You Were There For That?-An Excerpt From Commitment-The Novel

“Marta, you and John come by the house in about an hour for some dinner, okay?” Steve said, as he and Rachel sat on one of the picnic tables watching the sun set.

The western horizon offered a beautiful reddish hue, graduating to blue, purple, and finally darkness to the east. The perfect ending.

Crickets chirped excitedly and insects buzzed busily as they began their nocturnal lives. Sounds and voices carried in the thin evening air. There were still a few people on the grounds, and some actually picked up the volleyball to get a few more sets in.

“I’ll be there,” John replied, then turned to Marta. “Will you?”

“Of course,” Marta said, smiling sweetly as she pushed some hair back behind her ears.

“Hey, I have something for you, wait here,” John said.

She took a seat on the table and rested her feet on the bench. A few minutes later John returned with some magazines under his arm. “Here, I thought you might like to catch up on the latest.” He saw her notice the old dates. “Well, almost the latest,” he chuckled.

Marta looked up; her big eyes sparkled with appreciation. John loved how she looked at him just then, and memorized every second of the glance. It seemed as if the world had stopped turning, and nothing else mattered.

“How sweet. I can’t wait to look at them,” Marta said.

“I meant to give them to you before it got dark.”

“This is just fine. I’ll glance through them tomorrow,” Marta gave him that look again, before thumbing blindly through the magazines. She felt quietly through the pages until she found what she was looking for. The sweet fragrance let her know she was at the right spot. Even after all this time, it still smells good, she thought as she rubbed the fragrant card along her wrists. She pretended to pull her hair back as she brushed her neck with her freshly scented wrists. She wanted to smell like a woman.

“What was your day like at the hospital?” John asked. “I know it was nowhere as fun as ours here.”

“It was horrible.” Marta said, sobered from her thoughts. “I hope I never have to experience that again. The poor kid had no idea what was going to happen to him, and I didn’t have any idea for that matter. I mean, he rides in a plane, a make-shift ambulance, and experiences high-tech equipment for the first time in his life. If that wasn’t stressful enough, they set that fracture. It was horrible!” she shivered noticeably.

“You were there for that?” John asked.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.

Not Again

Marta hugged and kissed his sweating and tear-tracked face. Finally, he calmed down and lay panting.

“Marta, you’ll have to hold him again,” said Reese.

“You can’t be serious.” Marta said incredulously.

“It didn’t set.” Dr. Reese shook his head grimly. “We’ll have to try again.”

Marta looked down at the boy, whose brow was covered in sweat. He seemed to know what was going on and nodded his consent. He grabbed the padded sides of the table as if he could channel his pain into the table and down to the floor.

Once again the doctor gave a nod to prepare everyone, grunted, and pulled.

Digul strained against Marta and Benji, raised his head, then released the familiar scream. It was choked off before it could build up, as the pain proved too great. Digul’s eyes rolled back in his head, and Marta eased him back down to the table.

“All right, I think that did it. Congratulations, team,” said Reese.

“Shouldn’t we revive him?” asked Marta.

“Not at all, I think it is the perfect time to put on his cast. While he is out we can wrap it without any protest,” Dr. Reese explained while gathering plaster and bandages.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.

Primal Screams

Marta felt sick to her stomach as she tried to put on a brave face for Digul. She was as white as a sheet and didn’t feel very effective in comforting her little friend. She looked down and choked as she saw his sad eyes plead with her for an end to the torture.

“Marta, we’re not finished yet. Are you going to be all right?” Reese asked.

“I don’t know... when are we going to be done?’ asked Marta.

“Soon, but I still need you to hold the boy. We still have to set the leg. The sooner we get started, the sooner he can be out of his misery,” informed Reese.

Marta sighed heavily.

“It’s okay, Marta. Believe me, he will survive this, and I seriously doubt if the pain will ever be a factor in his life. Thousands of people have been through this.”

“You’d better be right,” Marta snipped. “At least the anesthetic should help.”

With one hand below Digul’s knee, and the other below the break, he suddenly pulled straight out with a twisting motion, held it, and released.

The bright lights danced in front of Digul’s eyes as the pain resounded from his shin bone and up his leg before racing the length his spine and slamming into his brain. He let out a slow long moan increasing in tempo and volume until it produced a primal scream.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.

The Needle-The Shot

Benji stopped the vehicle in a worn part of the lawn bordered by logs. He jumped out immediately and opened Marta’s door.

Marta followed the entourage of other medical assistants, led by Benji, to the third room on the right. They sat the doctor’s stretcher down and transported Digul to the waiting examination table. Dr. Reese asked her to translate the procedures of x-ray and diagnosis to Digul, and then asked everyone else to leave. Dr. Reese went behind a protective screen to take the x-rays and returned with the results in no time. Marta patiently waited as Reese and Benji read the film.

Marta stared out of the open window slats. She was enthralled with the spectacular garden, totally at ease with a doctor in control. The flora amazed her. She had exactly the same plants surrounding her village, but took for granted its splendor and beauty. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

“I’m afraid I’m going to need your assistance for a most unpleasant task,” the doctor informed.

“What’s wrong?” asked Marta.

“Don’t be alarmed. The boy is going to be all right, but we have to set his leg. The break seems clean, so it should set easily. But it could be very painful,” said Reese.

