More Jason and Mary Ellen (also of the Whitakers) - 5

Jason stood looking at Dr. Huntington, an expression of complete bewilderment clouding his face.  He looked from the floor to the doctor’s face, then back to the floor.1

“How can it happen like that?” he asked, his voice wavering.  “I just don’t understand.”2

Dr. Huntington pursed his lips, looked at the ceiling for a second, then replied.  “I wish I knew, Jason.  We all wish we knew for sure, even though we have a pretty good idea.  But, it’s usually temporary.”3

“Usually,” Jason shot out, seemingly only hearing that one word.4

“Right, usually, that means almost always.”  Dr. Huntington smiled this time.  “I wouldn’t worry too much about it yet.”5

“But she seemed to know me yesterday, at least it sure seemed like it to me.”  Jason’s voice had a pleading quality as he eyed the doctor carefully.6

“I know, she certainly did.  That’s why it’s a little puzzling.”7

“Is there anything else that could cause the amnesia besides the accident?”8

“Well, the accident itself could cause the physical damage to do it.  The trauma and shock of the accident could also be a cause.  Sometimes anesthetics can do it too and, since she seemed to be okay yesterday, I’m suspecting that’s what it may be.  But, of course, I’m not totally sure – she’s had all three here.  By the way, any luck finding her parents yet?”  A sudden change of subject by the doctor as he sought to break into the overwhelmingly depressed mood that had Jason in its grasp.9

“No, not yet.  My dad is working on it but no one seems to know anything about where they went . . . except Mary Ellen of course.”  His eyes drifted to the closed door close at hand as he fought to stay positive and believe what the doctor was telling him.  But, it was all so sudden and so shocking.  He just hadn’t expected it at all after yesterday when she seemed to know him, even if she hadn’t been able to speak.  And when he had told her he loved her, he knew she heard and responded the best she could.10

“How long?” he asked quietly.11

A gentle shrug of the shoulders gave Jason his answer, but not the one he wanted to hear and his spirits dropped a little further, if that was possible.  Then he felt the doctor’s arm go around his shoulders and turn him toward the other end of the hall.12

“Go get something to eat and then come back up here.  You being there with her might help clear her mind.  But, you kind of forget about yourself when you’re with her.  So go eat, okay.”  He gave Jason a pat on the back and marched away, intent already on his next patient and their problem.13

Jason headed toward the elevator, a slump of dejection across his shoulders, his feet shuffling as he barely lifted them with each step.  In fact, he stumbled slightly over the uneven edge of the elevator door and this helped arouse him from his reverie.  He kept telling himself that her amnesia was just a temporary thing but it was just so strange to have her look at him with that helpless look as she fought to place him, to find some connection where none now existed.  Well, he knew he was in her brain – it was just a matter of time until the fog lifted and she was the old Mary Ellen again.14

He shuffled his way through the line, getting a couple of donuts and decided to go ahead and get a cup of coffee, something new he was trying since he graduated from high school.  He’d heard that it was an absolute necessity for college so he was trying to get ready.15

He sat down at one of the tables and had eaten one of the donuts and, when he raised the cup of coffee, he saw him standing there.16

“What are you doing here?” Jason asked coldly.17

“Public place.  I can be here,” came the curt and slightly slurred reply.18

“No answer.  What are you doing here?” Jason repeated, a hard edge to his voice this time.19

The tall, angular man with the slightly raggedy clothing pulled out the other chair at the table and sat down.  He gestured toward the second donut and when Jason made so reply, he reached over and took it, quickly devouring half of it in the first bite.20

“Don’t freak, man.  Someone just told me you was here so I come to see you.  Ain’t nothing wrong with that is there.”  He finished the donut with one more bite, his lips smacking loudly as he chewed.  “Been a while since I ate.  How about another one?”  His eyes rolled up toward Jason and were met with a steely glare.21

They stayed that way for long seconds, the steely glare battling the whimsical, half-smirk of the newcomer.  Then Jason jerked his eyes away and returned to the breakfast bar, picked up two more donuts, paid and was back at the table.22

“Thanks,” was the reply that fairly reeked of insincerity and the two donuts were no more in a matter of a few seconds.23

“You disappear for one . . . two years and then just pop up out of nowhere and I’m supposed to throw up my arms and cheer.  Is that the deal?”24

“My, my, ain’t we sarcastic this morning.  Just thought you might be glad to see me, after all . . . “25

“Yeah, after all.  You would think that and I shouldn’t be surprised.  That would be normal and there’s nothing about you that’s normal now, is there?”26

“Jason, sometimes you’re a real pain in the butt, you know.  I mean I ain’t no tennis player and, lord knows, I ain’t a member of the country club.”  With that he stopped and smiled up at Jason.  “But I got a couple deals workin’ and when they come in, maybe I’ll just join that country club.”  He made a kind of slurping noise as he sucked the last of the donut from between his teeth.  “Actually,” he said, leaning back in the chair and puffing out his hollow and bony chest, “you’re probably lucky I wasn’t around here lately.  I’m sure your friends wouldn’t approve of me.”27

“Lucky me,” Jason spat out.28

“Yeah, and unlucky me that I never quite fit in.”29

“Poor guy, so unlucky.”30

“But, Jason.  That’s gonna change here pretty fast.  I’ve got a deal that you’ll want to be a part of, for sure.”31

“I don’t think so,” Jason snarled under his breath.32

“Oh, believe me brother, you will.  You will.”33