[Strange, Trust]
“Alright, senior apprentice I’d like a sketch of the bakery kitchen, if you don’t mind. Junior apprentice please accompany her. Draco is on his way for our first chess match and I don’t need you around here distracting us. He claims to be at a grand master level. We shall see.”
“Yes, Sparky.”
“Yes, Sparky.”
It was another sunny morning in Wyldwood and just a perfect day and time for a walk. We were at the bakery before you know it and the Tea House was packed, not a seat in the house. Which was fine, I was going to stay in the kitchen with Opal anyway. Opal proudly carried her art portfolio that Sparky had given her for drawing when she was out of the store.
We waved to a very busy pair of Teahouse waitresses, Ruby and Salome, then proceeded inside. Paula was waiting on a customer, but otherwise the store was empty.
“Come on sweetie I’ll get you set up in the kitchen, so you can start to sketch. Would you like a sweetbun?”
“Yes please.”
We went into the kitchen, Lottie and Lily were looking over a recipe book.
“Hi Lottie, hi Lily, I hope you don’t mind, but for some reason Sparky wants a sketch of your kitchen. “
Lily laughed, “Well of course he does and no I don’t mind at all. We’ll get out of the way, I have a few medical bakes that need to be done in the outdoor oven. Good job catching the vandals Rose.”
“It was very much a group effort. Lu tracked them to their guild hall. The guard was there to arrest them all. Councilman Underhill made a deal with them.”
“Well according to Paula you caught five on your own and you figured out the motive and identified them as carpenters.”
“Lu has been reading Sherlock Holmes stories to me, so she gets most of the credit for that as well. A year ago before I heard of Sherlock, I’d never have thought of it.”
“But then you talked to Councilman Underhill and recommended a unique sentence, plus you encouraged the vandals to come here for free food.”
“Well the gnomes did throw them all out of work, and Orin told me he had to buy cement, when I asked why he said that the gnomes just didn’t have the strength for the mixing. It just seemed like a win-win. Isn’t that the best way to resolve an issue if possible. I know sometimes it isn’t even then I think it’s better that each side leaves a little unhappy, then one is the winner and one is the loser. It doesn’t solve the problem, it pushes it into the future with the loser ruminating on their loss. Trying to get even with the winner. You don’t mind that I told them to come here for free food do you?”
“No, Rose, I heard you told them that you come here for free food, so they wouldn’t think of it as charity.”
“But I do, come here almost everyday for free food.”
“I know Rose but after all the trouble they caused, you were out there for three nights trying to catch them. After you do catch them you don’t want them punished, you want them to get jobs out of it.”
“I just didn’t think punishing them would help, and some were punished. Those five that I captured were made to float for two days, because the guardhouse was full and they all had to work to pay for the materials they destroyed.”
“Don’t get me wrong Rose, I think it was the perfect solution. As far as the bakery goes, I couldn’t sleep at night if I knew a kid was going to bed hungry because their parents were too proud to come here for free baked goods.”
“Me too. Lily.”
“Well Lottie ready to get baking?”
“All set.”
I said, “Don’t forget about book club this week we’re going to watch the play. I didn’t get to see any of it except for the time I was on stage. Lottie please bring Ryan so we can introduce him to Opal. You’d like that wouldn’t you sweetie.”
“Yes, Rose.”
***
“Lily, I can’t believe that I used to be afraid of her. Well maybe I am still a little afraid, she said she left them floating for two days.”
“Yes Lottie, because the guardhouse was full, she brought them food and water multiple times. The first two she ‘caught’ grabbed her. Two men grabbed what they thought was an innocent girl. Floating in the sky is the least that should have happened to them. The only people that need to fear Rose are those that would hurt an innocent child. She hasn’t even been here for four months and she already has saved Salome, Ruby, and Opal. Oh I almost forgot she saved the Burgomaster’s daughter Ilina as well from kidnappers. She took in a ghost, gave Paula a home when she needed one. Converted two racists by throwing them both out of her house, she then sent them both copies of The Diary of Anne Frank. Oh and she gave Paula the power to jump into and out of books that allowed you to test Ryan’s blood. So indirectly she aided in curing your son. You are a mother and a healer, you have absolutely nothing to fear from Rose. Trust me.”
“I do, trust you, and oddly enough I trust her as well. It’s just the sheer amount of power that she wields that's scary to me. Turning people into toads, that fairy tale level magic there.”
“Technicnally Lottie, she didn’t turn him into a toad, well she and she didn’t. She turned him into a toad, then turned him back. Told him that if he told one more lie he’d be a toad for life because she couldn’t change him back again. So he knew what would happen when he chose to lie. I think he chose the coward's way out because he didn’t want to admit to his wife what he’d done to his daughter. He’ll never hurt another little girl.”
“Lily. We better get baking, I’d love to test out the Stormgrain flour on diseases other than tuberculosis.”
“Okay Lottie, we’ll bake a loaf of Stormgrain, then we can combine it with Crystal Rye that will give you three different kinds of magical health bakes.”
