by Abby Deuel
In the morning, Mandy got dressed in her favorite pair of jeans and an old wool button up shirt. It wasn’t very cold out. She figured she would prepare for any type of weather that might strike in Fall and wool was her trustiest garment. Today would be the day to finally see Anna’s clinic in all of its glory. She was a little nervous about it, butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
She walked down the hall of the RV to the kitchen area and fixed herself some oatmeal and coffee to get the day started on the right foot. She filled Lyle’s bowls with food and fresh water. She sat down at the dining nook to eat her modest breakfast. The radio was on and golden oldies was the current selection. Mandy tried to find another station but it seemed that there was either country or oldies. She had listened to country the whole way here yesterday. For some reason, when driving across America where reception is patchy, the default station available is always country. Mandy enjoyed the story-telling quality of country music, wondering when that had phased out of music. As “Sixteen Tons” hummed from the stereo, Mandy rinsed out the dishes and added them to the dishwasher. Almost a full load, she thought. Lyle had finished her breakfast and was ready to play again.
“I wish I had as much energy as you sometimes,” Mandy said to Lyle. “I did promise you some exercise this morning.”
Mandy opened the cupboard above the stairs and dug out Lyle’s walking harness. A traditional collar would not contain Lyle’s enthusiasm for life, especially if Lyle spotted a squirrel. The first time Lyle had ever seen a squirrel, in fact, she was unattended in the bedroom of the RV. They were parked in the Carolinas somewhere and Mandy was outside starting a fire for the night. Mandy saw the squirrel fluff its tail and scurry up a tree. The picturesque nature scene was quickly replaced with a Border collie leaping through the glass window, landing at the foot of the tree. Her nose had been sliced open by a shard of glass from the window and was bleeding profusely. Meanwhile, the squirrel was flirting with Lyle’s curiosity by jumping from branch to branch just out of reach. As a veterinarian, Mandy got the situation under control but learned a valuable lesson about Lyle and squirrels.
“Sit,” Mandy said. “Paw,” she said and Lyle obediently handed her left paw to Mandy. This way, Mandy could place the harness over Lyle’s foot and head and fasten it over the shoulders. Lyle didn’t stop moving very often. However, she was more than willing to stop to let Mandy put the harness on because she knew that meant that they were going somewhere. Lyle was a lucky dog. She went with Mandy everywhere and over the years had been more places than many people. She had been hiking in the mountains, skiing, fishing, and even went tubing on a river once in Texas.
As Mandy’s constant companion, they had a great relationship. However, Mandy had learned after the first time she took Lyle fishing with her that perhaps that was one activity a dog shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy. They had been parked on a river in Arkansas and Mandy was just casting her fly out. Mandy was learning how to fly fish and was just at the stage where the fly was getting caught in a tree or shrub one out of every three casts, instead of every cast. Lyle was lying in the sun on the bank, watching Mandy. Unfortunately, there were some bubbles in the water just below the bank. Lyle really didn’t have much control when she saw something that came and went like a bubble. She dove in after the bubbles, digging in the current to try to capture one. Meanwhile, her long curly tail had caught on the line and Mandy was desperately trying to keep the fly from getting caught in her hair. Lyle kept bouncing and jumping on the bubbles, which made more of them. Alas, the fly did get caught in Mandy’s hair and she lost balance and fell in an icy cold spring-fed pool. No amount of yelling could deter the fun-loving Lyle from her newfound game. The line was in knots, Mandy was soaked, but Lyle was happy as could be. Finally untangled, Mandy took a moment to catch her breath, perching on a rock. Lyle found a stick and dropped it at Mandy’s feet as if nothing has ever happened. That was the last time Lyle went on a fishing trip.
With the harness on, Lyle and Mandy headed down the road for an early morning walk. Nothing was open yet and there was no activity to speak of. Mandy liked this time of the day because it was so peaceful that she could hear herself think. As they walked a few leaves blew along the pavement. The town was decorated for Halloween with little murals of pumpkins and witches in the windows. Halloween was one of Mandy’s favorite holidays because she loved to eat the little bite-sized candies that always appeared in full force in the grocery stores.
