It was dinner at the Camdens and Ruthie was a little more excited than usual.

"I heard that Dr. Lisa Chandler would be hosting the tour tomorrow. I can't wait to meet her."

"Since when are you so excited in meeting a doctor?", Lucy said rather suspicious of Ruthie's unusual excitement over a doctor.

"Since she's the youngest doctor in known history. She's 13 just like me.."

All of the other Camdens looked up in surprise.

"A 13 year old doctor?", Kevin scoffed.

"I think I've heard of her.", Lucy said, "She's specializing in Emergency Medicine."

"She's too young to be a doctor.", Annie said, "Why would a hospital allow a child to practice medicine?"

"I want to be a doctor when I grow up!", Ruthie said, "I think I'm smart enough. Mom can I go to medical school."

"Not now Ruthie.You're too young."

"Yeah but Lisa is the same age as me.And she graduated from medical school already."

"Well then someone should take her license away. Children should not be allowed to become doctors. Being a doctor is too adult."

"You need to graduate from high school first Ruthie and your still in junior high.", Eric added, "But it's good that you want to be a doctor. It's a noble profession."

Annie glared at Eric.

Eric just shrugged, "So she wants to become a doctor? So what? It's not like Ruthie is going to med school in a year. And nonetheless it will be a good learning experience for Ruthie. Maybe a possible career choice."

Annie shook her head and continued eating.

++++++++++

Ruthie that night was preparing her bags for tomorrow. She had to wake up early because the hospital where Lisa worked was in Los Angeles which was a three hour trip from Glen Oak. She was very excited and wanted to be a doctor badly. It meant she would make lots of money and make her better and more successful than her siblings. And then she was out of this place, out of Glen Oak and on to better things.

Over the past few years she had gotten sick of her family. They never paid any attention to her or when they did it was to scold her and hold her back. She saw both Mary and Lucy as sex crazed lunatics and with no future at all. No she wasn't going to be like them. She was going to be her, Ruthie Camden, no matter what the cost. She wondered what Lisa was like, what it was like to be a real life 'Doogie Howser'. The girl fascinated her and she couldn't wait till tomorrow.

+++++++++++

"So how did they react to you?", Laura asked.

"Oh mostly they just watched. But I got to talk to a couple of girls. They say I look like someone named Ruthie Camden."

Laura gave Lisa an odd look, "Who's Ruthie Camden?"

Lisa shrugged.

Lisa was having the time of her life and was enjoying her sleepover. Laura and her two other friends Jamie and Sandra had no problem accepting her into their party and to Lisa's surprise the two new friends couldn't care less if she were a doctor or not. They even thought it was cool.

Now Lisa was sitting on a sleeping bag on the floor with her three friends. It had been a very enjoyable evening filled with girl talk and gossip.

"You think she could be a long lost sister?"

Lisa again shrugged.

"I mean you were after all adopted."

"Yeah I guess.I never knew about my natural parents and my dad said that I was found alone in the trunk of a car when I was a baby. They never knew whether I was abandoned or not or whether my real parents were dead."

"Do you ever wonder about your real parents and who they were?", Jamie asked.

"No not really. I guess I am happy where I am. I'm not sure I want to know. I may have to move back in with them and give up my career as a doctor. And of course I'd have to say goodbye to you Laura and never see you again. And why would they even want me back if they abandoned me in the first place."

"You know Lisa I'm glad you came tonight.", Laura said smiling.

"Yeah I guess I really been missing you.", Lisa replied smiling back, "Thanks for letting me come over."

Laura hugged Lisa and Lisa hugged her back. It felt like old times before Lisa had gone to medical school. And she was happy.

++++++++++

Lisa was in a happy mood in the morning. She got up early and quietly packed her things so she did not wake up her three sleeping friends. Once finished she had went across the street to go to her house and get her doctor's license and her prized stethoscope. Gertie picked her up at 6:30 and drove her to the ER. She thought sadly about last night and the fun she had and made a mental note to do it more often.

And then there was the other group from Glen Oak who was coming to see her. She wondered how they would react to her. Would they regard her as a freak? Well she would find out.

TO BE CONTINUED