Liquid Perception

Chapter 4

Back to the office we go. Doctor Henry is pleased with himself. "We are going on a grand adventure friend. I can feel it!"

I say, "I just want my meds. We're going to be looking for a file with the name Edwin Jones on it."

He replies, "I remember your name friend. It was nice to meet you at that time. My name is Ronald Henry."

I say, "Good to know."

We arrive at the door. I look at the name plate, but I can't make out the words. It looks like Egyptian hieroglyphics. After trying several keys, the door opens. There is a hint of cigarette smell from the habit  the doctor has been trying to quit. The sofa that patients lay on is in the middle of the room. The bookshelves to the left of the sofa are lined with trophies, pictures, books, and a few other things. Ronald gravitates towards those. I see two file cabinets behind the doctor's large wood desk. Bingo!

I say, "Ron, do you want to help look in the filing cabinet on the left?"

He replies, "Sure thing friend."

I pull open the top drawer to find a few files. Ron's cabinet is packet. He pulls out a file. I ask, "Did you find it?"

He responds, "I do not know friend." He carries the file to the sofa and starts looking through it. I don't think he is going to be much help.

I open the middle drawer to find a couple of bottles of liquor and some red plastic cups. Obviously this is a high end facility. The bottom drawer is locked. I move on to the other cabinet. None of the drawers are locked, but none of them contain my file. I check the file Doctor Henry is reading also. No luck. There is only one place left to check.

I try every key on the ring, but none of them open that bottom drawer. Kicking it doesn't help. The padding in the cloth shoes they make us wear don't protect my foot much. I need a tool of some sort. There it is on the bookshelf. A crowbar that morphs into a golf club then back again. Wiping the tears from my eyes clears my vision. I jam the crowbar into the side of the drawer, and pull. The metal groans as it bends. The lock doesn't give way. I dig the crowbar in a bit deeper and try again. The lock pops. Finally!

Doctor Henry taps me on the shoulder. "Do you need help friend?"

I look at him contemplating if I should respond with the back of my hand. I decide against it. He has tried to help in his own way. Even if that way is by not helping at all. "No I'm good."

I slide the drawer open, and there it is. The manilla folder with my name on it.