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Part 31

When I wake up again, it’s still to the sound of that really annoying beep, beep, beep and I feel lousy. It’s light in the room and a strange lady in scrubs, whom I take to be either a nurse or a doctor, is fiddling around with some equipment next to the bed.

“Hey there, I see you’re finally awake. I’m Frances and I’ll be your nurse today. How are you feeling?”

“Lousy. Are my Mom and Dad here?”

“I don’t know about your Mom, but your Dad is right outside talking with the doctor. Now then, while I get your blood pressure, why don’t you tell me what’s so lousy, are you in pain?”

I’m really out of it and about all I can manage is nodding my head.

“Okay, then, can you tell me on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst, how would you rate the pain?

“Um, I guess about a six or so, maybe a seven.”

“Well, when your doctor gets in here, we’ll see if we can’t get you something for that.”

She proceeds to take my pulse and temperature and then is hanging a new IV bag when Doctor Martin and Dad walk in.

“Dad.”

“Hey, sweetheart, how are you doing?”

“I’ve been better. Is Mom around?”

“She should be here any minute. She went home to get your sister and to freshen up a bit.”

“Oh, okay. Hello, Dr. Martin.”

“Hello, Alex. Just couldn’t wait until Monday could you?” she says with a smile. “So tell me how you feel.”

“Real bad, like someone has been jumping up and down on me.”

“I’m not surprised given what you’ve been through.”

At that point, the door opens and in walks Mom and Ellen.

“Mom, Ellen. Are the boys here, too?”

We all hug and smile at each other. Mom says, “No, they went over to the Marshall’s while we came here.”

Doctor Martin says, “I was just going to explain to Alex what happened. After that, I need to check her out and that means all of you will need to go get a cup of coffee or something. But for now, Alex, what would you like to know?”

“Um, well, did you fix things? Am I a girl now?”

“You’ve always been a girl, but I know what you’re asking. The answer is no, not completely. What happened is you started your period Saturday. From the looks of things this wasn’t the first one either. What made this one so dramatic is it was your first heavy menstruation plus your previous periods had caused some minor damage.

“When you came in, your condition was quite critical. We had to rush you into the operating room and get a drain in place. For now, that’s where we are going to leave things. Once you are done menstruating, then we can get you scheduled for the cosmetic work. At that time we’ll also check again to see if you have sustained any additional damage.”

“I’ve got damage?” This sounds serious.

“Just a little. What we’ve seen so far isn’t anything to be concerned about. We will want to do a more extensive examination to make sure you’re fully fit.

“First though, we need to get you through this. Okay?”

“Thank you, Dr. Martin.”

“You’re welcome, honey. Now all of you, out. Go get some coffee or a pop or something. Come back in about ten to fifteen minutes. You can visit with Alex then.”

After everyone files out, Dr. Martin continues. “Okay, Alex, I’ve already talked to your parents about this so let me expand on what I was saying. It looks like your previous bouts of cramps were indeed menstrual cycles. Fortunately, they were light. Your body was able to re-absorb much of the discharge and there doesn’t appear to have been any serious damage but there is some scar tissue. This time your period wasn’t light and coupled with what had happened previously, you were in a very serious state when you came in here.

“For now, all we did was clean things up a bit and install a drain. Until your cycle is over, we just can’t do anything else. And that leads us to your cosmetic surgery. Dr. Rivera had called me on Friday and we discussed your case. She’s convinced that this is what you want, is it?”

“Yes, Dr. Martin, it really is.”

“Okay, given your condition, I’d be inclined to sign off on the surgery even if you weren’t so sure. What you want is akin to fixing a birth defect. In fact, that is just what it is. Now if you wanted to be male, well in that case I’d be urging that you wait a bit longer.

“Now that we have that settled, tell me, how are you feeling?”

“I feel bad. I ache all over and especially down there. I’m also freezing. Can I get a blanket or something?”

“I think we can manage that. In the meantime, let’s just take a look at you. I’ll also want to draw a bit of blood.”

***

Dr. Martin won’t let me look while she examines me. Quite frankly, I’m glad she won’t. I’m not quite sure I’m ready for that.

While she does that, the nurse draws some blood. After about fifteen minutes, they both are all done and Mom, Dad and Ellen are let back in.

“Hey, Ellen. I’m sorry you had to go through all of this. At this rate, you’re not going to want to be around me anymore.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m just glad I was with you. Hey, look who followed us here.”

Ellen pulls out my old plush teddy bear from a bag she is carrying.

“Beau Jangles! Thanks, Ellen.”

