The False Exit Page 14

  “You pass on the tomatoes, proceed to the check out and pay for the items that you do want to purchase,” Elsie said.

  “Exactly! Mr. Brown has no interest in purchasing the CAT scan. You can put that right back on the shelf. He doesn’t need it. He is very pleased with the stents. He will be glad to pay for them. So, if you could be so kind as to ring him up, he’ll sign the receipt and we will be on our way. Thank you.”

  Mary turned sharply. This time Elsie followed her lead perfectly. The women stepped away from the counter and strutted down the hall like two dancers in a perfectly choreographed musical.

  “Ladies, hold on—just a moment please,” the nurse called after them as she picked up the phone. They kept moving.

  When they returned to the room, Clifford was dressed and sitting on the edge of his bed with a small bag next to him.

  “All set Captain?” Mary asked.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he said.

  “Verde is pulling the car around. I told the nurses we were leaving.”

  Clifford started to pull himself off the bed as a tall woman aggressively walked in the room. “Hello, Mr. Brown. I’m Carole Larkin. I’m the discharge nurse. I understand you are ready to go home?”

  Clifford sighed and sat back down on the edge of the bed, “Yes, I certainly am.”

  “Dr. Rankin has ordered a CAT scan for this afternoon at two. After the scan, we can get you all set up for the discharge.”

  “I don’t need a CAT scan,” Clifford replied.

  “Dr. Rankin thought it would be a good idea for you to have one before you left today.”

  “I think it’s a bad idea. I’m ready to go home,” he said.

  “Mr. Brown, we can’t let you leave without being properly discharged,” she replied.

  Mary stepped forward, “I already talked to the nurse at the station, but if you insist—go ahead, wave your magic wand, and discharge the man!”

  “Dr. Rankin needs to sign the papers. He won’t be here until after two.”

  “That is too bad because we won’t be here after two,” Mary said.

  “They told me I would be going home this morning and as you can see my ride is here. I know you are just trying to do your job, Ms.—” he checked her name badge, “—Larkin. You’re doing a terrific job, but it is time for me to go now.”

  “That is right. We already told the other nurse he doesn’t want any tomatoes, ring him up!” Elsie said. They all turned slowly and looked at her. She picked up Clifford’s bag from the bed. “Let’s go!” she said.

  “I’m sure you’re anxious to get Mr. Brown home, but it is important to follow up on the doctor’s orders,” she insisted.

  “Dr. Elvena said I could follow up with my cardiologist and my primary Doctor next week for my heart. I’ll talk to a shrink every week if you want me to, but I’m not going to have that CAT scan. There is nothing wrong with my head! It’s waste of everyone’s time and my money. My dear friends are here to take me home, and I am ready to go!”

  Mary nodded her head like an Indian Chief before battle. Elsie crossed her arms and took a step forward. Clifford climbed off the bed.

  “I’ll give Dr. Elvena a call and see if she can help us expedite the discharge,” she conceded.

  “Thank you, kindly, Ms. Larkin,” Clifford said. He followed the nurse out of the room and watched her disappear down the hall. As soon as he was sure she was out of sight he turned back. “Let’s go!” he said.

  They marched out of the room in a straight line toward the elevators. Elsie pushed the button.

  “Come on, come on!” she said.

  “Stop banging on it, Elsie!” Mary insisted. “It’s not going to make it come any faster!”

  Elsie reached over and nervously hit the button two more times. “What is taking so long?” She flipped her head in both directions looking for incoming nurses. Mary stared straight ahead remaining outwardly stoic.

  “Stop pushing that button. You are going to jam the thing up, and we will never get out of here!” Mary said. When the elevator door finally opened, they realized that it was going up instead of down. “Oh, for God’s sake!” Mary looked behind her and saw the discharge nurse headed their way. “Get in, get in!” she said. They quickly stepped in and the door closed behind them.

  “Oh well, look who is here,” Clifford said.

  “Who?” Mary swung her head around expecting to see a nurse.

