Inexperienced Heart

Chapter 10: Doctor Expodore

Logan was being lightly tapped on his shoulders. As he got adjusted to his surroundings, his bleary eyes slowly clearing, he saw Mrs. Polymer above him, calling to him softly, "Get up!" Logan pushed back his covers and got up.

"How long have I been asleep?" Logan asked dreamily, still feeling sleepy.

"Not very long. We woke you up because we need you to tell us what happened to Landa," answered Mrs. Polymer.

"How is she?"

"Still unconscious." She sighed and led Logan down the stairs and onto the couch where Goldtin was snoring loudly. Logan, Mr. and Mrs. Polymer sat down and Logan told about how they found Landa, the four bullies, and the torture machine. When he finished, there was an awkward pause as Mr. and Mrs. Polymer kept nodding. Finally, they stood up and asked Logan to follow them. They entered Landa's room and looked at the still form of Landa.

"Stay here for a while. Dr. Expodore should be here soon," Mrs. Polymer mumbled as she and her husband exited and closed the door to the room.

Logan stood there for a while. Then, he decided to go nearer to Landa. He knelt down beside her bed and lightly put his hand on her cold forehead, whispering, "Landa, wake up!" Nothing happened. Suddenly, overcome with emotion, Logan put his head down on her chest and started crying violently. "Landa, wake up! Don't die!" he said over and over again. Eventually, he stopped crying. He had shed all the tears he had in him. He rubbed his face with his shirt to get rid of all signs he had cried. Then, he just sat there, looking at Landa as if transfixed by her beauty.

He didn't know how long he had been waiting, but some time later, he heard the door being opened. He quickly jumped up and stood in front of Landa's parents and a middle-aged man. He had greyish brown hair and a jovial face. His brown eyes twinkled. He made a cordial greeting to Logan and shook his hand firmly.

"I am Doctor Expodore," he introduced himself. Then, he continued by asking Logan to tell what happened to Landa.

Logan sighed, but related the story to the doctor. After he finished, the doctor rubbed his hands together and looked thoughtful. Then, he walked slowly to Landa and bent down. He felt her pulse. Mrs. Polymer looked expectantly towards the doctor, clutching her husband.

"She's breathing," the doctor whispered. He felt her head and took her temperature. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

"She's fine. She's just weak from the torture," he informed those in the room.

"When will she wake up?" asked Mrs. Polymer.

"Probably in a couple hours, but she'll be fine. She'll need a lot of rest in the next few days," explained Dr. Expodore. "Now, I must get going and attend to other patients. I'll come back and check on her in a few days." He stood up and shook hands with everyone.

Those next two days passed by slowly, without any action at all. Landa woke up the day after Dr. Expodore showed up. She didn't feel well enough to get up and walk though, so she stayed in bed. Her mother and father fed her in bed. They didn't talk much to her. They were heeding the doctor's advice and letting her get as much rest as she wanted and needed. The house was very quiet those two days.

Goldtin and Logan stayed in the house. They greeted Landa when she woke up, but they didn't talk to her about anything else. They read downstairs and remained silent, letting Landa sleep in peace without any disturbance.

The third day after the doctor's visit, Landa was better. She started walking, though a bit unsteadily, so her parents remained by her side and guided her. She ate meals with the others, but it was quiet at mealtimes. A lot of the day Landa was asleep.

The doctor came to check on Landa five days after his first visit. Landa was fully recovered. She was back to her normal self.

"She is in perfect condition," stated Dr. Expodore. Mrs. and Mr. Polymer thanked the doctor and he left.

Landa glanced at Logan and her eyes happened to fall on his injured hand.

"Logan!" she cried. "Your hand!" Logan tried to remove his hand from sight and put it behind his back, but it was too late. Mrs. and Mr. Polymer both had seen it and asked him to show it to them. Logan had no other choice but to show them. He explained how it had happened.

"We should have had Dr. Expodore look at it while he was here," exclaimed Mrs. Polymer in annoyance.