“What can I do?” Marta didn’t want any part of it.

“We need help holding him down. Benji isn’t strong enough. In fact, I don’t know anyone who would be. When that pain kicks in, his body is going to do anything to eradicate it. He’ll scream bloody murder, kick, and anything else, it could cause further damage,” said Reese.

“I don’t know, doctor. I hope I have it in me,” Marta said quietly.

Marta reluctantly approached Digul. Poor guy doesn’t know what‘s coming. Marta saw him smile and cupped his face warmly in her hands. Marta knelt behind him and started whispering something. His face became hard and determined, but his eyes scanned the room fearfully. Dr. Reese nodded to Benji, who slowly lay across Digul’s torso and helped hold him down. “Marta, would you please try to divert his attention, I don’t want him to see this,” said Reese.

Marta strained to see what the crinkling of plastic revealed, as the doctor worked with a package. She regretted her curiosity immediately, thinking she could’ve lived a long life without having ever seen such a huge needle.

“I think half should do it,” said the doctor.

Marta gazed in horror as she anticipated the pain Digul would soon be experiencing as the guided needle would find its mark. Digul released a high pitched wail as he struggled to get free of the people holding him. Marta felt like a traitor, exposing the boy who trusted her to so much. She realized, as she kissed his pain-twisted face over and over, that this was no simple procedure.

The needle entered half its length, twisted, and plunged back in as the doctor pointed it in all directions around the center of the break. With each jab, he released the pain-killing medicine that Marta hoped would soon provide relief. Finally, after much torment, the needle backed out.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.

The Lovely Garden-An Excerpt from Commitment-The Novel

The ride to the doctor’s office was only a few miles, but slow and bumpy. Marta rode in the passenger seat next to the young man who kept stealing glances as he drove. Marta perceived it quietly and it made her feel pretty.

Doctor Reese sat in the back with Digul and did a preliminary observation of the boy, quickly determining the extent of his injuries. “I think the young man will be fine, Mrs. Springer. You did a good job with the splint, and the first aid.”

“That’s wonderful doctor, we’ve been praying since Thursday. By the way, call me Marta; I prefer that over Mrs. Springer.”

“Okay, Marta it is.”

“You know Sandy can take credit for saving his life,” Marta said.

“That’s the wonder of modern medicine. Take a few pills and it all goes away,” the doctor stated.

“It really amazes me how I can be only thirty miles away, but we are separated by centuries of technology,” Marta said.

“Strange, isn’t it? Even five to ten miles away, people are dying from sickness and disease that is easily treatable. But how do we reach them?” asked Reese.

Marta turned almost all the way around in her seat and spoke to Digul. It was virtually unintelligible to Dr. Reese, but the driver understood.

“I know he has nothing to fear,” the driver spoke up for the first time.

“You understood?” asked Marta.

“Yes, my father is a missionary in the northern coast, up near Jayapura. I was what you call, ‘immersed’ in the local dialect. I also speak Indonesian proper, and a little Latin,” Benji said, flexing his lingual muscle.

“Well it’s great to meet a kindred spirit,” Marta said. “What are you doing way down here?”

“Would you believe, working for college,” said the driver.

“Benji here is working for me. I will lose him next fall to the university,” said Reese.

“Well, that’s great, Benji. Are you planning on practicing in the mission field?” asked Marta.

“I really don’t know yet. I just hope I like college enough to make it that far,” said Benji.

“Don’t worry. I think you have just what it takes to make it. You have drive, determination, and a love of learning,” the doctor threw in for support.

“I am impressed with your knowledge of languages, and willingness to learn them. That proves a good attitude and aptitude for hard work. Just don’t get distracted by the coeds,” said Marta.

“I can’t say that I am used to being around women, I mean other than my family, other missionaries and their families, and tribal women. Other than knowing them, I have never really had a date,” Benji confessed.

Marta assessed his Mediterranean features. This man would be a heart breaker. His smooth olive skin was tan from exploring jungles and living in tough environments.

“You don’t have to worry about dating. That will come with experience,” said Marta.

“How will I get them to notice me for who I am and not some oddball from a strange country?” asked Benji.

“Believe me, when they hear of the life you’ve led and experiences you’ve had, they will want to learn more about you. Just be polite and honest and you won’t have any trouble. A woman looks for decency and competence, and you fit that mold,” Marta informed.

“How can you tell?” Benji fished for reassurance.

“Just by the way you speak to me. Besides, I think missionaries would expect the most from their children, if only because of their work and who they represent,” said Marta.

“You hit that on the nose. Mom and Dad would never take any back talk. God forbid if I ever hurt my mother’s feelings, or was ever rude to an adult,” said Benji.

“See, I knew I didn’t read you wrong,” said Marta.

The ambulance stopped its bounding and rocking as the road smoothed. Benji rounded a curve as they entered the driveway. The landscaping was beautiful, causing Marta to sigh appreciatively at the driveway bordered with flowering vines and a garden of beautiful indigenous trees and flowers. The doctor had even diverted a stream to a tiny fish pond in the shade near a gazebo.

“Do you like it? I love to garden, and I wanted to bring some civilization to my small part of the world.” Dr. Reese beamed.

“I love how you did this using local plant life. I’m shocked not to have heard about this,” said Marta.

“Well, I’m surprised too. I’ve been working on it for years.”

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.