Binky's High Blood Pressure
By Joe
Summary: While at the pharmacy, Binky discovers that he may have high blood pressure.
Author Notes: I do not own Arthur, its characters, or any other copyrighted material. Many of you may read the title and think it's another boring story about a character developing a health problem. However, it is nothing of that nature, as you will eventually find out.
Chapter 1
One summer day, Binky was outside in the front yard kicking a soccer ball with his friends, Arthur, Buster, Francine, and the Brain. They were having lots of fun together. Just then, Binky's father walked out the front door and called Binky over.
"Binky, I have a mild case of gout, and my doctor prescribed some medicine for me. Would you please walk to the pharmacy and pick it up? Here's my health insurance card and the prescription," Mr. Barnes said, handing Binky the card and prescription.
"Sure, Dad. I'll be right back," smiled Binky. Mr. Barnes went back inside and shut the door. Binky went to his friends. "Hey guys, I'll be right back. I've got to go get some medicine for my dad."
"Sure, Binky," Arthur said.
Binky ran off with the health card and prescription in hand. He went to downtown Elwood City, where he entered a somewhat large building called Elwood Drug Store. In the back of the store was the counter where one was to receive drugs. Binky walked to the back counter, passing by the aisles of toys, hygiene products, and all sorts of other things. Binky saw the pharmacist and spoke to her. "Excuse me, ma'am. My dad has gout, and his doctor prescribed some medicine for him. He told me to come down here and get it for him." Binky placed the health insurance card and prescription on the counter.
The pharmacist scanned the health insurance card through the machine and scanned the prescription. She handed the card and prescription back to Binky, who put it in his pocket. "Okay, give us about 5 minutes," the pharmacist smiled.
"Thanks," said Binky. The pharmacist walked off to get the drug. Binky looked around. There weren't any chairs. He would have to stand up for five whole minutes. That was not very comfortable for him. "Man…" groaned Binky. "I've got to find a place to sit. I need a chair." Binky looked up and down the aisles, but no chair in sight. "I know…maybe I'll buy a chair here!" Binky went to the front counter at the front of the store. "Excuse me, I would like to buy a chair here," Binky said.
The cashier laughed. "I'm sorry son, but we don't sell chairs here. This is a drug store!"
"Aw man…" Binky said glumly. He sulked and walked up and down the aisles again, still trying to look for a chair. But then, his luck changed! In an abandoned, dark corner of the drug store, Binky saw some big machine with a little stool attached to it. "All right, a chair!" Binky shouted. He darted over to it and sat down. "Ah…that feels great…" But then, he noticed that the stool was attached to a large machine. "What's this?" Binky wondered.
The machine had three red buttons: start, stop, and clear. The machine also had two display screens for numbers to appear. The buttons and screens were on a plastic board that had a bunch of information about something known as blood pressure. Binky read the information aloud. "If your blood pressure is below 120/80, then you have normal blood pressure. If it is between 120/80 and 139/89, then you have prehypertension. If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, then you have high blood pressure. Hmm…I'm not sure if I understand what this thing is talking about, but whatever this blood pressure stuff is, it sounds interesting enough. I ought to check my blood pressure."
Binky placed his left arm through the cuff and pressed the start button as the information on the plastic board instructed. Binky heard a humming sound, and he began to feel the cuff squeezing tightly against his upper arm. As the seconds passed, the cuff squeezed harder and harder. Binky's eyes began to bulge out it their sockets. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Too hard! Too hard!" cried Binky. But then, the machine stopped. Binky could hear and feel the cuff releasing more and more air. Eventually, the cuff had loosened enough for Binky to feel more comfortable. Finally, the machine released all remaining air inside the cuff at one time, and a hissing noise emitted. Then, big digital numbers appeared on the screens.
"Oh no!" cried Binky when he saw the numbers. According to the machine, Binky's blood pressure was 206/117. He had high blood pressure! "T-t-that can't be right," Binky stuttered. "Let me try it again," he said. Binky pressed the clear button and the start button, and the process continued again. About 30 seconds later, the second blood pressure test was over, and once again, Binky had high blood pressure. This time, his numbers were 204/125. "Ah! Ahhhhh!" Binky screamed. "Oh no! Oh no! I'm not healthy! I'm going to die!"
Then, over the intercom, the pharmacist called Binky. "Mr. Barnes, your medicine is ready." Binky shivered as he shakily walked out of the dark, lonely section of the drug store into the much more populous area. He approached the counter. The pharmacist handed him a paper bag with the medicine inside. "There you are. Have a nice day," she smiled. Binky's arm slowly and shakily reached out and grabbed the bag. He looked extremely horrified. "Are you okay?" the pharmacist asked with concern.
"S-s-sure…I'm f-fine," Binky said. He then staggered through the aisles and left the Elwood Drug Store. "What have I done?" choked Binky. "Why did I have to get high blood pressure? What's wrong with me? I gotta get some help fast!" he said, running down the street and back home.