She also enjoyed dressing Lyle up for the occasion. Last year, Lyle was a frog, complete with a lily pad beneath her and a fly suspended above her head. This year, she had been working on fashioning a bumble bee outfit for Lyle. Although Lyle was a long and lanky dog, she seemed to fit into children’s clothing really easily. Plus, as long as someone was playing fetch with her, she didn’t mind how Mandy dressed her. Mandy’s sewing skills were not prize winning. However, she was capable of altering costumes for Lyle as long as she kept the concepts simple.
They had walked the whole length of town without seeing a single person. At the edge of town, they turned around to see the chief’s car pull over beyond them. Someone got out and faced her and Lyle. On his breast pocket was a name badge that read Chief Larry Pullman.
“Can I help you, ma’am?” the chief asked, as he readjusted his rigid gray hat with a black brim and police medallion. His uniform was starched and press to perfection. The shiny black shoes completed the look of someone who meant business. However, the uniform was a few sizes too small so his less than firm love handles made a nice ledge above his belted waist.
“No, I just drove in last night and thought I would take a walk through town,” Mandy said.
“I’m Larry, the chief and this is Gerald, my assistant,” pointing to the occupant of the passenger seat.
“You can call me Gerry,” he interjected. He was every bit as tone as the chief was flabby. His face was framed by a square jaw with a Roman nose sitting in the midst of his bronzed skin.
“I’m - ,” but before Mandy could finish, Larry interjected.
“Mandy, right? We figured you would be in town soon. The town has been in a bit of shock since Anna’s passing. We knew she had put in her will that a classmate of hers would be coming in to take over. Have you found everything you need?”
“I think so. It’s a pretty standard small town,” Mandy said.
“You’d be surprised. When things get going around here, we sure do know how to put a smile on your dial. Who’s the pooch?” asked Gerry.
“Lyle, but she’s a girl,” said Mandy.
“Well hello Lyle, but she’s a girl!” said Gerry. “What kind of name is Lyle anyway?”
“She’s named after Lyle Lovett, the…”
“We know who Lyle Lovett is,” interrupted Gerry. “You’ll fit right in. We better go check on the shops before they open for the day. Let us know if you need anything. We might see you later on.”
Mandy watched as the chief’s car turned to the back alley of the main street. She hadn’t been very friendly with cops before. In fact, whenever she saw one on the road, she immediately got very nervous. She wasn’t the sort to break laws or anything, but something always made her uneasy around cops.
Lyle and Mandy arrived back to the clinic and noticed lights on in the reception area. When they went inside, there was a woman on the phone.
“That sounds pretty serious, Mrs. Price. I think we need to have a look at little Suzie. Can you come in at, say, 8:30? Great, I will write you in the book and we’ll see you then,” said the woman and then she hung up the phone.
“Hi Mandy, how was your trip? Here’s a cup of tea. Milk and sugar, I hope that’s ok. I’ve marked out 12 to 1 for your lunch hour like Anna used to take. If you want to change it, let me know. That was Mrs. Price on the phone. It looks like Suzie got into the chocolate again. She’ll be right over. And who’s this lovely little dog?” she said as she gave Lyle a pat. Lyle was sitting like a perfect lady at the woman’s fee
t, enjoying the attention as if she had known the woman all her life. That is the only trouble with Border collies. They will literally go home with anyone and start a new life as if nothing had ever been different. Mandy had trouble at dog parks because Lyle would never come back when she called her. She just darted from human to human, giving any toy, stick, or ball she could find, in an attempt to engage anyone in a quick game of fetch.
“This is Lyle and I’m Mandy. I guess you already knew that. May I ask your name?” Mandy inquired.
“Gillian. I’m the receptionist or assistant or whatever needs doing around here. I’ve been here for eight years. Heard all about you from Anna. I think we’ll make a great team,” said Gillian.