For some reason I feel a whole lot better with my old teddy bear tucked in with me.

Dad asks, “Can we get you anything, honey?”

“They were supposed to get me a blanket. I’m freezing, can someone check on that?”

Ellen goes out in search of my blanket and I ask Mom and Dad, “How long will I have to be here?”

Mom says, “According to Dr. Martin, at least until your period is over. After that, we’ll have the cosmetic surgery done. You’re going to be in here for at least the next couple of weeks, honey.”

Feeling rather disappointed, my only response is, “Oh.” I really don’t like hospitals. I’m really beginning to shiver and my teeth are chattering together when Ellen returns with the nurse.

Ellen is carrying the blanket and the nurse has another smaller IV bag and a tray with a little dixie cup on it.

Nurse Frances says, “Okay, hon, I’ve got some meds here for ya and a blanket.” So she props me up and gives me a pill from the little cup, plugs in the new IV and she and Ellen spread the blanket over me. It’s a heated blanket and it feels wonderful.

When all that is done, the nurse takes my temperature again then leaves.

It isn’t too much longer and I’m asleep again.

***

There are times that I feel like I am burning up: so much so that I’m surprised that I don’t burst into flame. Other times, no amount of blankets seems to be able to warm me up.

My head gets so messed up that it’s hard for me to figure out what is real. Once, I swear that Dr. Martin parades six topless girls into my room so I can pick what size bust I will get. I figure this has to be a dream ’cause all six girls look just like me and besides, that’s not the end that doesn’t match the girl me.

Another time, the abominable snowman is in my room and he is busy packing ice cubes all around my body. I keep telling him that there is no way I can make enough lemonade to use up all the ice, but he just won’t stop.

Now once, Ellen, Monkey and I are all playing cards. Well, every time I look over to him, Monkey looks more and more like a real monkey. In the end, he is holding his cards with his tail and is keeping his head propped up with both of his hands. The conversation with him is even weirder. “So, little groovy babe, sorry ’bout getting ya in trouble with the union, but it’s cool that you can join with a small penalty and make everything all groovy again.”

“What? Ellen, what is he talking about?”

“You know, sis, the trouble you got into with the union for making the movie, then doing their bit rescuing that little girl.”

“Okay, now what are you talking about?”

“You know, Local 235 of the JLA. You got amnesia or something?”

If possible, things only get stranger from there. I never do find out what the union thing is all about or why I seem to be in trouble with them.

***

“Alex, Alex you need to wake up.”

Slowly, I become more aware of my surroundings. My head is swimming and I feel very hot and wet. It’s so hard to breathe.

There are people all around me and the room feels like it’s spinning. The lights are very bright and Dr. Martin leans over me.

“Alex, we need to operate. We’re taking you down now. Your body is in full rejection. I’m sorry.”

“Wh-why? What’s happening to me?” I can barely breathe and it’s so very hot. Each of my breaths is coming in more labored than the one previous.

“Your body, it’s rejecting the girl in you. We need to operate or we’ll lose everything and you’ll be a boy forever!”

“No, please. I don’t want to lose...”

***

I slowly wake up to a high-pitched steady whining sound, it is very annoying but it seems to be slowly fading. For the first time in ages, it seems like I don’t feel as if I’ve just been run over by a truck. I also feel that there is somewhere that I just have to be.

Remembering what Dr Martin said, I quickly pull back the covers. Oh thank goodness, she stopped the rejection, I’m still a girl. The thought of being a boy again really bothers me. I get out of bed and am surprised at how steady my legs are. I turn to the door so I can leave and there’s Robbyn!

“Robbyn! Oh my god! When did you get here?” and I rush over and soon we’re hugging.

“Oh, Alex, you didn’t think you could keep me away from my best friend, do you? Alex, I’ve missed you so much. Now where do you think you’re going? I just got here so just turn around and get back into that bed. You’re not going anywhere. Now let me look at you. Girl, you look like crap, do you know that? You are in serious need of a makeover. Hey, I know, how about that place you, your Mom and sister went to? I got your picture and mamma mia you were some spicy number after that place got done with you. Until then, here’s a bit of blush and some lip-gloss. Now that’s better, I always knew you were a girl, did you know that? I mean really a girl, everywhere it really matters. You are and always will be a girl, a beautiful girl who I love and who better stay put in this bed. Now get me caught up on everything that’s been going on. Geeze, I leave you alone for a couple of months and look what happens.”

“Robbyn, I’ve missed you so much too, but tell you what, you wait here and I’ll be back. I have to go now.”

