Renie had also gone silent, laboriously trying to sign the
forms with her crippled right arm. The cousins had just
finished when they were joined by a tall, handsome,
middle-aged man and a wispy blonde woman about the
same age. The man looked vaguely familiar to Judith.
Bill, who had an excellent memory for faces, caught
her curious glance. “Bob Randall,” he said in a low
voice. “Former Sea Auk quarterback.”
“Ramblin’ Randall,” Joe murmured, with an admiring glance for the three-time all-pro. “I’ll be damned.
Maybe I’ll shake his—”
“Judith Flynn?” a plump young nurse called out.
“Here,” Judith responded. “I think.”
“We’re ready for you.” The nurse smiled, then nodded at Joe. “Is this Mr. Flynn? He can come along, if
he likes.”
“He does,” Judith said firmly.
Joe lingered. “Can I catch up with you in a minute?
I’d like to introduce myself to—”
“Joe!” Judith cried as the nurse began wheeling her
away. “I really need you!”
SUTURE SELF
21
Reluctantly, Joe trudged after his wife. Judith arrived at a large room with several curtained partitions.
It looked like a busy day at Good Cheer. At least four
other patients were already being prepared for surgery.
Directly across the way from Judith’s cubicle, an elderly woman was making her confession to an equally
elderly priest. Judith’s spirits plunged.
“I should have had Father Hoyle anoint me or something,” she murmured. “Is it too late?”
“You mean before that old duffer keels over?” Joe
responded with a nod in the priest’s direction. “I don’t
know. He could go at any minute.”
Judith scowled at Joe. “I’m serious. Go ask him to
come here when he’s done with that woman’s confession.”
The nurse began to take Judith’s vital signs. Another
nurse arrived to draw her blood. A third nurse showed
up with a hospital gown, a paper hat, and a pair of
socks with treads on the bottom. The first nurse asked
Judith if she had voided.
“Voided?” Judith echoed in alarm. “Voided what?”
“Have you gone to the bathroom recently?” the
nurse inquired with a gentle smile.
“Oh. Yes, just before I left home.”
Judith tried to relax, but it wasn’t easy with all the
poking and probing. She had just put on the gown, the
hat, and the socks when the anesthesiologist arrived.
“I’m Dr. Bunn,” said the young man, who looked
too young to be on his own without his mother.
“Here’s what we’re going to do . . .”
The curtains had been opened again after Judith
changed. She could see Joe strolling casually up and