“Hmm, well, I…” Mandy was interrupted by Mrs. Price walking in with Suzie waddling behind her. Suzie was a rather obese golden Labrador with a smirk on her muzzle, the kind of smirk dogs have when they love life but don’t have much thought process behind why they love it. Suzie had one ear up and one down and a bit of a stiff gait as if arthritis was starting to set in. She didn’t look like she had missed many meals and chocolate must have been a favorite of hers.
“Here’s the record Dr. Bell. I’ll just weigh Suzie for you,” said Gillian. Mandy looked down at Gillian’s hands and forearms, noticing how well-leathered they were from some kind of hard labor. Her fingernails were short and functional with neither a wristwatch nor jewel in sight. Mandy always figured you could tell a lot from a person’s hands.
Mandy’s train of thought wondered to her great grandmother who had probably the most narrative hands she had ever seen. She had raised sixteen children starting at the turn of the century with the first born. In those days, you grew your own food in the garden, butchered your own chickens and cattle, kneaded your own bread, toiled over the washboard to provide clean bedclothes for your family, all with one kid on your hip, and two hanging off your feet. She hadn’t known her long; Great Grandma Priscilla had told the most wonderful stories about working hard for your piece of this earth. Mandy contemplated if settling down was something she’d been fighting all of her life and maybe Great Grandma Priscilla had a few things figured out.
Meanwhile Lyle found a well-worn chair in the reception area and had curled up with a plush toy she found in the children’s toy box under one of the chairs. Ever since Mandy had taken her from the litter as a very young puppy, Lyle had fallen asleep with a plush toy under her chin. Lyle’s favorite was a hippo, named Gertie, which she carried around the RV. However, it looked like she had found a bear to suffice in Gertie’s absence. Mandy had sewn Gertie back together and re-stuffed it several times. It barely resembled its once adorable rotund form, with one missing eye, a crooked nose, and one leg that had lost its form, dangling like a limp stump. Despite all the repairs, Gertie held her place in Lyle and Mandy’s nomadic life across the American continent.
“Sixty-three pounds. That’s five more than last time she was here. Tisk, tisk Mrs. Price. You know how we talked about giving Suzie less table scraps and encouraging Suzie to get up off her corduroy bed every now and then,” said Gillian. “Just go into the consult room and Dr. Bell will be right with you. Actually, maybe we better put you guys out in the dog run so we can clean up easily.”
Although Lyle had been a fixture in many clinics, this was a new atmosphere. She got up out of her chair to greet the new patient.
“Lyle, mind your manners. Give Suzie some space,” said Mandy. Lyle reluctantly climbed onto the chair Mandy had set up for her. The chair had to be the right size for Lyle’s whole body to fit in it as well as be in the most opportune position to watch the comings and goings of the clients and patients. Lyle brought the bear she had found with her to the new chair.
As Gillian was walking over to the pharmacy cupboard, she asked Mandy “How many apomorphine tablets should we give her, Dr. Bell?”
“Um, let’s start with one,” Mandy said as she followed Gillian out to the dog runs.
“How long ago did she eat the chocolate, Mrs. Price?” asked Gillian.
“About twenty minutes ago.”
“And how much did she eat?” said Gillian.
“Almost the whole block.”
“Hold her back end still, Mrs. Price and I’ll get her front end,” said Gillian as they got Suzie in a headlock. “Here’s the tablet, Dr. Bell.”
Mandy came over and took the tablet from Gillian and placed it under the right eye lid of the wiggly Labrador. Gillian left the dog to retrieve something from the pharmacy.
“So, how do you like it so far here?” asked Mrs. Price. Since this wasn’t the first time this had happened to Suzie, Mrs. Price knew the drill and could resume small talk calmly.
“I only just got here last night,” said Mandy. Gillian returned with a 10 cc syringe filled with water.
