“Don’t try to get out of this. You were going to drive the getaway car!” Elsie said.
Mary shook her head, “Oh Dear! Honest to God, I thought these two were joking!”
“You’re not going to tell on us, are you Stan?” Elsie asked innocently.
“Your plan is safe with me,” Stan said. “I just don’t know if my plan for you is safe!”
“Your plan for us?” Mary asked.
“Yes, my plan to have you talk to the Hospitalist. The Doctor isn’t scheduled to stop in this evening, but I could probably arrange something. If you would like to talk to his hospitalist, I will see what I can do.”
“Oh, that would be nice! We want to know exactly what he is doing with the Captain. Why is he keeping him here for so long?” Verde said.
“She will be able to answer all your questions, you can trust her,” he said. “She is the best doctor in the building. If you ask me, she is the best looking one too. Her name is Dr. Elvena; Dr. Jennifer Elvena.”
“Wait,” Mary said, “Jennifer, as in the Jennifer; your Jennifer?”
“Yes,” he said. “Can I trust that none of you will spoil my plan to propose to her?”
“No!” Mary said, “no, definitely not! Elsie will have to leave the room!”
“Mary!” Elsie objected.
“It’s true,” Verde said. “I have no idea what is going on here, but I do know that if there’s a secret, Elsie can’t hold her tongue.”
“Verde!” Elsie objected again.
“Oh Honey, it’s not your fault. We all know you don’t do it on purpose. When that Doctor lady arrives, Elsie and I will take a walk down the hall.”
“Perfect,” Mary said. “We have a plan not to ruin your plan, Stan. Hmmm!” she giggled, “that was fun to say!”
When Dr. Elvena arrived, Stan ushered Verde and Elsie out of the room. Mary leaned over Clifford.
“Don’t forget, Clifford, don’t spoil Stan’s proposal. No matter what Kevin says to you, stay quiet,” Mary whispered.
“Don’t worry, Mary. I know what to do.”
“I know, Clifford. I said it out loud mainly to remind myself. I’m just nervous. I’d feel horrible if we give it away. Oh, here she comes—Hello,” Mary said.
“Hello,” the doctor said, “I’m Dr. Elvena. She shook both of their hands and turned to Clifford. “Can you tell me your name, please?”
“His name is Clifford,” Mary said not realizing she’d answered for him. Her mind was busy studying the Doctor. She was a tall thin beautiful woman with a mesmerizing smile. She also looked to be several years older than Stan.
The doctor grinned and kept her eyes on Clifford. “I’m going to need you to tell me your full name,” she said, as she picked up his wrist to check his pulse.
“I’m Clifford, Clifford James Brown,” he said.
“Your date of birth?” she asked.
“Ten twenty-seven forty-seven,” he replied.
She stepped back from the side of the bed and asked, “How are you feeling, Mr. Brown?”
“I’m feeling great, now. I was absolutely shocked—” he paused. “That was an intentional pun,” he continued with a grin, “I sure didn’t see this coming.”
“You are a lucky man,” she said.
“Stan is the lucky—” Clifford started but Mary quickly cut him off.
“I am the one! Yes, I am the reason he’s LUCKY! I gave Clifford the aspirin when he grabbed his chest. I had a bottle in my purse.” Mary said trying to smooth over Clifford’s remark.
“Very good!” she said. “And you are—?”
“Mary, my name is Mary.”
“Are you his wife?” she asked.
“She is going to be!” Clifford said.
“Oh, no. Oh, dear. We are seeing each other at this time. I haven’t known him very long. I enjoy seeing him on occasion. Well often. I see him often.”
“She is going to marry me,” Clifford said. “She just doesn’t know it, yet.”
“Clifford has seen Jesus,” Mary said. “He apparently believes that Jesus has some say in it.”
The doctor leaned her arms over the rail of the bed and studied Clifford, “You have seen Jesus, have you? Do you still see Jesus?” she asked.
