He's Her (Available at Wild Rose Press, Amazon, Barnes and Nobels, etc.) - Mimi Barbour (ebook smartphone .TXT) 📗

we’re both mad.”
“I don’t see how I can help you. Imagine me trying to explain to anyone that you’ve left your collapsed body and decided to roommate in mine.”
She chortled, sounding like a witch. A woman sitting next to her, moved. “Crikey, I’ll be locked up, for sure.”
It was amazing how clearly defined his remarks were from her own. Having a conversation with another person inside her mind swiftly became as comfortable as talking on a phone to a voice heard from inside a receiver.
“There must be a specialist we can talk to. Someone who could help us! You have to try.”
“Me? Why me? I’m not the one who’s vacated a perfectly good body. You talk to someone. You try to explain your predicament. I’m out of it.” Her habitual tendency to stay away from the spotlight triggered her resistance.
“Wait a minute, don’t do that. Don’t shut down. I need you to help me explain.”
“I can’t explain what I don’t understand. For heaven’s sake, I did nothing.” Snivels and sniffs burst forth, as her lips quivered and her control wavered.
“Stop it! Don’t you dare cry! I can’t stand blubbering women.”
“I’m not crying. I’m scared. I don’t understand what’s happened to us.”
“I know. I can’t figure it out, either. Neither of us did anything to instigate this mess. Let me think on it for a while, before we draw any attention to ourselves.”
“Right! I don’t want to be locked up in a padded cell. Especially if you insist on tagging along.” Her backbone stiffened. The posture, and all it represented, gave her courage.
“Like I have a choice?” His droll sarcasm broke through her reserve. Her face crumpled and a small grin appeared.
“Miss Temple,” called the vicar, bustling towards her. “The doctor would like to see you now.”
She shot to her feet. “About Mr. Parks? How is he doing?” God, she hoped he’d started to come around, so she could say goodbye to her inner guest.
The vicar patted her clenched hands. “They’re examining him now but it seems to be a quandary all around. So far, they can’t find any reasons for him to be in this state. Can you come this way, and I’ll take you to the doctor’s office. They have a few questions for you, as well. I’m sorry I must leave you here alone, Carrie. I have evening services at the church.”
“Of course, Vicar. I’m thankful you came along when you did. You’ve been a wonderful help.” She walked slowly at his side, feeling surprisingly weighted down.
“Busybody, you mean.”
“Wonderful help. I’m so grateful.” She reiterated in an argumentative voice.
“I did hear you the first time, my dear. I was pleased to be of assistance. If you should have need of me in the days ahead, you’re welcome to call at the church or the vicarage.”
Taking his proffered hand, she squeezed it gently as she shook it. Since he was leaving, she wanted him to be aware of her sincerity and her gratitude. He was a dapper little man, fussy, talkative, but also extremely caring, and he’d always been kind to her and her grandmother. She waved to him as he turned back, hesitation registering in his face. He moved on.
“Humph! Old fool!”
“Stop that. He’s a sweet old man, and he did try to help us.”
“For all we know, he’s the one who put a hex on us and left us in this condition.”
“Don’t be daft. Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. Why has this happened? Nothing adds up. Look, let me do the talking when the doctor arrives.”
“Only if you make sense and keep calm. Remember, it’s my mouth the words will be coming out of and me who’ll wear the disgrace if you lose your temper.”
“I never lose my temper. I’m a rational, controlled man.”
“We’ll see.” She waited by the open door of the office the vicar had indicated.
A distinguished older man with short white hair and bushy eyebrows approached. His white coat flapped open with every step as he rushed toward her. “I wondered if it was you, Carrie, when I saw the name on the accident report. How’s your grandfather? Has he been following my instructions and taking his medication?”
She grinned, raised her eyebrows and twisted her head to one side. She didn’t need to say a word.
The doctor grimaced, shook his head, and then gestured her into the small office. He waved at her to take the chair while he perched on the edge of his messy, paper-laden desk.
“I understand you were with Mr. Parks this afternoon when he collapsed?”
It was time for the switch, and Carrie figuratively stepped back and let Rhett use her voice.
“Yes, doctor. We didn’t know each other. In fact, I’d never seen this woman before in my life. I...”
“Excuse me? Did you say ‘woman’?” the doctor interrupted. Carrie’s voice had lowered and become unexpectedly harsh, a change that tweaked the doctor’s interest. His eyes were now riveted to Carrie’s face.
“Sorry. I’m a bit flustered. I meant to say ‘man.’ I’d never seen the man before. I, uh—he was sitting, minding his own business, happy with his own company, feeling perfectly healthy when she, uh—I came along to cut a silly twig from the rosebush behind the bench. I felt faint and sat down on his bench, and the next thing I remember is, uh—reviving, with everyone gathered around us, uh—me.”
“Miss Temple. Your voice has changed dramatically, and you seem flustered. Give me your arm, and we’ll take a blood pressure reading. How is your general health? Any problems lately?”
“She—I’m healthy as a horse, no problems. Doctor, what is happening to Mr. Parks? I want to see him. Now!”
The doctor’s eyebrows rose. “I’m sorry, Carrie, but it’s out of the question tonight. We’ve slated him to be examined by some specialists. He’s in ICU and will most likely be moved to a ward tomorrow. You can see him then.” His soft tone indicated a soothing response to her curtness.
“Intensive care? Is his condition serious? What in the world would cause a perfectly healthy man to pass out?” The sentence ended with the last words being shouted.
The doctor continued to stare at Carrie concerned by her strange behaviour. Within herself she smirked at just how well her new, very close friend was handling the situation.
“Miss Temple, if you just met this man today, how would you know about his health?”
“He—he looked healthy. Good God, man! I have eyes. He looked to be in his prime.”
The doctor’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “Yes, actually, I think you’re right. So far we can’t see any reason for him to have passed into a coma, but I assure you, we will be running a lot more tests, and I’m confident the answers will be found. Meanwhile, I’ve contacted his brother, who is making arrangements to get here as soon as possible. Don’t look so worried, Carrie. We’ll take good care of Mr. Parks.”
“But, a coma! What causes them?”
“There are many reasons, a few being heart problems, stroke, diabetes—in fact, we have many avenues to search.”
“It sounds serious.”
“Yes, Carrie. It certainly is. In the meantime, I want to check you out. I’m concerned with your handling of the situation. You seem quite stressed.”
“Dr. Gray, I feel fine. There’s no need to examine me.”
“On the contrary, my dear, I believe there is every need, and I insist.”
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Publication Date: 03-16-2011

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