Neverchance & Happenstance

Plans and Runaways

Plans and Runaways

Chase carefully placed the completed plans he made inside his desk drawer under two folders and three loose papers. Closing the drawer he smiled, feeling good about his decision. He walked over to his bookshelf and pulled out A Tale of Two Cities, opening to the middle of the book where a box was carved into it. He pulled out all of his savings and placed a money clip on them before putting the bundle in his briefcase. Closing his door behind him he headed downstairs and into the kitchen where his mother stood buttering golden toast.

“Good morning, honey. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, I did. Thank you. Um, I will be home a bit later today.”

“Oh, why? Tonight’s game night with the Cambells.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. I need supplies because I want to go camping this weekend. I need to get away.” He felt a twinge of guilt for lying about his plans, but it was almost the truth.

“Okay. You know what you need to do.” She held his face in her hands and smiled at him. Kissing his cheek, she turned back to the stove and fixed a plate of eggs, bacon and toast. “Here, eat up. Can’t have my bachelor son losing his strength, now can I?”

“Mom.” She only laughed and turned back to the stove with mischief dancing in her eyes. “You are enjoying this too much.” She laughed in response before carrying a cup of coffee to the living room, leaving Chase to finish eating. He stacks the dirty dishes in the sink before gathering his coat and briefcase and saying goodbye to his parents.

As he walks he reviews his plan one last time, making sure everything is in order for his “camping” trip tomorrow.

“Good morning Sarah, is the Doctor in his office?”

“Morning, yes I believe he is.” He gave her a smile before knocking on the elderly man’s door.

“Come in. Ah, good morning Chase.”

“Good morning, Dr. Fields. I have a question to ask you.”

“Okay.”

“I wanted to take a camping trip this weekend and-“ He cut me off.

“And you need the days off? Consider it done. I hope you get your mind sorted out.” He smiled.

“How did you know?” I ask laughing.

“Because that’s what I had to do at your age. You’ll figure it out eventually.”

“Thanks.” Chase groaned as the Doctor grinned at him.

“Just let Sarah know you are off the emergency call this weekend.”

“Thank you.” He walked out of the office and sorted out the schedule with Sarah before going to his own office.

Stepping inside the sterile white room he glanced through the patient profiles for today before pulling on his white coat. At nine o’clock sharp he beckoned his first patient in.

“How are you doing today Mrs. Dutcher?” I asked her as she picked up her one year old son and placed him on the table.

“Good, just worried.”

“Okay, so tell me what’s been going on with Bobby here.”

“He was playing in the yard a few days ago and fell down and scraped his knee. He also has a bruise. The cut has slowed down bleeding, but it’s still seeping and the bruise hasn’t gone away, he also says it still hurts.” Chase pushed up the shorts so he could see the entire knee area. The boy’s leg had a bandage on it and a faint red line could be seen on it. Beneath the bandage there was a dark purple bruise the size of an apple.