Lisa's day was once more off to a bad start. Mainly because a bunch of
residents and interns from New York decided to pay a visit to LA County to
attend an important conference in Emergency Medicine. Not that she minded
and the ER residents and attendings gave her a day off of her duty schedule
so that she could attend. Sort of like a vacation/school thingy. The
problem was Matt and his cell phone.
"Matt how many times have I told you to turn off that damn phone!", Dr. Norton, who was leading the medical students, and an intern, Lisa, to the conference.
"I don't know how to turn it off!", Matt replied trying once more to figure out how to use the not so complicated device.
"At least turn the volume all the way down you idiot!", Lisa said growing annoyed at Matt's ineptitude. She knew also that cell phones were technically a menace in hospitals since they interfered with certain vital equipment. Not to mention that they could not enter the conference rooms because the noise of the cell phone would be a rude disruption.
"Sorry sir.", Lisa said realizing that she spoke out of line.
"It's ok he is a moron.", Dr. Norton who sighed as Matt answered it again. Lisa rolled her eyes as it was Lucy this time and Matt had to blow her off. He hung up on her.
"Matt! You should at least say goodbye before hanging up!", shaking her head she turned her attention to Dr. Norton.
"Now all of you keep quiet. We are sitting in the front row and..", then he threw up his hands in frustration as Matt's phone rang AGAIN.
Lisa sighed and quickly snatched it from Matt answering it and saying, "I'm sorry but Matt Camden is busy today and cannot answer the phone at the moment. Please don't call again. Goodbye."
And with that she hung up, took out the batteries and handed Matt his cell phone putting the batteries in her pocket.
"Thank you!", Dr. Norton said.
++++++++++
Uncle Joe was back in his church cleaning up. It felt good being in here again. The calm, the need to be near God, everything in this church kept him alive. Lisa saw this, even though inwardly wished he'd get more rest. Watching him gave Lisa sad memories of her stepfather.
"Hey Uncle Joe."
"Hey Lisa.", Joe said as they embraced, "How was your day today?"
"Fine. Joe I just wanted to.."
But Joe put his finger to Lisa's lips and said, "Don't be sorry. I would have felt the same way in your place. Besides, I have been working too hard."
Lisa nodded sadly, "Did you hear about Tommy?"
"Yeah. I've talked to the police and I'm afraid it's out of my hands. But I'll come up with something don't worry. So I've heard that you have found your biological family."
Lisa nodded, "They seem all right. Although I think the mother is crazy and Matt is a stalker."
"Not everyone is perfect you know."
"I know. It's just that I'm not sure about them. And I have a medical career here. I can't leave that."
Just then Eric Camden and the Colonel entered.
"Hey dad.", Lisa said not realizing that she called Eric dad for the first time as she hugged him in welcome. It just seemed natural. Eric noticed though and it made his heart ache in happiness.
"Hey. Um Lisa this is your grandfather, the Colonel."
Lisa immediately offered her hand and to the Colonel's surprise she had a firm grip That was the first thing he noticed about Lisa. The Colonel hugged his granddaughter for the first time in years and was very happy.
"Gentlemen can I talk to Lisa for a moment."
++++++++++
"It's who I am grandpa. I like being a doctor. I get to help people and I admittedly get paid. But of course that's not the most important reason.", she said jokingly and humorously. That was the second thing the Colonel noticed about Lisa, she was less uptight then Ruthie, more naturally charming and the way she laughed, the way she wore her emotions, were all natural and not forced. The two were talking now in her Uncle Joe's office and already the Colonel had mixed emotions about her. He had to admire her success as a doctor, unquestionably, but he wondered if it was the right thing to do. But he could tell Lisa meant it. He could see it in her eyes. There was no leeway, no compromise or uncertainty. Well a little uncertainty but there was also a serious, definitive tone to her voice that made it quite certain that she took her need to be a doctor very seriously enough that there was no changing her mind.
"You're mother was worried about you. That you were not having a proper childhood."
"Well I do have friends who I hang out with you know."
"That's good.", the Colonel got up from his chair and said, "Well we better get you back to your home."
"Grandpa."
"Yes Lisa."
"Are you part of the military?"
"Yes I am. Retired army colonel why?"
"Well it's just that I.well it doesn't matter to me but I'm not a military person. I'm a doctor and no offense but I don't like guns and war and no offense but I don't support the war in Iraq. In Afghanistan certainly given what some of those people did 2 years ago. But not Iraq. I know it is unpatriotic but I've treated gunshot victims before and many of them, some even younger than me, have died from them."
"I see. Well I guess I understand. But we do have to do what is best for this country you know."
"I just wanted to tell you where I stand. I still will love you as a grandfather but I can't always agree with what you always believe in."
