Chapter 3

Dr. Glassman sat at his desk. Shaun quietly walked into the office and sat down in the chair.

"You wanted to see me Dr. Glassman?" Shaun asked.

"Yes," Dr. Glassman said. "Shaun, your co-workers are concerned about your behavior."

"I have already talked to Dr. Melendez," Shaun said.

"And now you're talking about it with me," Dr. Glassman said. "What is going on with you?"

"I'm just a little cranky," Shaun said. "It's my fault. I was over late at Lea's. We ate apples."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "This behavior is not acceptable."

"I'm sorry," Shaun said. "I know. I already apologized to Claire."

"I'm sending you home Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "You're dismissed for the day."

"But I apologized," Shaun said. "I have a patient who needs surgery.

"Someone will take care of it Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "Don't think I don't know what today is. I know it's the anniversary of Steve's death. You're attitude today is obviously affected by it."

"I don't want to talk about this," Shaun said.

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "It's okay to miss Steve. It's okay to cry about it. But yelling at Claire and talking back to your boss is not okay. Just take the rest of the day off."

"I don't need the rest of the day off!" Shaun shouted. "I need to show you that I don't need a therapist!"

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "Lower your voice please."

"I don't want a therapist!" Shaun shouted. "I don't want a therapist and I don't want to talk about my dead brother!"

"Stop it!" Dr. Glassman shouted.

Shaun stopped shouting and began taking deep breaths.

"I am done talking about this right now," Dr. Glassman said. "I have to work. Shaun, go home please. I will be by tonight to calmly talk to you."

"Okay," Shaun said. "Okay."

As Shaun sat on the bench waiting for the bus, he decided he wanted to walk. Shaun got up and began walking. As he walked, he passed by a pet store. In the window, Shaun saw a rabbit and immediately walked into the store.

"May I help you sir?" a male employee asked.

"Yes," Shaun replied. "Can I pet the rabbit?"

The employee walked over to the rabbit and gentle held the rabbit in his arms. Shaun then put on some hand sanitizer.

"Go ahead," the employee said.

Shaun began gently petting the rabbit.

"I used to have a rabbit when I was a kid," Shaun said.

"Really?" the employee asked.

"Yeah," Shaun said. "My father was a horrible man and he killed my rabbit."

"I'm so sorry," the employee said. "Would you like this rabbit? He's only $125."

"I'd love to buy this rabbit," Shaun said. "But my apartment doesn't allow pets."

"That's too bad," the employee said.

Shaun looked over to see some Corgi puppies. Without saying a word, Shaun walked over to the puppies.

"Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies," Shaun said.

"That's correct," the employee said.

"Ow!" Shaun heard someone cry.

Shaun turned around to see a little girl and her mother.

"What's wrong sweetie?" the mother asked.

"I have a splinter," the girl cried.

Shaun walked over to them.

"I can help," Shaun said. "I'm Dr. Shaun Murphy."

"Thank you Dr. Shaun Murphy," the mother said. "But I can handle it."

"No Mom," the girl said. "I want the doctor to do it."

"Okay," the mother said.

Shaun got out a pair of tweezers and kneeled down.

"Okay," Shaun said. "Let me see your finger."

The girl held out her finger.

"Will it hurt?" the little girl asked.

"I don't know," Shaun replied. "Tell me, what are the puppies doing?"

"They're wrestling," the little girl replied. "Can you please take out the splinter now?"

"I did," Shaun said holding up the tweezers.

"I didn't even feel a thing," the girl said.

"Thank you," the mother said. "We really appreciate Shaun. Tell him thank you Bridget."

"Thank you," Bridget said.

"You're welcome," Shaun said. "So tell me Bridget, are you getting a pet?"

"We are," Bridget said. "I wanted a puppy, but we can't have dogs in our house."

"Yeah," the mother said. "The people we rent from have a strict no dogs policy."

Shaun looked over at the rabbit.

"How about a rabbit?" Shaun suggested.

Bridget ran over to the rabbit.

"He's so cute," Bridget said. "Can we get him? Please Mommy?"

"You have to take really good care of him," the mother said.

"I promise," Bridget said.

"Okay," the mother said. "We'll get the rabbit."

Shaun walked out of the store. As he walked out, he couldn't help but smile.