“No, honey. Please stay with me. I don’t want you to go. I can’t let you go. We promised each other, remember? So you see you can’t go or you’d break your promise and I know you’d never do that. Can you please stay? I love you Alex. Come on, just stay with me and let’s talk. I’ve missed you so much and we’ve been apart for so long. You just have to tell me everything. Here, I know, we’ll lie down together and hold each other and you can catch me up on everything you have been doing and I’ll catch you up on everything that I have been doing. Okay? Please?”

Well, I look at her and she’s giving me that look, the one that always gets me to do just whatever it is she wants me to do. This time it’s so hard to do it, I really feel like I need to go somewhere.

I look at Robbyn again and all I see is love. “Well okay, but just for a bit, okay?”

“Yippee,” and she hops up and down, clapping her hands.

We crawl into bed and she is holding me close, very close like she’s afraid that I’m going to disappear on her or something. I start to tell her all that’s been going on and I feel so good laying here with her. I don’t even notice when I fall back asleep.

***

When I wake up again, it’s to that damned beep, beep, beeping noise. I’m really surprised that anyone can sleep with that going off all of the time.

My body is all achy again and I feel weak as a newborn kitten, weaker actually. Someone could probably tie me up with wet toilet paper and I truly don’t think that I’d be able to break free.

Yet despite all of the aches and pains, somehow I feel better. It’s hard to describe but I do.

My face is pressed into something soft and furry. Opening my eyes, I find myself looking into the bright eyes of Mr. Beau Jangles. Smiling, I pull him close to my chest and look around.

There’s no sign of Robbyn nor anyone else for that matter. Tubes and wires are everywhere. I feel a bit like someone’s science experiment. As I’m trying to figure out what everything is for, the door opens and in walks Dr. Martin.

“Well, hello there. Glad to see that you decided to stick around. You’ve kept the excitement level peaked around here for awhile. I hope we can get some rest now. How are you feeling this morning?”

“Hello, Dr. Martin. I feel weak and kind of achy all over but better, yeah, definitely better.”

“Better is good, I always like to hear that. Your mother will be up in just a bit. In the meantime, let’s take a look at you.”

Dr. Martin proceeds to give me a thorough examination. While she is checking me down below, I ask, “How’s it look? Will we be able to do the cosmetic surgery soon?”

“You’re healing very nicely. Yes, I think that we can get your cosmetic work done soon. You’re completely over your menstrual cycle now and everything else is looking very good.”

“Wow, I thought that periods lasted a lot longer.”

As Dr. Martin covers me back up, she says, “Alex, it’s been almost two weeks since you came in here. How much do you remember?”

“What? Um, well I remember getting here and you telling me that you had to put a drain in, but not much else. I had some weird dreams. I remember my friend Robbyn, but not much else. Two weeks?”

“Well young lady, you’ve given us quite the scare. You developed an infection that was not initially responding to the antibiotics we were giving you. The infection moved to your lymph system and spread throughout your body. From the infection you developed a very high fever and at one point your heart stopped. Once we got you back, your fever broke and you’ve been resting since then for the past twenty-four hours.

“Our main goal now is to build your strength back up. When we’ve done that, then we can get your cosmetic surgery done. Okay? Any questions?”

“I died?”

“No, not really. It’s true you didn’t have a pulse, but you still had brain function. It doesn’t appear to have caused any lasting damage but we’ll continue to run tests just to make sure.

“Now let me go see if your mother is here and maybe get something for you to eat. Hungry?”

“Now that you mention it, yeah, I am.”

“Okay then, but don’t be too disappointed, you’re going to be on light, fairly bland foods for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

After she leaves, I just lay back trying to take in everything that I was just told. Wow, I was dead, good thing I got better. I start to chuckle remembering an old movie scene about that.

***

I’m just lying back cuddling with my bear when Mom comes in.

“Mom!”

Mom’s face lights up and she rushes over and soon I’m wrapped in her arms. She’s holding me like I’m going to disappear on her or something.

“Oh, sweetheart, how are you feeling? Can I get you anything? Oh, baby, we were so worried.”

I just hold on to her and say, “I’m fine, Mom. I’m doing so much better.”

“I love you, honey, so very, very much.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

We continue to hold on to each other until the door opens and in walks the nurse with a food tray. Mom reluctantly lets me go and when she pulls back I see that she has been crying. I’ve got a few tears in my eyes as well and as the nurse gets the food tray set up in front of me, Mom and I collect ourselves.

