‘Must dash. I’ll see you next week and … thanks again,’ she called back as she made her way up the path.
Sid phoned shortly after she got in. Ten was so happy to hear her voice. ‘You got my message, darling?’
‘Yes. I’ve been trying to get you all day, except I knew you’d not be home tonight.’ She sounded put out, her own had been difficult too. ‘What’s going on?’ She felt so out of touch. This distance thing.
Ten explained her decision to return to work, then immediately heard concern in Sid’s voice. ‘You don’t think you’re taking on too much too soon, do you?’
‘Don’t worry, I’m fine. This is good for me,’ trying to be reassuring. She wanted Sid to be happy again.
‘What was happening last night?’ Sid felt she had a catalogue of complaints, but her mind was being driven to distraction. So far away and so powerless. The frustration level was high.
Taking the bit between her teeth: ‘Devon dropped over … we got into some serious talk about her problems. It was just as you called. She was so emotional Sid. I couldn’t leave her like that. You do see, don’t you?’ she appealed, not wanting agitation to develop over this. She knew how upset she could be, but really, there was nothing to be distressed about. Sometimes Sid was too intense.
She took it very well. It didn’t leave her feeling good, but what could she do from here?
‘Ten, I’ll be back in Toronto Thursday, but since you’ll be at work now, how about I pick you up there? Save you a tedious journey home … and that way I get to be with you that much sooner. Honey …?’
‘Yes darling.’
‘I love you … and I miss you heaps.’ Her voice revealed the depth of feeling behind these simple words. Ten’s heart lurched in a loving response of her own.
‘I love you too. Only one more day and then we’ll be together again.’
‘Hey. Good lyrics for a song,’ she quipped, beginning to feel better. When she saw her Thursday, everything would be as it was before and they would make wonderful love together.
‘So how has everything gone so far? Are you settling in all right?’ She wanted all the details.
‘Ten, this is a fantastic campus. It’s huge. It will take me all my time just to find my way around. Orientation’s tomorrow. The University itself, dates back to 1964. Before that there was the Ontario Agricultural College, the Ontario Veterinary College and the Macdonald Institute. They are magnificent stone-block buildings from the last century juxtaposed with modern concrete and glass. It works wonderfully well.’
She could hear the admiration in Sid’s tone and was glad she would enjoy her surroundings. That was a help at the start.
‘The residences are at the periphery of the campus,’ she went on, happy at last to be able to tell her all about it. ‘There are different residences to choose from, gender specific and co-educational. They even have self-contained suites. There’s a kitchenette in each hall, but really there’re so many eateries to choose from. Four cafeterias, two snack bars, a pizzeria and the Whippletree Restaurant. All venues offer vegetarian dishes too.’
‘I can see you’ll not have to worry about cooking then, which is just as well. You’ll have more time to concentrate on your studies and I know you’d prefer that,’ she added. ‘Now, what about your syllabus. Is it a heavy one?’
‘It’s going to be tough, Babe. I’ve been away from the regimen of regular study for so long. My pre-veterinary year wasn’t too bad and I averaged As and Bs in most subjects. I got a bit rocky when I met Karen, but managed to pull through. She didn’t, unfortunately. Therein lies some of the problem between us.’ Sid was momentarily quiet. She gave her space. ‘Then I studied Introductory Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Introductory Genetics, General Microbiology, and Biostatistics.’
‘You did all that in one year.’ Ten was impressed.
‘The second semester we added Biomedical history, and animal management. I knew this was what I wanted after that. We also had a look at the fundamentals of nutrition and medical Embryology.
‘You must have a quick mind, Sid, to absorb all that,’ she commented, only now realizing what a smart girl she had fallen in love with. She was still full of surprises.
‘This semester will be harder. This is the real thing. I have to know veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, that will include Histology too. Also veterinary Neurosciences. On the other side we have to study Epidemiology and Production Genetics.’
‘What is that last one?’ She wasn’t familiar with this.
‘I don’t know yet, I’ll tell you in a month’s time,’ she responded.