“Lily. The problem is that everyone here is so healthy in general, I have no one to test this on. What’s the best way to find sick people? Your world has no hospitals, doctors. Even if the magic of this place keeps people healthy, there have to be accidents, falls for older people.”
“If people are sick they would go to the alchemist, if hurt probably the vet. If they are giving birth they’d go to the midwife. Lottie.”
“That’s right in Juliet’s world most of the village goes to the vet, Juliet actually suggested the vet over the alchemist. Should we go see the alchemist, when I told her what was wrong with Ryan, she directed me to you. So at the very least I feel like she is being honest about what she can and can’t do.”
“Sure we can go see Gabby but be prepared Lottie she is about the rudest person living in Wyldwood.”
After they finished their baking they headed to Magnum Opus Alchemy.
“What do you want, baker?”
“It’s wonderful to see you too, Gabby.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m busy, what do you want?”
“I’d like to introduce my girlfriend, Dr Charlotte Li. She’s a doctor from Earth and you actually sent her to see me about her son's condition.”
“Yeah, I remember, how is the boy doing?”
“He’s cured, Lily baked him a cure.”
“Are you sure, I’ve seen remission in cases like these before, only to have them come raging back and kill the patient.”
“I’m positive, there is a blood test. I went back to Earth to check after he ate two separate bakes. The first didn’t work, the second was a complete success. Back on Earth the disease is curable for about eighty percent of the patients. My son was one of the unlucky ones, until he ate the cure.”
“What did you use, Lily, unless you are keeping it a secret?”
“Of course I’m not keeping it a secret, that’d be a horrible thing to do, Gabby. The bake that worked was a flat bread made with crystal rye. I don’t know if it cures anything else, that’s why we’re here. Lottie wants to open a clinic to help sick and injured people. She’s not trying to steal your customers. In fact she’d be buying from you, so you might actually get more business.”
“Where do you plan to open up Lottie?”
“I haven’t started to look yet, I just need a small 3 room space, 1 large room for patient’s waiting to be seen, an exam room and a special trauma room for accident victims. I don’t want to pay much, because I don’t want to charge my patients much.”
“Well I’ll be happy to work with you, I’ll show you my stock and what diseases it’s useful for. If Lily will supply me with some of that flatbread we can test to see what it works on, especially in cases where I have nothing to offer in the way of a cure. As far as the space goes, if you know anyone on the town council or the Burgomaster, talk to them, I’m sure that they’ll find either low cost or free space. If you can show them you are qualified and not trying to gouge the townspeople. No one wants to go to the barber for an amputation if a doctor has a chance of saving the limb.”
“Thank you Gabby, I’ll go to town hall this afternoon.”
“Gabby I’ll bring some of the flat bread over later today.”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
***
On the walk back to the bakery.
“Lottie, we need to talk to Rose, she knows Councilman Underhill and she saved the Burgomasters daughter with Paula and Lu.”
“That’s be great if she could help.”
“I’m sure she will.”
***
While Opal sketched in the kitchen, I went out to help Paula with customers and chat. Every once in a while ducking my head into the kitchen, just to make sure Opal hadn’t been sucked into her own drawing. I’d probably be doing that for the next seven years. I still have nightmares about her being lost in a painting and no one can find her.
“Rose, can you come into the kitchen when you get a chance.”
“Hey Lily what’s up?”
“We were hoping you’d talk to Orin and the Burgomaster on Lottie’s behalf, she wants to open a doctor’s office. Gabby the Alchemist suggested the town council might find her cheap or free space if she agrees to work for a fixed salary.”
“Sure Orin is down at the construction site, maybe we could add on to that building then it’d be free for sure. Paula already paid for the building so I’ll pay for the addition and we three can jump to earth and you can stock up on everything you need. Talbert said I can create a lab for you in England, and I do believe your girlfriend can supply the portal muffins to get back and forth? Dr Denton is great but it would really be nice to have a doctor here in town. Opal sweetie, will you be alright if I go down to the construction site?”
“Yes Rose, I’m almost done, can I have lunch with Ruby?”
“Of course sweetie, I’ll be back soon. You go talk to Ruby.
Opal runs out of the kitchen to find her sister in the Teahouse.
“Good, I get nervous leaving her alone when she’s drawing. I thought I was having a heart attack the last time it happened. Anyways, let's go see Orin. And bring lots and lots of pizza. Orin said the gnomes like it and they are donating their time.”
So the three of us walked down the street carrying a lot of pizza. Lottie seemed like a really nice person and she really made Lily happy. So I was glad that she was making plans for a life here in Wyldwood. The fact that she was a doctor was just a bonus, the cherry on top of the ice cream.
Orin had a clipboard and was directing the human carpenters, so that they didn’t interfere with the gnomes.
“Hi, Orin we brought pizza for your workers as a little thank you for all they’ve already done. And if you have a minute I’d love to run something by you.”
“Sure Rose, what do you need?”