  “Kevin! I guess he is busting out with us.”

  Mary shot Elsie a look.

  “I don’t think Verde’s got three seat belts in the back,” Elsie said. She raised an eyebrow at Mary.

  Mary winked at her and thought about how fascinating Elsie’s mind was. One minute she was completely lost and the next she was brilliant! “You might want to tell him that we don’t have room in the car.” Mary said. The elevator opened on the fifth floor.

  “Tell Kevin, he will have to get off here,” Elsie said.

  “He’s his own man, well spirit in this case. I can’t really make him do anything.”

  “Maybe we should have let him get the CAT scan,” Mary said to Elsie.

  “There you go again! I’m right here Mary. I heard that. I’m not dead, am I?” Clifford said.

  “Clifford. Are you sure you’re okay to leave?” Mary asked.

  The elevator doors closed and they started to descend.

  “I’m so sure. I actually feel better than I have in a long time. I’m telling you, Kevin is harmless. He’s just a lost soul. He needs a little time to figure things out before he crosses over. The poor boy left quite a mess here.”

  The elevator doors opened on the third floor again. They could see the nurse station. One of the nurses started toward them. Mary pounded on the button and the doors shut again.

  The doors opened on the main floor. They started across the lobby and heard a second elevator open. “Mr. Brown, Mr. Brown!” It was the discharge nurse.

  Mary grabbed Clifford tightly. “Keep going, straight ahead.”

  “Mr. Brown?” The nurse caught up to them just as they stepped on the automatic door track and the double wide exit opened. “Mr. Brown if you step through those doors without the proper discharge, and something should happen to you after you leave, there won’t be a thing you can do about it. You will be waiving your medical rights to any malpractice or negligence.”

  “I’m waving bye, bye. That is the only thing I am waving!” Clifford threw his free hand in the air and waved at her.

  The three of them proceeded through the front doors and Verde pulled the car forward. Once they were all inside, Verde said, “Buckle up everybody.”

  “There aren’t enough seat belts,” Elsie said.

  “What are you talking about?” Verde asked.

  “Never mind!” Mary said. “Go, just go!” They pulled away from the curb. “That was exhilarating!” Mary said as they turned the corner.

  “I feel like I just got busted out of prison by a band of lady thugs!” Clifford joked.

  “You should have seen us Verde! We walked right out the door!” Mary continued.

  “My heart is working! I can feel it beating; that is for sure!” Clifford said.

  “Okay, everybody calm down! I don’t want any more heart attacks!” Verde said.

  “Oh no!” Elsie hollered.

  “What? Don’t scare me like that!” Verde said as she lifted her foot from the brakes.

  “I left my purse!”

  “What? How could you leave your purse, Elsie?” Mary complained.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me?” Verde said. She pulled the car over.

  “I picked up Clifford’s bag and I must have set my purse on the chair. In all the excitement, I left it there.”

  “We had such a clean break! Do we seriously have to turn around and go back?” Mary asked.

  “I can’t very well leave my purse!” Elsie moaned. Verde turned the car around.

  “Well I felt like a real champion f
or about fifteen seconds!” Mary said. She glanced at Clifford. “Sorry to Jesus, but it’ll be a cold day in Hell before I’ll walk back in there with my tail between my legs. Elsie, you are on your own!”

  28

  At the end of rehearsal, Mark stood up from behind the piano and asked Shayla to demonstrate one of the more difficult sections of the music. Shayla threw her chin in the air and sang the music perfectly. Mark praised her for her ability to beat out a challenging rhythmic sequence. Liz was pleased to have another cast member recognized. She found it embarrassing to always be the actress that Diane or Mark used as an example.

  Liz watched Mark smile at Shayla as she left the piano. Surprised by her sudden possessiveness and frozen with jealousy, she tried not to stare at Mark. She couldn’t stop watching him follow Shayla with his eyes. She longed for his eyes to leave Shayla and to look at her in the same manner. She knew she was being ridiculous and self-absorbed because she would never return his advances. Or would she? She allowed herself to imagine the possibility.

