Chapter 5

Needless to say, that their "early night" didn't involve actually going to sleep, early! Both reflected with equal pleasure on their previous night's events.

As was usual, Martin took over the breakfast-making duties while Louisa used the bathroom. He'd prepared scrambled egg on toast for them both. He drank his espresso but Louisa liked tea.

Louisa had to get to school early in order to prepare her class schedule for Friday afternoon when she would be absent to go to Wadebridge. Happily, there wasn't a great deal left to do of this week's tuition as the children had accomplished most of what was required. Louisa printed out the tasks remaining so that it looked neater than her handwriting.

The children filed into the classroom settling quickly down into their desks. "We'll begin with the 7 times table this morning, class, - 1 times 7 is 7. 2 times 7 is 14" she intoned as the class dutifully joined in. Once they had finished, she asked them what 5 times 5 was. A few hands shot up and she asked George to give the answer. "25, Mrs Ellingham" he responded. "Well done, George, that is right!" Louisa praised the boy.

"Now, who can tell me what 8 times 5 is?"

Fewer hands were raised and she called upon Amy Davis to answer. "35, Mrs Ellingham?"

"That's not quite correct Amy. Anyone else want to have a go?" Jenny Lacey said "40." Louisa smiled as she acknowledged the correct reply.

"Now on Friday afternoon I'm not going to be here and you will have a stand-in teacher. However, I expect you all to be good and on your best behaviour, understand?"

"Yes Mrs Ellingham," they chorused.

George put his hand up, "Are you coming back?" he wanted to know.

"I'll be back in on Monday," she promised them. "On Friday I'm going to leave a test for you all to do. I'm going to ask you all to write out the 6 times table. No peeping at the wall chart, I expect this to be done by yourselves. Your books will be handed in and marked."

Nothing out of the ordinary occurred to either Martin or Louisa to upset their days or hasten the time until Friday.

Martin dealt with the last patient – "Dusty" Miller, a cousin of Chippy Miller. "What seems to be the problem, Mr Miller?"

"Well, Doc I've been having stomach ache for more than two weeks, now."

"Get up on the couch and open your trousers so that I can palpate the area." Martin directed Mr Miler to the examination couch at the side of the room. He pulled on a pair of examination gloves and palpated each quadrant of the man's abdomen. As he pressed in the lower right area Mr Miller gave a gasp of pain.

"Oh, that hurt, Doc."

"When did you last have a bowel movement, Mr Miller?"

Dusty Miller thought back, "I guess it would have been last Monday, Doc."

"Have you had any fever, bleeding from your rectum?" inquired Martin

"No Doc – I haven't seen anything like that." Miller was adamant he'd not noticed any further symptoms.

Taking off his gloves Martin told Miller to get dressed and have a seat at the desk.

"Mr Miller, do you eat plenty of fruit, vegetables or roughage such as bran and fibre in your diet? Do you drink water or tea frequently?"

"Well, I have potatoes and carrots with my main meal. Usually for breakfast I'll have fried egg sandwiches and lunch time I have ham sandwiches. As for drinks, just the usual cuppa tea. I do have a drink at breaktimes when I'm working. Don't often go to the pub so I don't drink many pints." Miller explained.

"What sort of bread in you sandwiches?" asked Martin.

"Oh, you know, just white bread. Not keen on brown at all."

"Hm, I think you could be constipated, Mr Miller. I'll write you a prescription for laxative effect. If your symptoms haven't cleared up in a week's time, come back and see me. You should also drink more water throughout the day and increase your intake of fibres such as bran, cabbage, sprouts etc."

"Thanks Doc, but do I have to eat sprouts, I'm not very keen on them?"

"So long as you increase the fibre content of your diet you will be alright as far as the constipation issue goes, but you know, a variety of vitamins and minerals in your diet will have a positive effect on your well-being, also." Martin explained to him.

"OK Doc, will do. Thanks." Dusty Miller picked up the prescription and left.

Martin wrote up the notes from the consultation and handed them to Pauline. "File these and anything else which requires dealing with today. Have any test results come back yet?"

"No Doc, not today. Am I alright to leave when I've done that?" Pauline looked hopefully at Martin.

"Yes, I'll see you in the morning. Lock up before you go, Pauline"

He turned and went back to his office. Tidying up the surgery he checked the stock levels, making a note to order more gloves, bandages and some of the simpler medicines which went into his bag. A last check round assured him there was nothing else requiring his attention and he left to grab a quick lunch before Louisa returned.

Martin had just finished the small amount of washing up when Louisa passed the kitchen window and entered the back door.

She gave him a big smile and a peck on the cheek. "Ready for the verdict then?" she asked him.

"Louisa, please keep your expectations in check. As I've told you the test is not always conclusive." Martin reminded her.

"This time it will be, I know it!" Louisa gave a small twirl around and told him that she was going upstairs to change and get ready.

"Yes." Was his only response. He picked up the latest BMJ and settled down to peruse through it, marking items of interest for deeper study, later.

By 3:15 they were on their way to Wadebridge and their appointment with destiny. Louisa kept her hands on her midriff whilst watching the changing scenery. Glancing across at her Martin sighed and hoped that nothing would happen to ruin her contented look.