While I eat, Mom gets me caught up on everyone. Dad is home with the twins and supervising the installation of some equipment into his office. Ellen is doing some last minute stuff for school before the term ends. She plans to stop by later this afternoon when she is done. Mom has just gotten back from getting some rest at the house. Apparently, either she or Dad or both were always here with me.

I finish up my tray and push it away. I haven’t eaten very much but I’m stuffed. My stomach shrank I guess.

“So, honey, do you need anything else?”

“Yeah, do you have any lip stuff? My lips are all chapped.”

“I think so. Ta-da! Even better, I have one of yours. Here you go.”

I put it on and the cherry flavor reminds me of Robbyn.

“Mom, where’s Robbyn?”

“What do you mean, honey?”

“Well she was here. I got her caught up on everything that has been happening but before she could do the same, I fell asleep.”

“I think you must have been dreaming that, honey. Robbyn hasn’t been here.”

“But it was so real.”

Mom and I continue to chat and in about half an hour, when Dr. Martin comes back in, she asks, “Well, Alex, how are you holding up?”

“Tons better.”

“That’s good to hear. I think that we’ll be able to move you out of ICU and into a private room this afternoon. We’ll also be able to unhook you from some of this gadgetry, too. Right now I want you to get some rest and I think your Mom could use a bit more too.

“Sharon, why don’t you go back home? Alex needs to rest and you can come back this afternoon when we move her to her new room. She’s out of danger now, so get. You need the rest too.”

“Well, okay. Honey, can I bring you anything from home?”

“I don’t think so, Mom. I’m just going to rest a bit. Love you.”

“I love you too, honey.”

***

When I wake up again, it’s to Nurse Frances and another nurse bustling around me.

“Hey there, Alex, how are you feeling?”

“Hello. Much better I think.”

“No aches or pains I should know about?”

“I’m a bit sore, but nothing too bad.”

“Great. This is Nancy, and the two of us are going to get you all unhooked and up to a private room. Just bear with us, some of this isn’t all that pleasant but we’ll be done before you know it.”

They proceed to get everything undone on me and it isn’t all that bad. Well, removing the catheter isn’t pleasant but Frances was right, in almost no time I am unhooked from everything but an IV and on my way upstairs to another room.

Nurse Frances and Nurse Nancy have just left after getting me in my new bed and I’m trying to re-adjust things to be a bit more comfortable when my door opens again.

In walks a man I’ve never seen before but as he’s wearing a lab coat, I assume he’s one of the other doctors around here.

“Well good afternoon, Alex, and how are we doing today?”

“Um, okay I guess.” For some reason I don’t like this guy. Maybe it’s the whole ‘we’ bit in talking to me. I’m the one in the bed hooked up to things, not him.

“That was some excitement you went through rescuing the Dempsey’s granddaughter like you did–must make you feel mighty proud.”

“Is that her name? Well, I’m glad she’s okay.”

“So, why don’t you bring me up to speed on your condition?”

“Um, shouldn’t you know that already? Um, doctor…?”

“Oh, well yes, but I like to get the patient’s perspective on their condition. So tell me.”

“Who did you say you were?”

“Um, well, I’m a specialist and I need to get some information from you. So if you’ll just answer my questions we can get going.”

Now I really am beginning to not like this guy and not knowing who he is, I certainly won’t talk with him. Fortunately, I don’t have to, because just then Nurse Frances comes in.

“You? Security! Nancy, call security now.” Turning to this guy, “You were warned, mister and it looks like you’re trying to impersonate a doctor as well.”

Just then, two very large security guards come into the room.

“There’s no need, I’m leaving, I’m leaving.”

To which Nurse Frances says, “Oh no you’re not, you were warned and you’re bothering a patient and a minor to boot. Larry, Brian, hold this guy for the cops.”

The guards take this guy by both arms and lead him none too gently out of my room.

“Frances, who was that guy? Why was he here?”

“Don’t worry about him, honey. He’s just a creep of a reporter who’s been trying to get in here to see you for the past week. I’m sorry, honey. Are you okay? He didn’t touch you did he? If he did...”

“No, he just asked some questions. What is this all about?”

“Well, I think he wants to interview you because of the rescue you did, but I’ll just let your Mom and Dad fill you in on the details. Now, how about we get you a bite to eat. It’s also time for some more of your meds.”

To say I’m confused by everything going on would be an understatement. Why on earth would anyone want to interview me?

***

Shortly after Frances leaves, the door cracks open and Ellen pokes her head in.

“Ellen!”

“Hey, kiddo, how are you doing?”

Ellen comes in and sits down next to me.

