Fainting Fellow

It was wet this morning and I wasn't sure if I wanted to walk or get a ride to work, but I walked. I heard the sirens sound and I walked and wondered who was so lucky to see the police. There were clouds and tree leaves and there was wet gravel and there were puddles with distorted reflections. There were also sirens and they were getting closer. I turned into the drive and started down the middle, like I always do, pretending I'm going down the red carpet. Crunchy carpet. A green pickup with good tires turned in behind me and I dutifully gave up the middle.

No doubt someone is here to pick up an order, bright and early, I thought.

As I neared the door to the shop, I saw John sitting in the wooden chair and Eugene talking to green pickup guy.

"The ambulance will be here soon," he was saying.

"Oho, John," I said cheerfully. "Aren't you lucky."

He laughed a little, but his face was pale.

"He fainted," said Eugene, helpfully.

The ambulance turned into the crunchy carpet and pretty soon, hale and hearty persons climbed out and went to the back to take out the stretcher.

"I just need you to take my blood sugar/pressure," protested John, but no-one listened to him.

Abraham sidled up to me. "He fell over. John fainted. Blood sugar low, maybe? High, then low, then high again."

No-one really knew what the problem was. Work stopped. The paramedics buckled John onto the stretcher and wheeled him out to his new rig.

"Don't cry," called Abraham.

Work resumed. Apparently, John had put down his knife and was bracing himself on the table. Enos said, "I looked at him and said, 'John, are you alright?' and he didn't say anything so I repeated myself and he still didn't say anything. Then his arms started shaking and he tilted sideways, landing on the floor."

Abraham said, "I turned to get drink of water and when I turn around, no John! Where's John? I look over table and I see John, laying on floor."

Eugene said, "I saw him go over. Thankfully, his head hit the floor mats and nothing else."

It was the talk of the morning. They talked of nothing else but the felling of John and what it could mean. His wife couldn't be reached; Eugene joked that John was twenty-one and could take care of himself.

Later, the phone rang; I picked up and said, "ELM Custom Processing."

"Is that you, Linda," said a voice.

"Yeah."

"This is John. The hospital wants to keep me overnight. Do you have my driver's number. She doesn't need to go out there and pick me up this afternoon."

We did not have her number so he thought he could get it somewhere else. He said that he didn't know what was wrong but that they were going to run a few more tests.

Poor John.

I hope he got hold of his wife, too. They're Amish, and they don't have a line in the house; it would be out in the barn or a shack by the road.

I left work at three and Eugene said, "I'm sorry. You can come in on Monday. I tried, but there's nothing for you to do until next week."

I guess I've really got the time to get some things done.

I put together a cake this evening, layered coffee with cream cheese filling and a coffee flavored frosting. I told Mum this morning I wished I could be at home and listen to the rain, and now I've got my wish and I should be thankful. If anyone's got painting/book/writing recs, put 'em in the box or text me. I will certainly have time to be bored now.

Peace out.

p.s. a cow drowned in the manure pond today.