The Appointment 3

 The Appointment

Jane Scoggin 

It was Tuesday and Joyce and Clive had an appointment at outpatients at 10.45am. It was only a twenty minute drive, but Clive knew that parking at the hospital was never easy. Being the ex-soldier that he was, he prided himself not only on having a sharp crease in his trousers and well polished shoes when he went out, but also on being punctual. He had worked out the time margins he would need to arrive ten minutes before the appointment given the traffic at that time in the morning and the parking when he got to the hospital. Joyce was much less worried about these sorts of things because she had never been in the army and had never learned to drive. She left a great deal of organising daily life to Clive and was happy to do so. He was a good man, a kind husband, and as far as she could remember, had never been late for anything. However on this particular Tuesday, there was a hold up on the main road due to a lorry shedding its load of fruit and veg which put them back 10 minutes more than expected, and when they arrived at the hospital there was no room in the car park. Clive drove around the two car parks slowly, looking out for anyone that looked like they were going. After five minutes he was feeling a bit flustered and was checking his watch every minute as it ticked worryingly towards the appointment time. Fortunately, a space became vacant at 10.40 and once safely parked Clive felt some relief. They would have to hurry though as he wasn’t sure where exactly they had to go once inside the hospital foyer. There wasn’t a reception desk and no one in uniform to ask, so he suggested they set off down the corridor towards the consulting rooms in the hope they would find the right clinic.

 Fortunately, within a few minutes, Clive saw the name of the Consultant mentioned in the appointment letter above a door. Almost at the same time the door opened and a nurse appeared, asked his name, and started to usher him in.  They were now getting on for ten minutes late for the appointment. At the same moment Clive, on turning to his wife, realised that she was not behind him. He looked around him and back down the corridor but she was not there. He panicked and told the nurse his wife, Joyce seemed to have disappeared. He could see through the open door the doctor glancing at his watch as he stood up from behind his desk to greet him. The nurse indicated he should go in, and said she would go and look for his wife. Before she closed the door, the doctor told the nurse that he did not appear to have the notes for Mr or Mrs Jones. He asked her to check the trolley in the adjoining room to see if they were there. She agreed and hurried off to find the notes and Mrs Jones. Meanwhile, Clive anxious about the disappearance of Joyce became somewhat agitated and declined the offer of a seat. Remaining standing, he kept glancing at the door hoping the nurse would soon return with his wife. The doctor unaware of the missing Joyce asked Clive what was bothering him so much.

“Well, I’ve just lost my wife, and I'm worried about her,” he said crossly

Misunderstanding, the doctor replied

“I’m sorry to hear that Mr Jones, how long ago since you lost her?’’

 “Just a short while ago.  She came with me today and was here with me in the hospital. One minute she was there and then she was gone. I can’t understand it. She will be missing me.’’ 

The doctor made a note about bereavement counselling.

“Is there anyone who gives you any help or support at home Mr Jones?”

“We have always looked after each other doctor. We help each other, me and my Joyce. She needs me doctor, and I need to get her back”

The doctor made a note about possible support needed at home and a referral to the memory clinic. Mr Jones clearly wasn’t coping since the death of his wife and hadn’t come to terms with his loss. Clive kept looking to the door. When he heard a noise in the corridor he was twisting his hands in his cap nervously.

The doctor wished he had the notes for Mr Jones to give him a bit of background on the concerns raised in the referral from the GP. 

When the nurse opened the door with Joyce by her side Clive was so relieved he took her hands in his, as she smiled benignly at him.

“All safe and sound Mr Jones. I found her sitting by the broom cupboard waiting for the bus.”  She handed some notes to the doctor marked Mrs Jones. There were no notes for Mr Jones. 

  Mrs Jones politely addressed the doctor “How nice that you have come to see us today, I hope you will stay for tea, I'm sure we have cake, don’t we Clive? And this nice young lady too, who I just met at the bus stop.”

The geriatrician looked from Clive to Joyce and the penny dropped.

“Well now Mrs Jones, yes, tea would be lovely. Please take a seat. Thank you nurse, I think I’ve got the picture now.”

 

Copyright Jane Scoggins