"How do you know what I believe in?"
"Ruthie told me."
"Oh I see. Okay I guess I see your point. Come on the others are waiting."
++++++++++
Eric and the Colonel were now in the spare bedroom in Lisa's house talking privately.
"Eric I am concerned with Lisa. She is too young to be a doctor."
"It's up to her dad. This is not like taking some favorite toy of hers for being bad. This is something she has worked hard at most of her life."
"True. And I do respect Lisa's wishes. But she needs adult guidance and maybe she needs to realize that sometimes her ideas aren't all that good. Did you know that she disagrees with the war with Iraq?"
"So do I. War is bad you know."
The Colonel looked at Eric for a moment, "Which leads me to another question. How come Ruthie hasn't turned out like Lisa? I mean if their identical twins shouldn't Ruthie be as advanced as Lisa? What is going on in that house of yours?"
Eric barely contained his anger. This was why he had neglected to tell his father about Lisa in the first place.
"Dad just because they are identical twins does not mean that they are the same. I've known some families who have identical twins who are totally opposites in character and yet grew up normally. And what does that have to do with Lisa? Does it matter whether or not they are the same or not?"
The Colonel looked at Eric for a moment but decided that he was too tired to argue with his son, "Well I guess not. But I'm just wondering whether you have been parenting Ruthie properly that's all. Just doesn't seem right that she should be a prodigy and Ruthie would not."
Before Eric could reply there was a commotion outside.
++++++++++
"Guys! That's a private conversation!", Lisa said, after catching Ruthie and Peter listening in at the door.
"So?", Peter replied, "It does concern you doesn't it? Aren't you interested in what they have to say?"
"Well yes but......."
"But what?"
"Well like I said it's private."
Suddenly Eric opened the door and Peter and Ruthie fell inward. Shaking his head and frowning at the Colonel Eric said, "Come on guys let's go out to eat."
"Eric."
"The conversation is over dad.", Eric said turning to the Colonel, "Lisa is my daughter and therefore my responsibility. So if you want to come with us let's go. Otherwise I've done enough talking for now and I want to spend some time with the kids."
The Colonel again looked at Eric and frowned, then nodded and said, "Give me a few minutes. I have to make some calls."
It was Eric who now gave the Colonel a dangerous look, "Don't worry I just need to call an old army buddy of mine regarding an annual golf tournament we go to often.", was the Colonel's response.
Hesitantly Eric led his children and Peter downstairs, still looking behind at his father, wondering if what the Colonel said was indeed true.
"Matt how many times have I told you to turn off that damn phone!", Dr. Norton, who was leading the medical students, and an intern, Lisa, to the conference.
"I don't know how to turn it off!", Matt replied trying once more to figure out how to use the not so complicated device.
"At least turn the volume all the way down you idiot!", Lisa said growing annoyed at Matt's ineptitude. She knew also that cell phones were technically a menace in hospitals since they interfered with certain vital equipment. Not to mention that they could not enter the conference rooms because the noise of the cell phone would be a rude disruption.
"Sorry sir.", Lisa said realizing that she spoke out of line.
"It's ok he is a moron.", Dr. Norton who sighed as Matt answered it again. Lisa rolled her eyes as it was Lucy this time and Matt had to blow her off. He hung up on her.
"Matt! You should at least say goodbye before hanging up!", shaking her head she turned her attention to Dr. Norton.
"Now all of you keep quiet. We are sitting in the front row and..", then he threw up his hands in frustration as Matt's phone rang AGAIN.
Lisa sighed and quickly snatched it from Matt answering it and saying, "I'm sorry but Matt Camden is busy today and cannot answer the phone at the moment. Please don't call again. Goodbye."
And with that she hung up, took out the batteries and handed Matt his cell phone putting the batteries in her pocket.
"Thank you!", Dr. Norton said.
++++++++++
Uncle Joe was back in his church cleaning up. It felt good being in here again. The calm, the need to be near God, everything in this church kept him alive. Lisa saw this, even though inwardly wished he'd get more rest. Watching him gave Lisa sad memories of her stepfather.
"Hey Uncle Joe."
"Hey Lisa.", Joe said as they embraced, "How was your day today?"
"Fine. Joe I just wanted to.."
But Joe put his finger to Lisa's lips and said, "Don't be sorry. I would have felt the same way in your place. Besides, I have been working too hard."
Lisa nodded sadly, "Did you hear about Tommy?"
"Yeah. I've talked to the police and I'm afraid it's out of my hands. But I'll come up with something don't worry. So I've heard that you have found your biological family."
Lisa nodded, "They seem all right. Although I think the mother is crazy and Matt is a stalker."
"Not everyone is perfect you know."