  “Hey!” Gary said. He shook her out of her fantasy. “Penny for your thoughts!”

  You would have to pay a lot more than penny, she thought but didn’t dare say. “I was just thinking about the rhythm Mark wants us to get,” she lied.

  “You’ll get it,” Mark said, as he passed by her. “If you don’t, you can ask Shayla to work on it with you.” He held a dismissive tone that made Liz shutter at the fact that she wanted his everlasting approval.

  “Are you stopping by Shorty’s?” he asked Gary.

  “What do you think, Liz? I’ll go if you go.”

  “I’ll only go if you go,” Liz said. Gary didn’t catch her implication. Mark did.

  “I hope you go, Gary.” Mark said without looking at Liz.

  “I guess we will see you there,” Gary said to Mark.

  Mark didn’t look back. He called over his shoulder, “See you both there, and please don’t be long because I’m starving.”

  Gary pulled the Ghost light to the center of the stage just as Damion came barreling around the corner.

  “Okay, that just ain’t right! I don’t know if those girls are pulling pranks or what, but Mary Beth just came screaming out of the girl’s room. I’m not going down that hall alone. I don’t even think I want to know what is going on.” They could hear Bill in the distance.

  “Ladies, pack up and go home. This has to stop. You are creating your own fears. This is what happens when you let your imaginations get the best of you.”

  “But, I swear it got really cold in there and Carrie said she saw something move in the corner. It is always that same corner,” one of the dancers said.

  “When Carrie told us to look up, the lights flickered again,” a girl named Gina added.

  “I’m sick and tired of repeating myself. We are having electrical problems with the board from a lightning strike. The lights are going to flicker until we get the short in the board repaired or the whole darn thing replaced! Before that happens, it’s only going to get worse. It has nothing to do with ghosts. The light board has glitches; end of story. So, get your things and let’s go!”

  Damion cleared his throat and whispered to Gary, “Sorry, but I’m not buying that! Light boards control the stage lights! The dressing room lights have nothing to do with the light board.”

  “Actually, they do. The board has old connector switches to several rooms in the building including the dressing rooms, halls and back offices. The switches used to be a way to send warning cues to alert the actors to take places at the beginning of the show. Bill thinks that when the board glitches it is messing with the warning lights in some of those rooms. The stage lights on the newer system seem to be fine but the old ones flash. He thinks it’s the connector switches that are the problem.”

  “He thinks?” Damion said. “I don’t care what anybody thinks, this place is giving me the willies. I’m putting garlic in my pockets tomorrow.” He pulled on the chain around his neck and pushed out a cross that was attached to it. “You see this cross, it’s because I love Jesus.” He stepped down the hall pushing the cross on his necklace out in front of his steps. He started softly singing, “Jesus loves me, this I know—”

  “I hope Bill doesn’t see that,” Liz said as they watched Damion disappear down the hall.

  Liz could tell from the parking lot that it would be a busy night at Shorty’s. Most of the cast members were already there when they walked through door. The room was loud and full of an energy that didn’t match Liz’s desire to relax into the evening. Mark waved them over to his booth. A few moments later Shayla walked in. She slid into the booth next to Mark, and he threw an arm around her. She grinned at Liz with superiority. Gary kept his professional distance. Liz wanted to sink into him but knew that it was important to honor their agreement not to display public affection around the cast and crew. She also knew she would rather sink into Mark. She hated the feeling but couldn’t deny it. Was Mark picking up on her thoughts and jealousy? She watched him pull Shayla even closer and give her a squeeze without even looking at her. He was looking at Liz. He knew her thoughts and he was playing with them.

  “So, are you two an item, or not?” Shayla asked without hesitation.

  “Liz has a no-date policy with the men she works with,” Mark answered for them. “But, she couldn’t resist the dapper Gary so they keep it low key in public; am I right?”

