Temporary Silence

Chapter 1

Amanda woke in her bedroom that morning feeling strange. As she looked at her alarm clock she realized it had been going off but she didn't hear it!

Quickly shutting it off she thought maybe she just had to clean her ears out. She never had a problem before but there was always a first time.

Going to her medicine cabinet she found an earwax removal kit and began to work on one ear. Her left ear had been ringing for some reason but in her right was silence.

Maybe she'd caught a cold and that was the reason her ears were stopped up. Shaking her head she then worked on the right ear.

After a few minutes she rinsed both ears out and snapped her fingers to try to hear something but there was nothing but the ringing.

Alarmed she went downstairs to get Dotty!

Dotty smiled and stated to her, "Well, good morning. You just missed the boys leaving for school. Are you going in later for work today?"

Amanda gulped and shook her head at her answering, "Mother, I can't hear you! Something's wrong!"

Dotty led her to a chair and held her remarking, "It's all right, Dear. I'll call Dr. Goodman's office and we'll go straight away. Just sit there for a moment while I call..."

Dotty went to the phone and dialed. Amanda rose from the chair but Dotty motioned her back as she spoke to the person on the other end and after a few moments hung up and dialed again.

While Amanda sat there she tried to think what may have caused her hearing to go. She and Lee had been just doing normal runs during cases lately.

Maybe her training with Leatherneck? She'd just begun her firearm instruction last week. Shaking her head she thought, No, I had protection for my ears.

Just then Dotty tapped her and pulled her up responding to her, "C'mon. Dr. Goodman had a cancellation. Let's get you ready to go. And don't worry about IFF. I called and told them you were going to the doctor but you may be in later."

Dotty helped her get ready and then called a cab for them.

They were at the office in minutes and ushered in by the nurse who took Amanda's blood pressure and pulse and asked questions that only Dotty could answer for her.

After a few minutes the nurse stated to Dotty, "Dr. Goodman will be right in. "

She left the room and Amanda sat on the table looking worried. Dotty came over and hugged her daughter responding, "Don't worry, Darling. I'm sure it's just an infection. It happens, all right? You'll be fine."

Just then, Dr. Goodman came in and Dotty greeted him and sat down in the chair across from the table.

Dr. Goodman asked looking at Amanda, "Understand your hearing is out of whack? Let's take a look and see, hmm?"

He checked both ears and her nose and throat and then took an instrument to check her ears once more. He found very little wax but remarked, "It appears her left ear is infected but her right has a puncture in the eardrum itself."

Tapping Amanda on her knee he came close to her and asked, "Do you recall rupturing your eardrum at any time recently?"

Amanda shook her head commenting sadly, "No. Why is this happening?"

Dr. Goodman responded, "I don't know, but I'll give you a prescription for an antibiotic for the infection. We'll set up an appointment two weeks from today to see how you're coming along. I don't want to do anything else until the infection clears, all right?"

Amanda nodded and then asked, "What about work? Will I be able to go?"

The doctor nodded and stated, "Of course. I see by your file that you work for a film company, correct? There's nothing dangerous about that. But I suggest that you don't go on any trips for a while and of course, no driving."

Patting her shoulder he said, "Take care, Amanda. And don't worry. It'll take time to heal but you'll be fine."

On their way out, Dotty got the scrip for Amanda's meds and she called a cab from the desk.

The cab came a few minutes later and the ladies got in and Dotty instructed the driver to go to the drugstore near their home and to wait while they got the medicine.

Luckily, it took no time at all as Dotty paid for the meds and they went home.

Dotty pointed to the phone and asked Amanda, "Do you want me to call IFF? Do you feel all right to work, Dear?"

Amanda nodded and replied, "Ask for Lee Stetson and ask him if he wouldn't mind picking me up, please? I'm going to go change."

Dotty nodded and got on the phone while Amanda went upstairs. Amanda knew they hadn't met before but she didn't have a choice. She couldn't hear well at the moment.

As she finished getting changed she plugged her nose to make her ears pop. It worked somewhat as she was able to hear a little bit from her left ear.

It wasn't perfect but it would have to do for now. She headed downstairs and Dotty responded, "I spoke to Lee and he said he'd be here soon. Now, it's all right if you don't want to work. He said he didn't want you out if it was too much for you, Darling. Did you take your medicine yet?"

Amanda shook her head and saw the bottle on the counter and looking at the instructions took a pill out stating, "It says, one pill twice daily with or without food. Here goes nothing."

She got water after taking the pill and Dotty patted her shoulder and remarked, "I know you're worried, Dear but you'll be all right. I know it."

Just then, the doorbell rang and Dotty went to get it. Amanda looked around for her purse and realized she'd left it upstairs and heading up stated, "I'll be back."

Amanda had gone up for her purse but also to take everything in that had happened that morning. Ear problems were normal she knew, but her mother meeting Lee for the first time when they weren't supposed to know one another? That takes some getting used to, she thought as she headed downstairs once more.

It wasn't fair to put Lee through her mother's drilling but it couldn't be helped...

TBC