Chapter 2: Rescue
Marimba awoke the next morning not remembering going to sleep when she saw Yonnivah standing before her bed with folded arms. She rose up from bed and wondered what she was expected to do.
"Well then, you're up. Good morning."
"Good morning, Yonnivah." Marimba curtsied as Yonnivah didn't smile.
"I'm to get you ready for your therapy." She said grabbing Marimba by the arm and dragging her into the bathroom.
"I can do this." She said as Yonnivah raised her nightgown and pulled down her pants before sitting her on the toilet.
"I'm just doing my job. I'll wait."
"Can I have some privacy? I can ready myself." Marimba said trying not to cry as Yonnivah helped her up from the toilet and wiped her before pulling up what she finally noticed was plastic pants.
"Why do I wear these?" She asked looking down at herself nervously.
"Why do you think? It's in case you wet yourself." Yonnivah said helping her drink a glass of water when they were back in her main room.
"I'm kind of hungry." She said as Yonnivah held her arm tightly as they marched down a hallway to the left where a bed with straps awaited her.
"You're not to eat before therapy. Lie down." Yonnivah commanded as Marimba stared at the bed before obeying as Yonnivah strapped her to the bed and attached wires to her body.
"Is this going to hurt?" She asked as Yonnivah put a rubber spoon in her mouth not answering.
"It will be over before you know it." Yonnivah said pulling a switch as Marimba's body lurched and she screamed as a man stood in the doorway with folded arms glowering at Yonnivah.
"What is going on here?" He asked moving to tickle Marimba's feet as she ceased her scream and giggled as Yonnivah looked nervous.
"Dr. Tanembaum. When did you arrive?" She asked as Marimba stared into vivid, blue eyes and saw a mop of black curls.
"I arrived just now. Why are you doing this without my consent? Is this a new patient?" He asked as Yonnivah handed him a chart as he wore jeans with a powder-blue, button-down polo shirt and boots.
"I thought all patients were to have therapy when they were new." She said looking contrite.
"I recall saying you were to ask me first. Don't look upset. Just observe the rules." He said unstrapping Marimba before helping her to sit up.
"Isn't Tanembaum German for Christmas tree?" She asked with trembling lips.
"Yes actually. How do you feel? Do you think you can stand and come with me?" He asked holding both her hands in his steady ones.
"My mouth is dry and I'm a bit hungry."
"Yonnivah will get you some water. I'm sorry about this." He said taking a towel to wipe drool from her face with.
"That's ok. Thank you for rescuing me." She said gazing at him with fluttering lashes.
"Just walk with me to your room and you can lie down." Skyler said as Marimba did her best to follow him without falling down.
"Just put one foot in front of the other." Skyler sang as Marimba laughed.
"That's Santa's song." She said obeying him as they slowly traversed the hallway back to her room.
"Ok then. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming." He sang as she laughed before he settled her in her bed.
"Who are you? I'm Marimba Merlin." She said trying to steady her outstretched hand.
"I'm Dr. Skyler Tanembaum. I run this joint. Yonnivah's sorry. She thought she was following protocol, but she was wrong." Skyler explained as he helped Marimba drink some water.
"She's forgiven. I really want to sleep, but--was She halted before yawning.
"But what? I'm here to help." He said smoothing hair from her face.
"I've lost my ruby slippers. I can't sleep without them."
"Not to worry. I'll find them." Skyler said sniffing before helping her up from bed.
"What's the matter?" She asked as he helped her into the bathroom.
"No offense, but you must have soiled yourself. You're a little stinky." Skyler whispered as Marimba smiled.
"Oh, there's a bath ran. How nice." She said sighing after stepping out of her plastic pants and hospital-issue gown.
"You can wear what you want." Skyler said moving to help her into the tub.
"I can do it." She said grabbing onto two protruding metal bars before stepping near the faucet and thrusting herself in with a little splash as Skyler sprinted out of splashing distance.
"This isn't a swimming pool." He said chuckling as she sighed with contentment.
"Sorry. My father has said before it helps to thrust yourself into a hot tub after being in shock." She said as Skyler took off his watch and put it in his pocket before taking off his shirt and stowing it on the toilet.
"Your father must be a doctor too."
"What are you doing?" She asked staring at him with hooded eyes.
"I thought I'd offer to wash your hair. My watch isn't water-proof and I don't want to get my shirt wet. Is that ok?"
"Can I wear my ruby slippers?"
"after you get dressed. I'll stand up for you. Yonnivah never meant harm." Skyler said taking up shampoo to lather her head with before attempting to push her head into the water for rinsing.
"No, no, no! Don't!" She shouted putting up her arms to protect herself as Skyler gently lowered them to the bars.
"I just want to rinse your hair. You're safe here. Relax." Skyler said with a soft accent as she relaxed and let him rinse her hair without screaming as he washed the rest of her without any further fuss.
"Thank you." She said as he helped her from the draining tub and dried her off with a big, fluffy, blue towel.
"No problem. We can get you something to eat if you're hungry still." Skyler said once Marimba was dressed in underwear, frilly night-gown and ruby slippers.
"I'd like something to eat, but I'm just too sleepy." She said stifling a yawn as Yonnivah briefly knocked before entering her room.
"I was just following rules, Honey. I'm sorry." Yonnivah said standing in the room with a tray in hand.
"It's all right, Yonnivah. What you got there?" Marimba asked eyeing the tray.
"You said you were hungry before. I brought you some fruit, a muffin, and some juice." Yonnivah said as Skyler propped her up in bed.
"Thank you. Wasn't that thoughtful?" She asked gazing at Skyler with bloodshot eyes.
"Yes. Thank you, Yonnivah. You don't know how to braid do you?" Skyler asked beginning to feed Marimba bites of fruit.
"How about a french braid." Yonnivah said seating herself beside Marimba so she could reach to brush her hair.
"I like that. Thank you again, Yonnivah." Marimba said before swallowing some proffered juice from Skyler's nimble fingers that held her glass.
"Of course. We want you to get well here." Yonnivah said maneuvering Marimba's hair.
"I believe she'll do fine once she makes the transition to the ranch."
"What ranch?" Marimba asked after swallowing some muffin with some juice.
"This is the beginning place where we assess our patients before transferring them to the real wellness place which is my ranch on Mulhulland Drive."
"Do you have horses?" Marimba asked with new enthusiasm.
"Yes. Moonbeam and Cloud Chaser." Skyler said wiping her face since he saw she was finished eating.
"Can we ride them?" She asked as Skyler arranged her pillows so she could lay down as Yonnivah took the tray on her way out.
"Yes. Would it bother you if your parents were to come there?"
"No, of course not. It would be good to see them. Can I wear my ruby slippers there?" She asked with hopeful but hesitant eyes.
"I think you're going to like it because the floors are yellow brick." Skyler said as Marimba beamed as he tucked covers around her and watched her eyes close and her tension-laced shoulders ease.