They all stood back to watch the medicine do its work, all of them knowing things could get messy. Suzie’s whole body started to shake as she started to pace. She circled a corner of the dog runs and started to wretch. The contents of the vomit looked suspiciously like pieces of baking chocolate.
Suzie started to wretch again and by now had vomited up about a whole block of chocolate. “That’ll do the trick it looks like,” said Gillian as she started to rinse the tablet from under the eyelid using the syringe of water she had brought.
“Oh, thank you so much, Dr. Bell. I really should try to be more careful when I am baking but Suzie has a way of distracting you right at the pertinent time. I was just getting the chocolate muffins ready for the Halloween bake sale when she snuck up and ate the whole bar, not leaving a single crumb,” said Mrs. Price. “At first I wasn’t even sure if I had unwrapped it and put it on the counter yet. Suzie had that guilty look on her face so I knew I better bring her up here for the experts.”
“At least you caught her doing it so we could deal with her straight away. She should be fine now but I would watch her the rest of the day to make sure. Any problems, give us a call,” said Gillian.
“Thanks again. I will bring some baking by when I have replenished my chocolate supplies. The boys are out late every night and up early every morning to get the crop in before the weather sets in for winter. I am keeping everyone fed and chocolate is a popular treat for the boys. I have to make a trip into the big city to get more supplies for the hungry mouths. The little general store here doesn’t have everything we need. It was lovely to meet you, Dr. Bell. I do hope that you come to the Halloween Hoedown next week. I might even be able to convince the boys to come along for a few hours,” said Mrs. Price as she was walking back out to reception. Suzie saw Lyle sitting on the chair and Lyle jumped down to check on the four-legged friend post treatment. Tails were wagging and noses were sniffing. “It looks like Suzie is feeling better already! She didn’t even notice Lyle on the way in.”
Suzie and Mrs. Price left in a much calmer fashion than they entered the clinic.
“She seems nice,” said Mandy.
“She is lovely. She is one of the wives to the Price boys. They own quite a bit of land outside of town. They are grain farmers so you will only see them in town for their dogs. Mrs. Price is a regular here because all of the Price boys and their sons have Labs for hunting.”
“I see. Anna wasn’t fibbing when she talked about the farming families in this area,” said Mandy. She thought about how important this town had been to Anna and what an honor it was to finally meet the characters of the town.
“Well, your next appointment isn’t for ten minutes so let me show you around the place. This is the reception area, this is the consult room. Normally, we only have one client in here at a time; if an emergency comes in, we can use the treatment area. This is the wet table for dentals. That’s the surgery room. These are the kennels, separate rooms for cats and dogs. This is the pharmacy. Out back are the dog runs which you’ve already seen. Your office is down this hall and there’s a little break room beside it. Out the back door is where the yards are. My horse is back there today. I ho
pe you don’t mind. I have to take him to Mr. Jennings’ after work. We have a muster to do this week so I thought it’d be easier to bring him today,” said Gillian, hardly taking a breath between sentences. Horses, thought Mandy. I bet that explains the manly hands of Gillian’s.
Mandy wasn’t sure how the plan had been lost in translation. Her intention was not to take over the clinic. She had come here to sell the place. Just when she was about to explain this to her, Gillian had already gone up front to greet the next client.
Chapter Three
“Hi Walter. This must be your new litter of pups from Selby. My, how they’ve grown. It seems like just yesterday you were calling us to tell us she had delivered all six that we had seen in the x-ray. They’re going to be worth a pretty penny since both their parents are stars at the county dog trials. Here, let me put you in the consult room and Dr. Bell will be with you,” said Gillian. As she walked to the back to find Mandy, she got the six injections out of the fridge to start mixing up. “Your next appointment is here. I’ll get the injections together,” Gillian called out. She took six bottles of dried vaccine and six bottles of diluent. She opened one syringe and sucked out the diluent, adding it to one of the dried vaccine bottles. After giving it a good shake, she sucked the whole contents out and removed the sticker from the dried vaccine bottle to stick on the syringe.