“First let me introduce Dr Charlotte Li, she’s from Earth and she’d like to open a doctors office here. Most people are pretty healthy here but when you are sick it can be critical that the patient get care quickly. Also accidents, you must see your fair share. Wouldn’t it be great to have someone in town to treat accident victims. Is there any way we could add an addition onto the actors retirement home. The doctor just wants to make an honest living and help the citizens at the same time and it won’t cost the town or your construction company a dime. An anonymous donor has donated gold to cover all the costs. What do you think, Orin?”
“You tell us what you want and we’ll get it done.”
“Great, let me just pop out and I’ll get you a deposit.”
“No need..”
I jumped to Juliet's world, authored five hundred gold pieces and jumped back staggering a bit under the weight.
“Rose, this is too much, the whole building didn’t cost that much.”
“Well they don’t want it back so make it extra nice, and maybe a nice office for the doctor to use for herself. You can use any leftover money to pay the new workers to work on the new addition. Okay?”
“Well, okay and thank you Rose.”
“You're welcome, you do such wonderful work and the theater is really perfect, I can’t wait to go see my first play. While I’d love to see more of Lottie socially, I hope to avoid her in a professional capacity, but if I am sick, it’ll be nice to know I have somewhere nice to go to get better.”
“Lottie, you tell me what you’d like and we will make it happen, it should be ready for your first patient in about two weeks. Just make a rough sketch on the clipboard and then tell me in your own words, and I’ll write up the instructions for the gnomes.”
“Well I need a large room for people to wait in, then a smaller exam room large enough to hold a large table a patient can lie flat on, a few chairs and some kitchen cabinets to hold the medical supplies. Then another room with a tiled floor and walls that’s where we take care of people with large open wounds, it’ll need to be kept perfectly clean. I can get supplies on Earth to do that. It should be large enough for a table in the center and enough room for five or six people to stand around the table and assist me.”
“Understood, Lottie, I’ll get these drawn up into blueprints, if you come by in the morning, I’ll have the ground all staked out for each of the rooms then we can move through them together, and we can make any adjustments you might require in case I didn’t capture your requirements correctly.”
“Thank you Orin, that is wonderful, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Orin, let me know if I can do anything.”
“I will Rose, but I think you’ve done enough.”
***
On the way back to the bakery, we chatted and I suggested later this afternoon after I bring Opal back to the shop we take a little shopping trip to Earth and pick up some emergency medical supplies in case they’re needed before the clinic has a chance to open.
Opal had just finished her lunch and was sitting with her sister in the teahouse.
“Hi Ruby, hi Opal. Did you two have a nice lunch?”
“Yes Rose, I’m ready to go back to the book shop, my drawing is finished.”
“Ok Honey, I’ll go in and get Sparky’s donuts."
“I’ve already got them Rose, here on the chair. Three dozen.”
“Thanks Ruby.”
***
“Ah, here are my two apprentices, and my lunch and may I have a look at the portfolio please?”
“Sure Sparky.” Opal handed her new portfolio over to Sparky.
“Beautiful job Senior apprentice, tomorrow I’d like you to stay home and draw the clearing on the hill in the tower. Do you think you can do that?”
“Yes Sparky”
“Well then why don’t you both take the rest of the day off.”
“Thanks Sparky.” was chorused by Opal and me.
“Would you like to go to Earth shopping with Lily and Lottie and me or do something else.”
“I’d like to go home and read, I’m in the middle of the Lord of the Rings.”
“Alright let’s go, Bye Sparky.”
“Bye Sparky.”
***
I walked Opal home and made sure she didn’t need anything before leaving her with Doug and Daisy in the library. She was already tucked into a large arm chair lost in ‘The Two Towers’.
***
By the time I got back to the bakery, Lily and Lottie were all set to go, we jumped to Blackpool, I’d already been there so it was an easy place to jump to. I authored large sums of Pounds for the three of us. Then we asked for directions to the Pharmacy from a walker passing by.
“After I know what the stuff looks like I can author it for you, but I don’t know anything about medical supplies.”
Lottie said, “In that case I’ll buy small quantities of the most commonly used items for injuries. The problem is I won’t be able to buy any prescription drugs.”
“I should be able to author them, especially if you can show me a picture and tell me the name.”
We bought a book that had a picture of every pill and name of the drug, So I authored her bottles of 1000 of Amoxicillin, Doxycycline, Vicodin, and Azithromycin, I guess these are common drugs she uses.
We went back to the store and bought most of the items found in the first aid aisle, blood pressure machines, surgical tools. Before we jumped back to the bakery, I authored cases of gauze, surgical tape, bandaids, neosporin, and aspirin. Then we jumped back with it all to the bakery, Lu would be home soon, so I wished them a good night and headed for home.
***
Paula came into the kitchen where Lily and Lottie were going through all the medical supplies.
“Let me guess, Rose had a plan, and it went even better than expected.”
“How did you know, Paula?”
“Because that girl doesn’t do dramatic tension, and she hates to see people unhappy or suffering, so she just naturally fixes things.