“No. I saw Jesus when I died. I went to heaven. He told me to come back because I wasn’t done here, yet.” He glanced into the corner of the room. He looked confused. Then he said, “Your mom is proud of you.”
“What?” she asked.
“Your mom is proud of you,” he said awkwardly this time.
“I heard you, but why did you say that?” she asked.
“I said it, because Kevin told me to. He hears everyone around here and I hear him. I guess your mom is around here. Is her name Betty?”
The doctor picked up the chart and studied it hard. Mary studied her face.
“How exactly are you hearing these people, Mr. Brown?” she asked.
“I only hear Kevin. He tells me who he hears.”
“He heard my mother?” she asked.
“Yes, I guess he did. He says your mom gave you a necklace with a dove on it and you lost it a couple nights ago. She says you shouldn’t be sad about that. Look again between your sofa cushions.”
“I—” the Doctor started.
Cliff threw a hand up at her. He wasn’t done. “She says she approves of the man that was frolicking on the sofa with you when you lost the necklace and not the other guy. The sofa guy is the one and you know it.”
The Doctor blushed and pushed her hand in front of her mouth.
“That couch man better be Nurse Stan!” Mary said. Then she pushed her hand up to her mouth.
The Doctor looked at her and back at Clifford. The room fell silent. Finally, she said, “I don’t know exactly what to say.”
“Your mom says to say, yes!” Clifford said.
“Clifford!” Mary said.
“What, Mary? Her mom said it not me. I didn’t give up Stan’s secret.”
“Uh, okay. I am. I ummm,” she paused to settle her thoughts. “I’m going to have one of our psychiatrists come in to meet with you.”
“I’m not crazy!” Clifford said. “I don’t need to talk to a psychiatrist!”
“No, Mr. Brown. You’re not crazy. I’m going to recommend a psychiatrist speak with you in order to help you with what you are experiencing. This is not the first time we’ve had a patient with a near death experience come back to us with stories or even, what you might call new abilities. Lots of unusual things happen on this floor. Whatever the case, you may need a little help with what you are experiencing. Certainly, you know that it is unusual to have the ability to talk to people who have passed on. Perhaps one of our Doctors here in the psychological unit could help you sort through how to handle that. They might even be able to prescribe something that will keep it at bay, if it gets to be overwhelming.”
“I don’t need any help from a shrink, thank you,” he said.
“Well, maybe you don’t,” she said, “but the people you tell these things to might be a bit alarmed. It may help you to find a way to prevent the rest of us from going into shock when you suddenly speak of these experiences; especially if they are going to be profound messages of a deeply personal nature.”
“Well, since you put it that way, I suppose I could talk to someone about it,” he agreed. “But, I’ll be darned if I am going to take any medications for it.”
“I understand,” she said. “Let’s just have a little talk with Dr. Casey. He’s dealt with matters such as this. I’ll have Stan schedule something in the morning.”
“Tell him to leave his medicine bag at home,” Clifford said.
“No one is going to force you to take any medications, Mr. Brown. However, there is no harm in learning what your options are,” she said. He tried to say more but she hushed him in order to listen to his heart.
22
Bill regretted that his schedule hadn’t allowed him time to visit Clifford in
the hospital. During the rehearsal break, he gave his crew last minute instructions for the evening and headed out the door early.
“Bill!” Diane stopped him, “I tried to catch you yesterday after our meeting. I’m sorry I made that comment about the ghost light. I should have been more sensitive. I know it’s been hard for everyone around here. You all have been through so much. I shouldn’t even try to pretend that I understand.”
“Thanks, Diane,” Bill said. “I know it has been tough for you too. You have big shoes to fill. This place can get a little intimidating.” He leaned closer to her and whispered, “and it’s getting crazier by the minute.”
“It is,” she admitted. “I’m trying to keep it together for the cast but this place is spooky! I wouldn’t tell anyone else this, but I feel like someone is following me all the time. Yesterday, every time I set my purse down on a seat, I lost it. I kept finding it two rows behind where I was sure I had left it. Crazy!”