‘Sid, are you sure you want to do all this?’ she asked, overwhelmed at the magnitude of the task she had set herself.
‘Sure thing. To be studying the veterinary subjects proper. I can’t wait.’
‘When will you get to put your hands on an animal?’
‘Oh, that’s a long way down the track. Not ’til I’ve completed the sixth semester and then I’ll be given a placement in an externship. This will have to be discussed with the externship co-ordinator first.’
“My goodness, what a long wait compared with nursing,” Ten thought. ‘You must want to be a Vet real bad, to put yourself through all that hard work.’
‘Ten, I tell you, it’s the only thing I want to do with my life. That … and love you.’ She dropped her voice. ‘I miss you dreadfully already, my darling.’
‘One good thing about having to work hard then, you’ll have no time to fret over me.’ Ten wondered if she weren’t a tad jealous of these studies. She had no such all-absorbing distraction. “Come on,” she rebuked herself: “You’re not so shallow as that, surely?”
‘Not one day will pass, but I’ll be thinking of you,’ Sid’s voice was heavy with emotion. ‘I know I’ll be hanging out desperately for the weekends. They will be my oases of calm in a week of hectic endeavors.’ She had to smile to herself at this. What had gotten into her?
‘Darling Sid, I’ll be as anxious as you. That’s one of the reasons I decided to begin working full-time. I miss you too much.’
‘Not to worry, Babe, I’ll be back Thursday. Just one and three-quarter days to go. Five o’clock pick up, then shoot home. We’ll be just us, together.’
‘Wonderful.’ Ten bit her lip. ‘This sounds like you’re about to sign off. She didn’t want her contact to end. Not yet. Only the loneliness of the apartment waited for her.
‘That’s right, Precious. I have to go. I wish I had a room with a phone. Unfortunately, as you well know, I can’t afford it. Bursaries allow for only the basics. But I’ll not complain. Without assistance I wouldn’t be here at all and to me that’s the unthinkable.’
‘I know, love. See you Thursday at five. What a sweet moment of reunion that will be,’ she prophesied in happy anticipation.
* * *
Ten had hoped the hours would fly by but no such luck. It didn’t take long to fall back into the routine of the working day, but still too much time was left. Before going home she phoned Aldo. She had delayed the call to give him time to be finished in the newsroom. She explained the situation, then asked if her working hours would interfere.
‘It’s like this, Tenille. A body needs to be here from about two, no later than three o’clock anyway, to do the preparation for a four and five o’clock newsbreak. It takes at least that much time to sift through all the bulletins and daily newspapers and to get it into some sort of order.’ Aldo was very disappointed. He’d felt sure this one would work out. So was Ten. Once she’d said yes, she was surprised at how much she was looking forward to the challenge. She felt let down. Well, at least there was still Tuesday evening to help occupy her mind and body.
Thursday; she couldn’t believe how much an eight-hour day could drag itself out. She really wasn’t a nice person to be around. Everyone noticed her snappy short-temperedness. Eventually the clock face told them all it was time to quit and she was the first out the door. She walked along Dundas to
their agreed rendezvous; the Atrium on Bay. This allowed Sid more time to pull over and not be bothered by the impatient traffic on Yonge. She kept a sharp look out, but there was no sign of the blue Tercel. She waited a whole hour and still no Sidonie. People came and went around her, but she waited on, anxious and then alarmed.
Head down, a look of worry in her eyes, she went back to Dundas subway and tried ‘phoning home. No reply. Really worried now, she rushed through the turnstile, nearly missing her token in the slot. The train was already at the platform. At that time in the evening she was battling an almighty crush and now stood impatiently, between a large man and a very fat woman. She was used to the press of bodies and usually took it in her stride, but tonight she couldn’t handle it, feeling ground down under their proximity. Hot and sweaty with nerves, her mind was in turmoil and spinning with unspeakable fears.
St. Clair arrived and she made her connection, alighting at Oakwood Avenue. She ran back all the way to Robina, but had to slow down to a fast walk on the hill. She observed nothing; felt only her heart pounding in her chest and the breath rasping in her throat. She was too out of shape for all this rushing, but her mind would not let her ease up for her body’s sake.
