Without A Song

Chapter Seven: The road to recovery

The road to recovery has often been said to be a most unenviable journey. The prospect of the pitted surfaces, anguished facades and shell-shocked remains of an event outside of your control doesn't always bode well for the favoured struggler. After what seemed like hours left alone in my own world Casey entered the radio studio while the other members of the craft group were packing up. I'd switched the microphone off and Sharrinna's energetic single I'm Taking You Home was making the world feel great again. With that in my ear I put together the links for the Thursday entertainment spot.

I caught Casey's arrival in the corner of my eye. "You really are feeling better. You were good and they thank you. We'd better eat before you see Keith Cooper."

"Just got to wrap up. You staying or going?" A pause. "I'm not uncomfortable Casey. Thank you for what you've done today. I needed someone to kick my butt." I smiled.

"Going, I think. Sort yourself out and come across when you're ready. I've some cold lamb and salad to prepare for later. A couple of hours do you?"

A couple of hours would give me time finish in the studio, do a bit of shopping, collect my post, have a shower and change my clothes. Shift change was on and the canteen was full of engineers, admin staff and techies waiting for the big white American school buses that would be taking them down to the airfield. Some of them, who knew me better than others, gave me encouragement.

"Good show Stephen, though I'm surprised to see you up."

"You planning to go back to work soon?"

Others joined in with "Looking good for a corpse," calls of "Malingerer" or the more concerned, "Get back to bed until you can do a proper show."

Maybe they weren't that concerned, maybe they should have been. I shopped, checked my post, changed, showered, grabbed spare clothes and began the short walk back across the two compounds to Casey and Ben's bungalow. It was there on the roads, slopes and kerbs that I realised all was not well. I was tiring too quickly, I had difficulty breathing and my eyes weren't focusing. I paused, blew hard and moved on. Cautiously I took the shortest route through the pool area and stumbled into Ben's back garden. Casey saw me, saw my condition and ran.

"Oh God Stephen. Lay down while I call Keith."

This little lady amazed me again by putting an arm around my waist and supporting me. I tried to fend her off but I was too weak. She guided me through the open patio doors to the nearest sofa where I crumbled. Again. Then she rang Keith Cooper who quickly arrived with a male attendant, a stretcher and a bottle of oxygen.

I was still laid out on the sofa and despite my protestations Keith examined me there.

"You have overdone your first day Stephen. I've got to admit I enjoyed the show but you have worn yourself out, you need more rest. I know you want to be back at work but I will have to impose conditions on you and Mark. I will allow you no more than office work for two weeks, then he can have you back but first you have to rest for a couple of days. Are we clear on that?"

The attendant gave me oxygen through a mask while Keith continued. "I know you'll be climbing the walls until your body heals but that is the key. You must not overtax yourself, you would be better off somewhere where a doctor or a practice nurse could watch over you." My heart missed a beat but Keith dashed my rising hopes immediately. "However we can't indulge you here or at the hospital. Oh, if you should feel the need for sex, take it easy." I could have sworn he winked at me.

"Your radio show told me three things. One, you are recovering. Two, you have suffered and three, you are on the road to recovery." He rose from my side. "Now I have a surgery. I'm leaving the oxygen cylinder here for twenty-four hours. Use the mask if you have to but only sparingly. Your nurse said you were strong and that she expects a full recovery but I'm not sure she expected you to be trying so much so soon. I shall tell her of your improvement but now you must rest and no work tomorrow." With that he was gone.