Bill’s shoulders dropped. “Not you too. When I said crazy, I meant the board members’ rejection to our proposal.”
“Oh,” Diane blushed. “Yes, well that too.”
“Look, we can’t let this haunting thing grow any more legs. The boys in the shop are as jittery as school girls. It took three guys to get a hammer out of the tool room this morning. We don’t have time for this nonsense! Half the female cast won’t use the stage bathrooms because they don’t want to cross through the dressing room. It’s just not good for productivity. Even the volunteers are talking about things floating around in the costume shop. It has to stop. When people start letting their imaginations get the best of them they act foolish! Worse than that I’m afraid the cast will start playing pranks. If someone is moving your purse to prank you—don’t let them think it’s working! All of this is becoming a huge distraction from the daily work!”
“Yes, I agree,” Diane said. “And, again I apologize for the comment in the last meeting.”
“Thank you,” he said. She nodded and turned to leave. He watched her walk away. He did a double take. For a moment, he thought he saw someone following her. Was he starting to lose it too? He shook the idea out of his head and stepped out to the parking lot. He was anxious to get to the hospital.
Bill could hear the chatter of women as the elevator hit the third floor. He wasn’t surprised when the door opened to see Elsie, Verde and Mary standing there.
“Hello, ladies,” he said.
“Bill,” Mary said. “We were just visiting. Clifford will be thrilled to see you. I think he was disappointed we were leaving, but the football game is over and the girls have to get home to their men.”
“Lucky men,” Bill said. Elsie and Verde giggled. “How is Clifford?”
“He is doing fine. It looks like he’ll get to go home tomorrow.”
“We would have taken him tonight if we could have,” Verde said as she stepped into the elevator.
“I told you, it doesn’t work that way. You can’t just take him,” Mary said.
“I don’t see why not,” Elsie said.
“Never mind these two,” Mary added. “After the test he can go home. They want him to see a psychiatrist first. They need to teach him how to talk to people when he tells them what the dead people are saying.”
“A psychiatrist?” Bill asked.
The elevator door started to shut on the ladies. Mary stepped in front of it and the door pushed back open. “He’s still talking to Jesus and that guy, Kevin.”
“We don’t appreciate anyone holding up the elevator, please,” a nurse said as she passed by.
“We don’t appreciate nurses eating other people’s food, thank you, please!” Mary called as she continued to hold the door open.
“Mary!” Verde said.
“What? That was the one I was telling you about!” She turned back to Clifford, “Anyhow, I’m sure he will tell you all about Jesus and talking to Kevin. Just ask him.” The doors started to close in front of her. “He isn’t at all shy about it.”
“Hey!” Clifford said when Bill entered the room.
“Hey! It’s Friday night. I would’ve brought you some Chinese food, but I didn’t think they’d let me bring it in here.”
“You’re right about that! The ladies were just here trying to sneak a casserole in.”
“I saw them on the way out,” Bill said.
“Chinese, huh? Wow, the torture continues.”
“I’m sorry,” Bill said, “I shouldn’t have even said it.”
“I’ll have to watch my diet when I get out of here, but I have to say, I don’t want to give up our Chinese tradition!”
“Well, I suppose we can find something low in cholesterol on the menu. Do you realize that I’ve been picking up there every Friday night for five years now? I’ll have to ask them to create a healthy dish for you. I’m sure they could come up with something special.”
“Good! What would we do without our fortune cookie advice for—”
Together they said, “Under the sheets.”
Under the Sheets was a game they always played by tacking the phrase on to end of their fortunes.
“Sorry, Jesus, just a little humor,” Clifford said.
Bill jammed his hands in his pocket and looked at the floor, “The girls told me that you’ve been talking to Jesus.”
“A whole heck of a lot of people talk to Jesus.”
“Yes, they do,” Bill agreed.
“I had a real nice talk with Jesus when I went to heaven. It isn’t the same as what you might think. It’s hard to explain. I’m happy to be here, but I’ll be excited to go back too.”
