you would prefer, to insure your girl questions get properly answered. Naomi thought a second, then said, “No, I would prefer your professional guidance if you would. Jill and I will try to work out the girl questions and if we get stumped, I will talk to you.” The doctor said, “Certainly Naomi, you can call my office and make an appointment any time. Jill has my office number.”