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“Me too, but I think it helped that several committee members now have parents with accessibility needs. If they wanted a family picture at a reunion under the gazebo, they couldn’t do it. Around here, family is a heavily motivating factor.”
I pointed at her as I finished chewing and washed the last of my sandwich down with some pop. “It is, and we need to use that to our advantage at the meeting tonight.”
“Oh, don’t worry, wait until you see my notes,” she said with an evil giggle.
The gasping of a woman behind us drowned out my laughter. “Irving!” Ivy said, as she came around to look at my hand. “What on earth happened?”
Fighting the eye roll that wanted to escape, I waved away her worry. “I cut my hand on the door of the pharmacy. It’s no big deal, Ivy.”
“Looks like a big deal to me considering the blood on my bar towel.”
“I’m sorry,” I said with a grimace. “I’ll replace it.”
She patted my shoulder and shook her head. “Not what I meant, and you don’t need to replace it. That said, your hand needs medical attention.”
“We’re headed there as soon as the pharmacy arrives with the meds he was trying to pick up when he hurt himself,” Hazel explained.
“What did you cut it on?” Ivy asked, keeping an eye on the door.
“I’m not sure. I was using my left hand to pull myself in, which means it has to be something on the doorframe. When it happened, I let go and rolled back out the door. I’m lucky I didn’t tip the chair in the process.” I glanced down at the left hand-rim. “Looks like I’ll have to clean that up too. It’s covered in blood. Star probably is too.”
“What I want to know is, why didn’t you go directly to the hospital? My diner is many things, but a medical facility it is not.”
This time, I did roll my eyes, but it was with laughter on my lips. “I didn’t think it was that bad. I just wrapped it in the car and was going to grab a sandwich and go home. I thought the bleeding would stop, but it hasn’t.”
The door opened, and in walked a frazzled pharmacy technician. She spotted us and headed to the table, a bag in her hand. “I’m so sorry, Irving,” she said as she set the bag on the table. “We would have delivered the prescription. All you have to do is call.”
“Trust me, from now on, I will,” I assured her. “I happened to be rolling by so I thought I’d just stop in and grab it. Instead, something grabbed me.” I held up my left hand as example A.
“We are so sorry! Go to the clinic and get it checked out, please. You probably need stitches and a tetanus shot. Do whatever they tell you to do, and send the bills to us. The pharmacy will pay them.”
“That’s not necessary,” I insisted, but she waved her hand in the air with frustration.
“I have my orders, and I’ve delivered them.”
Hazel jumped in before I could. “Would you let the pharmacist know to check the left side of the door frame? That’s what he was holding onto when he got cut.”
“The left side of the door frame going in,” I clarified. “If you’re coming out, it’s the right side. About midlevel.”
Her eyes widened and she nodded once. “I will. I wonder what on earth it could be.”
“You’d be surprised what a small nail or piece of metal can do in my situation,” I said with a shrug. “I’m used to it. Thanks for delivering the prescription. We better head to the clinic.”
“Of course, again, make sure the bills come to us.”
I gave her a salute and she finally laughed, which made me feel better. The one thing I hated the most about these situations was making people feel bad. She waved and headed back out the door, which meant it truly was time to suffer through a trip to the hospital when I’d rather be doing anything else.
“If you’d grab my check, Ivy, I’ll square up and head out.”
“Lunch is on me,” Ivy said with a shake of her head. “Just go get your hand fixed before you develop a bigger problem.”
“You sure?” I asked and she nodded once. I opened my wallet and pulled out a ten. “Would you give that to Indigo? I wasn’t very nice earlier and I feel terrible about it. She deserves a tip for putting up with my hangry butt.”
Ivy sighed, but relented and took the bill. “I’ll pass the message along, but I don’t think she’s upset since she’s the one who called me looking for back-up.”
This time it was Hazel who laughed as she opened the pharmacy bag and took out the bottle. “If nothing else, Irving,” she said, handing me a pill, “think of it as everyone has your back. They only want what’s best for you.”
I took the pill and swallowed it with a drink of water. She wasn’t wrong; it did feel good to know people cared. “I’m getting used to that idea,” I agreed with a smile. “It’s nice to know people want to keep me around. That hasn’t always been the case, which is why I truly enjoy living here, even with the frustrations I face. On days like today, frustration can get the best of me, but I won’t let it get me down.”