“Is that right,” Bill said.
“I don’t think Kevin has gotten his chance to talk to anybody yet. He hasn’t seen what I saw, not yet.”
“Kevin?” Bill asked. “Anna Marie’s Kevin?”
“Yes, Did Mary tell you? He’s been hanging out here with me,” Clifford said.
“Well, that is good to know,” Bill humored him as he made his way to a chair next to the bed. “At least I can tell the cast and crew at the Theatre to settle down. They all think he’s over there haunting the place.”
“Oh, he is!” Clifford said. “He says he hangs out at the theatre when he gets bored. He likes to tease everyone. He likes the attention.”
“Attention?”
“Yes. He means no harm. He says he gets bored with the waiting. He also wants me to tell you that he needs to get his daughter out of the house.”
“What house?” Bill watched Clifford focus on the corner of the room.
“The house she is in. He says you need to tell Anna Marie to get his daughter out of there. He also says he doesn’t think Diane should be at the Star Bright. He thinks Anna Marie should go back there.”
“Does he?” he frowned. “You can tell him that I said thank you for the nice mess he has left us all,” he said quietly to himself.
Clifford pulled his eyes away from the corner and looked at Bill, “He can hear you.”
“With all due respect to you my friend, if I really believed he could hear me, I’d have more than a few choice words for the man!”
“He says he doesn’t blame you. He wants you to know that he knows he screwed up.”
“Okay, Cliff,” was all Bill could say. “I’m trying to be respectful.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I guess that is why they’re going to send a psychiatrist to see me. I have to stop upsetting people.”
“I’m not upset,” Bill said. “How is everything else? I mean besides that you are dealing with—“ He wasn’t sure how to put it. “—Jesus and Kevin. How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling well. I’d be doing great if I wasn’t as hungry as—” He grabbed his mouth and looked at Bill. “Sorry, I have some bad habits. I’m trying not to swear as much. I don’t want to get rejected next time.”
Bill smiled at him, “Do you think a few swear words are going to hold you back? Because if swear words count, I’m a littl
e worried, well a lot worried about how high the standards are. I got a lot to work on!”
“No, no, I’m not worried about that. It’s just that I’m trying to be mindful. It’s a state of being.”
“I see,” Bill grinned.
It was quiet for a moment. ‘Just so you know, Kevin left,” Clifford said.
“Good!” He thought for a moment, “We must have bored him. I hope he isn’t headed for the theatre!” He laughed uncomfortably.
Clifford raised his eyes at him. “That’s probably exactly where he went.”
23
Liz kicked off her shoes, plopped on the bed and sighed with exhaustion. Why was she drained? What was it about Mark that zapped her energy? He was terrible for looking at her the way he did. He wanted her and he wasn’t going to give up. Did that make him terrible? Was she terrible? Gary was her choice. She needed to stop thinking about Mark.
The swirls of textured plaster on the ceiling caught her eye. She let her mind wander. What kind of tool had they used to create the continuous pattern of spirals? She tried to imagine how sore someone’s shoulders would be after a day of swirling plaster on a ceiling. Each swirl was somewhat unique and slightly different in size. Somehow they all came together to fit perfectly into the square of the ceiling. They reminded her of the way Mark’s curls fell loosely from the top of his head but perfectly framed his face. Mark! Mark! Mark! It was impossible. He’d gotten in her head. The truth was that he’d never really gotten out of her head, and they both knew it.
Her phone chimed. It was Gary.
Hey Liz, just checking to make sure you got home safe. Mark said you guys left about an hour ago.
Home safe. She answered.
Sorry, I didn’t make it.
Me too. Did you get your work done?
I did. How was it? He asked.
Awkward!
Awkward? Why?
It turned out that Mark was the only one there.
Really? Sorry about that. I thought more people were going to be there. I just didn’t want you to miss out. There was no reason to ruin your night because of me.
The False Exit Page 11