The house was empty. No sign of Rani or Moira. Couldn’t ask them anything. “Don’t be silly, what would they know anyway?” went through her head. “What has happened? Dear God, let it not be a road accident. Too young, too beautiful. I can’t stand this,” all milled about in her brain. With shaking fingers she dialled Guelph. “Someone pick up the phone,” her mind screamed.
‘I’d like to speak to Sidonie Henderson.’ She tried to keep the quaver out of her voice.
‘Hold on,’ came the response.
At last. She began to let her breath go. Then an authoritative female voice: ‘Who is this?’
‘Tenille Fenech. I want to speak to Sidonie Henderson.’ Panic rising again.
‘Ah, good.’
“What is this?” she thought.
‘We have been trying to reach you. You share accommodation with Miss Henderson, in Toronto?’
“I suppose you could put it like that,” Ten said to herself impatiently. To the woman. ‘Yes.’
‘Miss Henderson has cited you on her registration form as the person to be notified in case of emergency, etcetera.’
‘What do you mean ‘emergency’?’ she exclaimed. Then her lips tightened as she asked, through clenched teeth: ‘What has happened?’ “And what is ‘etc.’,” she thought as her mind buzzed around horrendous speculations. She had ruled out a car accident when she had gotten through to the University, now it was back. It could have happened while she was still in the city and not on the highway. ‘Is it a car accident?’ Her voice was shaking so much the woman could barely make out the words.
‘No, nothing like that.’ The superior voice sounded patronizing, as though she were being silly. ‘Some sort of bug has hit the residence, causing the girls to come down with a high temperature and a fever. Everything is under control. They’re in the infirmary, over at Macdonald Hall and we have been doing our best to contact next of kin, etcetera.’
“That word again … meaningless. At least it’s not an accident, but this other doesn’t sound good,” her brain whirled on.
‘We know some of them who don’t live too far away were going home for the week end, but of course, this is out of the question now. Miss Henderson wanted us to inform you.’
“Miss Henderson. She makes Sid sound so impersonal.” Ten was upset and relieved at the same time.
‘Our physician is in attendance and Matron has twenty-four hour nursing care available. There is no need for concern. Just the girls must rest.’
‘What is this bug and how serious is it? Will there be physical repercussions?’ Her questions came shakily, the mental anguish leaving her very much in the dark and she didn’t like it.
‘We don’t know what it is yet, we’re still awaiting the lab. report.’
‘Can I speak to her?’ Her fears were not allayed. Her mind was still reeling with disbelief.
‘Out of the question,’ the voice responded brusquely.
Ten was getting impatient now. “What an officious woman.”
‘Call again tomorrow. I’ll give you the number of the infirmary and you can check with Matron.’ Suddenly the woman, who was in fact Head Resident, assumed human guise. ‘Don’t worry my dear, everything is well in hand, I assure you.’
She hung up. The reassurance hadn’t convinced her, but at least her darling Sid wasn’t at death’s door. With this she would have to be content.
Too unsettled now, not even TV could provide distraction. She made herself prepare something to eat, but every swallow was with difficulty. In the end she sat on the phone some more. First with Thea, then later in the evening she got through to Devon.
‘Listen Tenille. I’m all booked up with Gene this weekend, but how about we plan something for Monday night? Maybe take in a movie or something. It’s no good you moping about the apartment. It won’t get Sidonie better quicker,’ she reasoned.
‘You’re right, I know. I’ll be going over to some friend’s …’ this was Reine and Thea’s, ‘ …for dinner tomorrow and then I’ll have you to look forward to Monday.’
Devon liked the sound of this sentiment.
‘Everyone is being just terrific. Thanks, Dev.’ She appreciated all the support she was getting.
* * *
Before work she spoke to Matron at Macdonald Hall, but she wouldn’t disturb Sidonie. ‘She’s still sleeping and rest is the best healer at this time. You can try again later, if you like.’
Home at last after a so-so day, Ten dialled the Residence. She had made herself coffee and carried the phone through to the dining table.