"I know. It's just that I'm not sure about them. And I have a medical career here. I can't leave that."
Just then Eric Camden and the Colonel entered.
"Hey dad.", Lisa said not realizing that she called Eric dad for the first time as she hugged him in welcome. It just seemed natural. Eric noticed though and it made his heart ache in happiness.
"Hey. Um Lisa this is your grandfather, the Colonel."
Lisa immediately offered her hand and to the Colonel's surprise she had a firm grip That was the first thing he noticed about Lisa. The Colonel hugged his granddaughter for the first time in years and was very happy.
"Gentlemen can I talk to Lisa for a moment."
++++++++++
"It's who I am grandpa. I like being a doctor. I get to help people and I admittedly get paid. But of course that's not the most important reason.", she said jokingly and humorously. That was the second thing the Colonel noticed about Lisa, she was less uptight then Ruthie, more naturally charming and the way she laughed, the way she wore her emotions, were all natural and not forced. The two were talking now in her Uncle Joe's office and already the Colonel had mixed emotions about her. He had to admire her success as a doctor, unquestionably, but he wondered if it was the right thing to do. But he could tell Lisa meant it. He could see it in her eyes. There was no leeway, no compromise or uncertainty. Well a little uncertainty but there was also a serious, definitive tone to her voice that made it quite certain that she took her need to be a doctor very seriously enough that there was no changing her mind.
"You're mother was worried about you. That you were not having a proper childhood."
"Well I do have friends who I hang out with you know."
"That's good.", the Colonel got up from his chair and said, "Well we better get you back to your home."
"Grandpa."
"Yes Lisa."
"Are you part of the military?"
"Yes I am. Retired army colonel why?"
"Well it's just that I.well it doesn't matter to me but I'm not a military person. I'm a doctor and no offense but I don't like guns and war and no offense but I don't support the war in Iraq. In Afghanistan certainly given what some of those people did 2 years ago. But not Iraq. I know it is unpatriotic but I've treated gunshot victims before and many of them, some even younger than me, have died from them."
"I see. Well I guess I understand. But we do have to do what is best for this country you know."
"I just wanted to tell you where I stand. I still will love you as a grandfather but I can't always agree with what you always believe in."
"How do you know what I believe in?"
"Ruthie told me."
"Oh I see. Okay I guess I see your point. Come on the others are waiting."
++++++++++
Eric and the Colonel were now in the spare bedroom in Lisa's house talking privately.
"Eric I am concerned with Lisa. She is too young to be a doctor."
"It's up to her dad. This is not like taking some favorite toy of hers for being bad. This is something she has worked hard at most of her life."
"True. And I do respect Lisa's wishes. But she needs adult guidance and maybe she needs to realize that sometimes her ideas aren't all that good. Did you know that she disagrees with the war with Iraq?"
"So do I. War is bad you know."
The Colonel looked at Eric for a moment, "Which leads me to another question. How come Ruthie hasn't turned out like Lisa? I mean if their identical twins shouldn't Ruthie be as advanced as Lisa? What is going on in that house of yours?"
Eric barely contained his anger. This was why he had neglected to tell his father about Lisa in the first place.
"Dad just because they are identical twins does not mean that they are the same. I've known some families who have identical twins who are totally opposites in character and yet grew up normally. And what does that have to do with Lisa? Does it matter whether or not they are the same or not?"
The Colonel looked at Eric for a moment but decided that he was too tired to argue with his son, "Well I guess not. But I'm just wondering whether you have been parenting Ruthie properly that's all. Just doesn't seem right that she should be a prodigy and Ruthie would not."
Before Eric could reply there was a commotion outside.
++++++++++
"Guys! That's a private conversation!", Lisa said, after catching Ruthie and Peter listening in at the door.
"So?", Peter replied, "It does concern you doesn't it? Aren't you interested in what they have to say?"
"Well yes but......."
"But what?"
"Well like I said it's private."
Suddenly Eric opened the door and Peter and Ruthie fell inward. Shaking his head and frowning at the Colonel Eric said, "Come on guys let's go out to eat."
"Eric."
"The conversation is over dad.", Eric said turning to the Colonel, "Lisa is my daughter and therefore my responsibility. So if you want to come with us let's go. Otherwise I've done enough talking for now and I want to spend some time with the kids."
The Colonel again looked at Eric and frowned, then nodded and said, "Give me a few minutes. I have to make some calls."
It was Eric who now gave the Colonel a dangerous look, "Don't worry I just need to call an old army buddy of mine regarding an annual golf tournament we go to often.", was the Colonel's response.
Hesitantly Eric led his children and Peter downstairs, still looking behind at his father, wondering if what the Colonel said was indeed true.
