Island of the Unemployed

NOT A HEART SPECIALIST

The powerful tropical sun flooded a doctor's office from skylights above. A'dacus sat on an examination table, kicking his short legs as they dangled from the table. A doctor held a makeshift stethoscope to his chest. The smell of formaldehyde was unpleasant and all too familiar. This was not the first time he had been there. The doctor started monitoring his heart condition years ago and had seen a steady decline in the boy's health over that time.

"How are you feeling today, A'dacus?" The doctor put the stethoscope down on a nearby table.

"Good." He didn't bother making eye contact.

"Good? Well, I'm going to need you to be a little more specific. That's your answer every time," the doctor said with a smile, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. "How about your energy level? Are you feeling tired at all?"

"A little tired, maybe. Not too bad, though," he said, understating the situation. Adults always overreact. No need to alarm them.

"I thought that might be the case." The doctor removed his hand from the boy's shoulder. "I want you to go home and get some rest."

"Well, I can't go home right now. I have to go swimming with my friends. They're waiting for me." Why did he have to admit he was tired? He knew he shouldn't have admitted that!

"We're going straight home when we leave here A'dacus." Bric spoke up from across the room.

"Oh, Dad! Do I have to? The guys are all going swimming. Why can't I go?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea," the doctor said. "I'm sorry, A'dacus, but you need to get some rest."

"Why don't you head home and I'll catch up to you in a few minutes," Bric said, in a firm, but loving manner.

A'dacus hopped down from the examination table and sulked his way toward the door. Why do adults always have to spoil things? They don't understand anything!

Bric accompanied him part of the way out, putting his hand on his head. Then he closed the door behind him and turned to face the doctor.

"So, what do you think?"

"I don't know. I'm not a heart specialist, and even if I was, we don't have the tools I need to diagnose his condition properly. In my opinion, it could be quite serious. He has an irregularity in his heartbeat, and it seems to be getting worse, and it is affecting him physically."

This came as no surprise to Bric. His son's condition first manifested itself four years ago. Since then, he had seen his son's health slowly decline. He was a loving father, and his son meant the world to him. He would gladly trade places if he could. But, alas, that was not an option. There was nothing he could do to help, and it was tearing him apart inside.

"What can we do about it?"

"Not much. We just don't have the tools to deal with serious heart conditions like this with the primitive technology on this island."

"But, if we were back home things would be different, right?"

"Oh. No question. Again, I'm not a heart specialist, but I've seen cases like this before. If we were back home, I have no doubt we could get this resolved without an issue. But, we're not, so there's not much we can do about it."

Bric looked down at the floor. "All right. Thanks, Emil. I appreciate your help."

"You're welcome. Bring him back next week. We'll keep a close eye on him."

AsBric exited the doctor's office, angerburned inside him. It was only a matter of time before the life of his only sonwould be taken from him, and it didn't have to be this way. Ifanything happened to A'dacus, he knew whoto blame. Striker Halstein! And he wouldspend the rest of his life making sure he paid for it!