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The Appointment, Part 1

(This post is .. by nature, rather long. Because a LOT happens in this day. I ended up splitting it in the middle.)

Jaz woke up groggy.. and then she remembered. The day she'd been dreading. Today was her doctor appointment. She didn't really understand why she even needed one, but it was that or getting suspended... so I guess the Doctor was better? Maybe? Frowning, she hopped out of bed, and went to get ready for the day.

The day was promising to be just one of those days, and while trying to eat breakfast she had no less than two mice run across the floor under her bunny slippers. (Note: the mouse under the left hand chair...)

Furious now, Jaz went to the bathroom so she could clean up for the day ahead of her... and get away from the mice.

Being that she was the first one awake, the water was still hot, and she ended up spending longer than she had intended to under the weak stream of water, trying to calm down a bit.

She came out of the bathroom to a convention of people in the kitchen eating leftover mac n cheese. She helped take care of the twins cheerfully while Marnie grumpily shuffled all the rest of the kids off to school.... but then Marnie turned to Jaz.. and she could tell from the look on her face that Marnie wasn't enjoying today any more than she was. Marnie led her out the front door to catch the bus to the Willow Creek Hospital for her appointment.

They were barely out the door before Marnie stopped, turned to Jaz, and hissed, "You had BETTER behave today. I don't want any nonsense from you. Let's just get this over with so we can find out what's wrong with you!"

Jaz flinched, and nodded mutely.

Seeming satisfied, Marnie led the way down the stairs, and Jaz followed obediently. The bus was just pulling into the stop when they got there, and, being that the bus was mostly empty at this time of day, Marnie pushed her into a seat near the front and sat next to her.

Inside the house, Bennie was fuming. Being left alone to take care of the twins was NOT his idea of a good day, and the twins were already doing whatever they wanted - which included tearing up books, and banging pots and pans in the kitchen.

The bus ride was mercifully short, and they got off in an affluent area of Willow Creek. Marnie looked around nervously, smoothed her skirt down, and pasted on a pleasant smile in case there was anyone around.

Goggling internally, she noticed that none other than Bella Goth was walking towards her on the street. Taking a deep breath, she went up to her like she belonged there, and gave a friendly wave.

"Hello! How are you today? My daughter has a doctor's appointment at the hospital, so we happen to be on this side of town." Marnie said in her best Mom-voice.

Bella, surprised, responded politely, and said something about her son being due for his yearly physical, as well.

"Oh, this isn't for a physical." Marnie said conspiratorially. "She has been having bathroom troubles at school, and we're going to find out what's wrong with her. I believe Alexander is in the same class as my son, Myles. Does he like studying and science as much as my son?"

"Oh, he loves science." Bella said, breaking into a smile.

"Perhaps we should set up a play-date at the library or something. I've heard the Willow Creek Library is wonderful for kids. I bet they'd like each other... ? and have a good time?" Marnie trailed off, wondering if she'd gone too far, or offended the gorgeous woman.

"That would be fabulous!" Bella replied animatedly, "I could invite some of the other little scholars Alexander knows and we could make a day of it. I could bring the baby, as well."

"Oh? You have a new baby?? I hadn't heard. Congratulations! I could bring my toddler twins, too. When would be a good day?" Marnie asked, trying hard to seem natural, like arranging play dates was something she did every day.

"How about Thursday after school? We could meet there?" Bella responded.

"I would love that!" Marnie gushed, and then pretended to look at her (non functioning) watch, "Well, we'd better go before we're late!"

Bella waved goodbye with a smile, and headed up into the house, where a screaming baby could vaguely be heard.

Marnie and Jaz walked into the hospital, with Marnie leading the way by several feet. Marnie checked her in at the front desk, then returned to where Jaz stood near the front door.

"I'll wait out here." Marnie told Jaz, still lost in thought about her precious son perhaps getting to be friends with a GOTH! "Come back here when you're done!"

Trudging towards the big double doors when the receptionist pointed them out as the way to go, Jaz tried to breathe normally, but her heart was pounding, and she felt hot and cold all over. Rubbing damp palms on her worn jeans, she blinked, and pushed the right hand side door open.

"Jazmyn Malone?" a man in a pristine white coat asked her, and - unable to catch her breath enough to even talk, she just nodded her head at him. "I'm Doctor Winn. We'll be in this room here, and the nurse will get you something to change into so I can examine you." He motioned towards some more huge doors (or maybe everything seemed huge because Jaz felt so very small and alone right now..) .. and Jaz moved into the room indicated.

Dr. Winn smoothed down the paper on the ..bed.. couch.. thing..? .. and PAPER? (Why was there paper on there??) Jaz wondered, trying to stop panicking, and missing completely what he'd said.

"Jazmyn?" The doctor asked again, "You okay?"

Nodding mutely, she took a deep breath, and tried to listen as the doctor explained she would just change and then to sit on the table (oh! it's a TABLE?) when she was ready, and he'd be right back. A pleasant-faced lady came in as the doctor left the room with a soft pair of pajamas for her to put on. Left alone with the PJs (if that's what they were... they seemed awfully soft for temporary clothes..), Jaz quickly looked around to make very sure she was alone, and changed as fast as she could. She climbed awkwardly up on the table, feeling even worse when she wrinkled the paper, wondering if she'd get in trouble for it.

"All ready, young lady?" The doctor asked after peeking in to make sure she was dressed.

Jaz took a deep breath (or tried to) and nodded.

"Okay then." Dr. Winn looked at a clipboard, read for a brief moment, and then said, "So you're having trouble going to the bathroom at school, huh? Apparently the school is very concerned about it, and referred you to me."

Jaz tried to reply, realized she had no voice, and swallowed nervously, trying again. Still nothing came out, so she waved at him and gave him a weak smile. The lady had come back in, and seeing her discomfort, walked over to a nearby sink, and got her a little paper cup of water.

"Here, sweetie, drink this. I swear, you'd think she'd never been to see a doctor before! You're fully shaking!" the lady commented at the doctor, and then walked out of the room again.

The water helped, and Jaz tried again, with the doctor, amazingly - waiting patiently. "Not problems, exactly. I just can't go if someone else is in the bathroom... I can go when I'm alone just fine! Is it wrong that I don't like other people there?" she finally got out in a thin, worried voice.

"Oh, don't worry, Jazmyn, we'll figure out what's wrong. I just have to do a bunch of tests so I can diagnose you." Jazmyn wondered what a "diagnose" was, but the doctor didn't really seem to be paying any attention to what she'd said, so she didn't bother asking. Taking a breath, she nodded, and prepared for the worst.

First, he used a light in her ear, and made some inane talk about how she was doing in school, without really listening to her replies again.

He then stuck a device in her mouth, and said "Well, that's too bad you're not doing well..." (proof he wasn't listening - she'd just said she had straight A's!)

The tests didn't stop there, apparently, because he then pointed a beeping machine at her chest and poked it around her body.

"One last thing for this part, sweetie, and then I have to go check on this sample. We should be able to tell what's wrong after that, ok?"

Jazmyn nodded, and opened her mouth when he indicated to do that, and he rubbed a fuzzy stick on the inside of her cheek, then put it into a clear tube, and carried it out of the room.

The lady poked her head back in the door after a moment, and asked Jaz if she could get her anything while she waited for the doctor.

Jaz politely asked for more water, and thanked the woman when she brought her another cupful. The woman was then gone again, leaving Jaz alone with her nerves and confusion for a while. She did manage to get her breathing back under control, and drained the cup of water again.

.... to be continued ....

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