Matron wheeled the phone over to the bed, but before relinquishing it told Tenille not to talk for too long. Again: ‘Miss Henderson needs her rest.’
‘Hi, darling. How are you feeling?’
‘Hidy.’ Sid’s voice wavered down the line. She sounded awfully weak. ‘It’s so good to be in touch with you at last. I was so worried about you waiting for me to turn up yesterday and my not being there. But they wouldn’t let me phone and in the end, when I became agitated, they sedated me. How are you?’ Ten could hear that talking had been an effort. Her voice was quiet and she sounded breathless.
‘Now don’t you worry about me, Honey. I’m fine. Just you rest and get better. This bug that’s hit you, do you know yet what it is?’ She was scared it was one of these mutants that could affect several of the body’s systems and leave permanent damage. She remembered the movie, ‘Awakenings’.
‘No, I don’t know what it is, but I have been assured that I should be back on my feet by Monday, which is a relief, since I don’t want to start off by missing classes. It’s like a severe influenza, I think. Really knocks you back, but so long as your body doesn’t give in, you can fight it off.’ Again Sid’s voice went very quiet, her energies evaporating fast.
‘I’ll let you go now, Dearest.’ She was concerned not to over tax her at this time. ‘I love you darling. I miss you. Get better real soon.’
‘Sorry for all the bother I’ve caused you, Ten.’ She was fading.
‘Don’t be silly, love. Don’t talk like that. It wasn’t anything you could help. You just save your strength for getting well.’
‘I won’t see you ’til next Friday now,’ she continued to worry. ‘I should be AI by then so I’ll pick you up as planned for yesterday.’ She was very out of breath now.
‘Sid, you must rest, darling. Yes, we’ll do everything as we planned before. Just take it easy. I love you, Sweetheart.’
‘Once I’m up, I’ll phone. I love you, too.’
‘Bye, my love.’
‘Bye dearest.’ Sid hung up and collapsed back against the pillows, totally spent. She sure hoped she’d be feeling a lot better than this, come Monday.
* * *
The next day actually saw a
rapid improvement in her health, Sid being one of the first to show a fall in temperature. The doctor reckoned this was probably due to excellent conditioning before the viral attack. Sunday they let her up for short periods. It felt good to be on her feet and she was allowed to return to her quarters Sunday night, with a promise of early to bed. The Head Resident looked in on her at nine o’clock just to check.
Veterinary Anatomy was the first class and she went off to the lecture auditorium feeling not too bad. The size of her year was surprising and included a fair percentage of women. About 60/40, the balance in the males’ favor. After the introductory lecture they all trooped down to the dissecting labs. She was assigned to work with a young man named Brian. He was sandy haired and freckled-faced, with an easy, open smile. On the other side of the table the partnership was between Abdul who was dark and of medium height and Ilona who was so totally different. Tall, fair skinned with long blond hair and, from what Sid could judge under the lab coat, quite curvaceous. “Mm..m, things are looking up,” she thought.
In fact, they were not looking up at all. Half way through the session, overcome by formaldehyde fumes, her eyes began to water and she experienced breathlessness. Unable to see to use the scalpel, in the end Sid had to excuse herself. “Gee, I hope I get over this,” she thought. When she voiced her concerns to the Head Resident, she was of the opinion that her recent bout of infection had left her still too weak and vulnerable.
‘Lie down for the rest of the morning, Sidonie, then you’ll be feeling better for your afternoon classes.’ Taking this advice to heart, after lunch she did indeed feel much better, but regretted the time lost. Now she would have to make up on the introductory session on Epidemiology. Perhaps Ilona, would let her borrow her notes?
Classes that afternoon were the first of the Neurosciences and Production Genetics, neither of which involved lab. work. It was a relief when the day ended, having taken its toll of her stamina and still a heavy reading load, in preparation for tomorrow, lay ahead. The plan had been to phone late, making the most of cheap rates, but even now it was hard keeping her eyes open. The call to Toronto would have to be an early one.
Outing of the Heart Page 86