  “Yes. It isn’t that we mind people knowing that we are dating each other, it’s just that we choose to stay low key around work,” Liz said.

  “Okay,” Shayla said. She twirled a strand of her hair around her index finger. “I know a lot of the men are jealous.”

  “I don’t think any of the guys are jealous,” Liz grinned.

  “I’m not talking about you,” Shayla replied, “I was referring to Gary.”

  “Seriously?” Gary said with sarcasm.

  “Seriously!” Shayla answered. “All the gay guys in the cast want to date you. They keep trying to figure out if you are dating Liz or if she is just your decoy.”

  Mark removed his arm from around Shayla and sat up. “Wow,” he said.

  “I’m just saying—” Shayla said. “Gary should be flattered.”

  “Yes,” Liz said, “and so am I. I’m terribly flattered.”

  “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just thought you guys would think it was kind of funny.”

  “Hilarious,” Gary said with an uncomfortable laugh.

  “Mary Beth!” Shayla called across the room. Liz thought Shayla was trying to redirect the conversation but as Mary Beth walked toward them she realized she was only digging deeper. “Hey, isn’t it true that all the gay guys in the cast think that Gary is gay?”

  “They did,” Mary Beth answered, “until it became obvious that Liz was with him.” She turned to Gary, “It’s no big deal. It just means they think you’re cute. You should have heard the buzz when Mark walked in the door!” They all laughed. “I think every gay guy in the cast is still crying themselves to sleep because Mark is straight.”

  “Really?” Mark said.

  “Oh, don’t bother trying to act surprised,” Shayla said. “Everyone thinks you are hot!” She threw a look at Liz. “It doesn’t matter if they are gay, straight or already taken. You have an incredible appeal. Everybody wants to date you; right Liz?”

  “Okay, it was already awkward. It just got unbearable. I’m going to order a pitcher of beer. Does anyone want anything else?” Mark asked as he scooted away from Shayla.

  “No need to get shy!” Shayla said. She swatted his backside as he climbed out of the booth. He paused when he felt the sting, took a breath and continued to the bar.

  “He is such a catch,” Shayla winked at Liz.

  Liz reached for a response that would throw her, “You’re a catch too, Shayla.” She knew she had found it when Shayla didn’t know what to say.

  “Is anybody going to eat, I’m starving.” Gary reached across the table t
o pick up a menu.

  “I am,” Liz said, “but, I don’t know if we'll be able to get a waiter over here.”

  “Mark wants to order too,” Shayla said.

  “You might want to go ask him what he wants,” Gary replied. “It looks like it is going to take him awhile at the bar.”

  “Good idea,” Shayla said as she slipped out of the booth. “I’ll go find out what that hot male of a man wants to eat,” she laughed.

  “She is too much!” Gary said after she stepped away.

  “Tell me about it,” Liz said, “do you know how hard it is to play nice with her?”

  “She is jealous of you,” Gary said, “not that I blame her. I wouldn’t want to be another woman in a room with you either.” He dropped into an English accent, “The competition is too bloody fierce!”

  “I don’t compete,” Liz defended herself. “I’m not like that.”

  “I know,” he continued in the accent. “That is what makes it so bloody hard.” He dropped the accent and looked into her eyes. “Girls don’t know how to respond to you. You’re not like the other girls, Liz. You’re better. You’re better and you’re more beautiful. There is no way for them to win.”

  His sincerity lifted her spirit, but the words sunk her back to reality. “Why does everyone feel like they have to win? That is the part that I don’t get.”

  “You don’t get it because you don’t play the game.”

  “How can you play a game, if you don’t know what it is?”

  “I think you know what it is, Liz. I think you just don’t play.”

  “Wait, is that bad?”

  “It is if you are Shayla!”

  “But, Shayla fits in. I don’t.”

  “Do you want to fit in to that?”

  “No, I don’t want to be like Shayla. It would be nice to be a little more popular with the girls though!”

  “Sorry, but if you want to fit in, you have to play the game.”

  “Since when do you know so much about girls and games?”