THREE
"Well," Carpenter said, checking Pipers' eyes, "I wouldn't be too concerned. True amnesia is actually very rare. Most memory loss is the result of a traumatic experience. You had a mild concussion. That probably caused your memory loss. It will probably return soon.
"Once you're feeling stronger, we'll drive into the city and see if we can find out who you are. It's been three days and I'm sure someone is looking for you by now. We'll go by the police. They should be able to help."
"Can't we call someone now?" Piper asked.
"We could," Carpenter said, "except I don't have a phone. You couldn't have gone far in your condition. If you were in a car accident your car might be sitting along the road or in a ditch. In a day or two I'll see if I can find it."
"Thanks," Piper said. "I appreciate everything you've done for me."
"Well, we still have to call you something," Carpenter said. "How about Jennifer? It was my mothers' name."
"Sounds as good as any I suppose," Piper said.
"So, you don't remember anything before you woke up today?" Carpenter asked.
"Bits and pieces mostly," Piper responded. "Nothing that makes any sense. Something about a blue light and a man."
"Blue light?" Carpenter questioned. "Maybe he's your husband."
"I'm not wearing a wedding ring," Piper said.
"Okay," Carpenter said. "Anything else?"
"Two women," Piper said. "And a big house. Something about the two women always arguing."
"Sisters maybe," Carpenter suggested. "Or neighbors."
"There's also something about a book," said Piper. "A very big, very old book. For some reason, that books seems very important to me."
"Well, that's a good sign," Carpenter said. "It means your memory isn't gone. Just suppressed."
"I also remember something about people just appearing and disappearing," Piper said.
"I assume you don't mean in any conventional way," Carpenter said.
"I don't know," Piper said. "I just remember that one minute they're there and the next minute they're gone. I told you it doesn't make any sense."
"That's okay," Carpenter said. "Your memory will return in time. Just don't try to force it."
"You have a very good bedside manner," Piper said.
"Years of practice," responded Carpenter. "Now, I'm going to go finish chopping some wood. You get some rest. That's what you need right now. We can talk some more later."
"I just realized something," Piper said. "I'm hungry."
"Now, that's a very good sign," Carpenter said. "The 'fridge and pantry are completely stocked. Just help yourself to anything you want."
"Thanks again," Piper said. "I guess you saved my life. Somehow, after everything you've done for me, just saying 'thank you' seems kind of hollow."
"There is one way you can thank me," Carpenter said.
"Name it," Piper said.
"Just follow my instructions," Carpenter replied. "The best way to thank me is to get better as soon as you can. Which means you have to follow the doctors orders."
"Yes sir," Piper said.
"Now," Carpenter said, "let me get back to the wood. You get something to eat and just take it easy."
As Carpenter went out into the backyard, Piper thought about the few flashes of memory she had. She knew there was something important she needed to remember. But no matter how hard she tried, nothing came to her mind.
Finally she went into the kitchen to get something to eat. Carpenter was probably right. Her memory would return soon enough. Until then, all she could do was wait and hope.
"Well," Carpenter said, checking Pipers' eyes, "I wouldn't be too concerned. True amnesia is actually very rare. Most memory loss is the result of a traumatic experience. You had a mild concussion. That probably caused your memory loss. It will probably return soon.
"Once you're feeling stronger, we'll drive into the city and see if we can find out who you are. It's been three days and I'm sure someone is looking for you by now. We'll go by the police. They should be able to help."
"Can't we call someone now?" Piper asked.
"We could," Carpenter said, "except I don't have a phone. You couldn't have gone far in your condition. If you were in a car accident your car might be sitting along the road or in a ditch. In a day or two I'll see if I can find it."
"Thanks," Piper said. "I appreciate everything you've done for me."
"Well, we still have to call you something," Carpenter said. "How about Jennifer? It was my mothers' name."
"Sounds as good as any I suppose," Piper said.
"So, you don't remember anything before you woke up today?" Carpenter asked.
"Bits and pieces mostly," Piper responded. "Nothing that makes any sense. Something about a blue light and a man."
"Blue light?" Carpenter questioned. "Maybe he's your husband."
"I'm not wearing a wedding ring," Piper said.
"Okay," Carpenter said. "Anything else?"
"Two women," Piper said. "And a big house. Something about the two women always arguing."
"Sisters maybe," Carpenter suggested. "Or neighbors."
"There's also something about a book," said Piper. "A very big, very old book. For some reason, that books seems very important to me."
"Well, that's a good sign," Carpenter said. "It means your memory isn't gone. Just suppressed."
"I also remember something about people just appearing and disappearing," Piper said.
"I assume you don't mean in any conventional way," Carpenter said.
"I don't know," Piper said. "I just remember that one minute they're there and the next minute they're gone. I told you it doesn't make any sense."
"That's okay," Carpenter said. "Your memory will return in time. Just don't try to force it."
"You have a very good bedside manner," Piper said.
"Years of practice," responded Carpenter. "Now, I'm going to go finish chopping some wood. You get some rest. That's what you need right now. We can talk some more later."
"I just realized something," Piper said. "I'm hungry."
"Now, that's a very good sign," Carpenter said. "The 'fridge and pantry are completely stocked. Just help yourself to anything you want."
"Thanks again," Piper said. "I guess you saved my life. Somehow, after everything you've done for me, just saying 'thank you' seems kind of hollow."
"There is one way you can thank me," Carpenter said.
"Name it," Piper said.
"Just follow my instructions," Carpenter replied. "The best way to thank me is to get better as soon as you can. Which means you have to follow the doctors orders."
"Yes sir," Piper said.
"Now," Carpenter said, "let me get back to the wood. You get something to eat and just take it easy."
As Carpenter went out into the backyard, Piper thought about the few flashes of memory she had. She knew there was something important she needed to remember. But no matter how hard she tried, nothing came to her mind.
Finally she went into the kitchen to get something to eat. Carpenter was probably right. Her memory would return soon enough. Until then, all she could do was wait and hope.