She’s testing me.
“Would you like one?” she asked as she licked it.
Boy, would I?
She saw my expression.
“Oh, Mister, it is nothing like that. Would you like a green one? It helps to get your mind off of the stinging sensation after I pinched you with the needle.”
I nodded. She gave me the lollipop, and I put it in my pocket.
“I’ll take it for later,” I said.
I blushed and turned to look at the table next to me. Something caught my eye. There was a paper titled “Bus Blood Drive,” and it had Michael’s name on it, among others.
That’s strange. What’s his name doing here?
I got up from the chair and turned my attention to Lucy.
“Lucy.”
“Yes, Mr. Bennett.”
“Do you know my son, Michael Bennett?”
“I knew there was something familiar about your name. We had a blood drive a few days ago. Have you seen those buses that park in some parking lots and ask for blood?”
“Well, yeah. What does that have to do with him?”
“Those samples come here for processing. He must have donated to one of those buses. I think I saw his name on the list from a few days ago. I haven’t seen him come in here, though. I’m the one in charge of this.”
“Okay. Great. Good to know. Thank you for the information, Lucy,” I said. “You’ve been very helpful. And I’ll keep my head out of the gutter.”
“Glad to hear it, Mr. B.”
Mr. B. That has a nice ring to it.
I went out of the room and drank some water out of the water fountain, which was right there in the hallway next to a vending machine.
I hadn’t noticed it on my way in because Lucy’s hips had my full attention.
I stopped for a moment.
I went back to the room. Lucy was getting the blood samples ready for the lab.
“You’re back. Would you like to donate more blood?”
“No, no, no. I’m fine. Since we’re testing to see if we’re a match for Moretti, would you check my son’s blood type as well? Moretti is a good friend, and we just want to do right by him.”
“Sure, Mr. B. I’ll tell the doctor to include your son’s sample as part of it.”
“Thank you, Lucy.”
“Toodles,” she shot back.
I walked out of the room, went down the hallway, and made a left.
Clarissa and the rest of them were still sitting in their seats.
