A red-headed mouse in a
candy striper uniform politely knocks on Tammy and Bink's door. There is no answer so she comes in, carrying herself well.
"Oh, you're awake." Observed the candy striper. "I am one of the student volunteers. How are we feeling this morning?"
"Other than having a debilitating headache?" Tammy answered. "What happened anyway? Why are we here?"
"You were in a hit and run from what I was told. Your car ended up in Lake Nemi."
"My Alpha Romero got wrecked?"
"A car can be replaced. You and your sister are still alive. That is what matters. 'A grain of wheat must fall to the ground before it can do any good. New life springs from fallen grain.'"
"What about a grain of wheat?" Tammy asked.
"It's something a wise girl your sister's age once said."
"A grain of wheat." Bink knew she heard that before; she was not thinking clearly at the moment.
The candy striper then turns to Bink, "You're still playing the violin, I hope."
"I still practice. . . . Wait, how did you know. . . ." Bink asked.
"The last time I saw you, you were carrying an Amati violin case. . . . You were walking down the steps of Place D'Espagne with a nice looking gentleman. You were wearing a red coat and designer perfume. You had an ice cream cone in one hand, an Amati violin case in the other and you happed to bump into me."
When the candy striper mentioned the nice looking gentleman, Bink lowered her eyes.
"Did I say something wrong?" The candy striper asked.
"No, that's all right." Bink remembers the incident; does not recognize the candy striper. "That was about a year ago. How would you recognize me from a chance encounter?"
"Your Amati violin case stood out in my mind." The mouse answered.
"You seem to know about violins." Tammy observed.
"I too play the violin."
Tammy sniffs the air. "Speaking of designer perfume," Tammy says to the mouse, "you have expensive tastes as well."
The candy striper complimented Tammy. "You are certainly observant. I will note you two are suffering from headaches. Anything else?"
"That's it." Tammy answered.
The candy striper leaves Tammy and Bink's room and reports to the nurse's station that Tammy and Bink are awake and that they have a headache. The candy striper leaves the nurse's station and gets out her cell phone. "I've just made contact."
"Acknowledged." The male voice on the other end responds.
The red-headed mouse hangs up her cell phone.
Jeanette Isabelle