“Much better now that you’re here. It’s been a crazy morning. Some guy, I guess he’s a reporter, tried to sneak in here and Nurse Frances called the guards on him.”

“Oh ho, so that’s who I saw. Yeah, they were handing him over to the police when I got here.”

“Ellen, why on earth would anyone want to interview me?”

“That’s right, you don’t know. Well that little girl you saved is the granddaughter of John and Ramona Dempsey. Add to that the fact that your rescue was caught on film and there have been a lot of people wanting to get in to talk to you. They’ve been calling the house like daily. Mom had to have the number changed–it was getting so bad.”

“What? Who are the Dempseys and who caught what on film?”

“Okay, the Dempseys are among the richest people anywhere. They were visiting some friends when their granddaughter fell off the boat. Anyway, like I said, they’re filthy rich. Pretty much anything to do with publishing has their name on it somewhere.

“Now the yacht club was having something filmed outside when this whole thing went down and when we started screaming for help, they swung their camera over and caught your run and dive and subsequent rescue. It’s been all over the news and you’re a big hit on YouTube.

“The news reports are, um, calling you, ‘Wonder Girl’.”

I start to laugh. “Me? Why on earth would they call me that?”

“Well, um, you see from the camera angle it looks like you just jumped the gate thingy without touching it.”

“So, you know better. It couldn’t have been that great a shot if they think I could do something like that.”

“Um, true, but ah, well there might be something more to it than that.”

Ellen is looking decidedly uncomfortable.

“Ellen, what’s going on? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Um, me? Well...”

Just then Nurse Frances and Nurse Nancy come into the room with my lunch and meds. Ellen looks relieved by the interruption.

Nurse Frances says, “Here you go, love, down the hatch with the meds then eat up your lunch. You need to gain your strength back. Oh, and Nancy here will be taking over from me. I need to get back downstairs. Everyone up here has been briefed so hopefully you won’t be bothered again.”

“Thank you, Frances for all your help. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem, hon, you just get better. Bye.”

“Bye.”

And with that, Frances and Nancy leave and Ellen is looking sheepish again.

“Okay, Ellen, out with it.”

“What?”

“Damn it, Ellen, just tell me what’s going on. Please.”

“Oh, okay. Well, you see, they might have gotten the whole ‘Wonder Girl’ thing from some other film of you. But not everyone is calling you, ‘Wonder Girl’. Um, some are calling you ‘Supergirl’, or ‘Ultra-Girl’, and there’s a few calling you ‘Increda-Girl’. I personally kinda like ‘Warrior Goddess’ but that’s just me. And there might actually be a radio station having a contest for the best superhero name for you.”

“Wh...what? How could they get...Monkey. Monkey did this.”

“Well, kind of. I mean he didn’t do the naming thing or anything but, well it was like this. The day after the rescue the yacht club film hits the news. Well like I said, the angle showing you go over the little gatehouse thing, well it really does look like you just jump on over. Then when you dive into the water, well your jump is really big. So immediately everyone starts speculating on who you are and how could you jump like that and I guess it was just a matter of time before someone mentions ‘super hero’, especially with that big convention that’s going to be in San Diego later this summer.

“Then all the news shows start having their quote, unquote, experts on and they’re all beginning to say how this whole thing is faked and well I guess that pissed me off and I might have mentioned something to Monkey about how they’d think differently if they could see you do your Parkour and well…”

“Let me guess, he showed them.”

“Um, yeah, but that’s not really all.”

“There’s more? This is unbelievable.”

“Well, yeah. Listen, don’t be mad or anything or at least don’t be mad at Monkey. You see, Monkey was trying to figure out what he was going to do for his project and well his specialty is animation, but...well I told him about your Parkour and how I thought it would be cool if he merged real life, you know, what you do, with his animation.

“He liked the idea and that’s why we had you dress the way you did.”

“The way I was dressed? What do you...oh, that’s it! That was what was bugging me so much. I was in this red, white and blue outfit and...oh, Ellen.”

I’m stunned. Looking at Ellen, she really looks miserable and just looking at her face and thinking about this whole situation gets me laughing. It starts as a giggle but soon it’s a full borne belly laugh and I can’t stop. Even though it hurts like crazy every time I laugh, I just can’t stop. Soon Ellen is joining in and we are both laughing like crazy.

When we eventually calm down, we have to call Nancy back in as I am really in some pain, but every now and then I’d start to giggle and have to fight to stop it from starting all over again.

Fortunately, nothing is damaged. I’m sure Nancy thinks we’re both certifiable, though.