The Trouble with Polly Brown (78 page)

“Thank you, madam, and I trust that en route to the castle we will be able to find a shop where we can hopefully replace them.”

“Thank you for your very touching concern, Blenkinsopp, for the weather is beginning to get a little nippy to say the least,” her ladyship commented, giving a most mischievous smile.

“Yes, madam. It's amazing what one can achieve with a hammer, a pair of nylons, and a bit of ingenuity,” he stated with a wink as he then turned to head out of the ward to go and get back under the coach.

“Now, doctor, while we wait for Blenkinsopp to fix the problem of the fan belt, I would very much like to suggest that Polly is given some special time to say her good-byes to her dear and close friend Lucinda.”

“Well, Lady Butterkist, I will see what I can do, but I have to warn you now that Lucinda has not been very well recently, and without wishing to say too much, she has spent these past few weeks within the confines of a padded cell—for her own good, you must understand,” the doctor reluctantly confided.

“Oh, I understand, doctor. Really I do. But it is absolutely vital that the two girls be allowed to say their good-byes.”

“All right then, dear lady. Without further adieu, let us head down to the ward,” he heavily sighed.

“Polly, you need to get up from the floor, for we are going to see Lucinda. Please bring that appletude pie with you, as I'm sure she would really appreciate a slice or two,” Lady Butterkist brightly suggested.

When they finally reached the ward, Lady Butterkist suggested that Polly go ahead, and she would join them a bit later. The door was opened from the inside, and after a few words from the doctor, Polly was ordered to follow a nurse down the ward.

Doctor Ninkumpoop then turned to inform his wealthy guest that he needed to leave for a short while to go and personally check on the pensioners.

“Oh, just leave me here. I will find the powder room and have myself a very necessary freshen-up,” she stated.

“All right then, Lady Butterkist. I will catch up with you later,” the relieved doctor stated.

“Oh, doctor. Before you leave, I have just one more teeny little request.”

Dr. Ninkumpoop drew a deep breath, for he could only begin to wonder what more he could do for this extremely demanding lady.

“Are you sure it's small?”

“Oh, I promise you, hand on heart. It's really teeny weenie. Honest!”

“Go on then.”

“Well, you may well think that this a most strange request, but I was wondering if you would allow me to take away that floral arrangement.”

“What floral arrangement?”

“Why, the one from the hospital canteen that earlier on in the day was officially pronounced dead.”

“Well, if it's dead as you say…”

“Dead as a doorpost.” she interjected.

“Then why on earth would you even want it?” he asked.

“Oh, never you mind. But am I to take it?”

“Yes, feel free to take it, as well as anything else you might care for,” the wearied doctor replied.

“Splendid.”

“Yes, I will get one of the nurses to immediately bring it down to you,” he once more sighed.

“Oh, thank you, kindly doctor. You're such a peach.”

As Polly stood by Lucinda's bed, she could not fail to hide her shock, for she believed she had never seen her friend in such a terrible state. Although Lucy's eyes were closed, she could see that they had dark circles around them, and her normally rosy cheeks were now a ghostly white, as though the very blood had been drained from them. Even her normally beautiful, glossy hair was lank and seriously matted.

“Oh, Lucy. You look absolutely awful, yes, like a whitewashed tomb,” she shakily muttered under her breath. “Lucy, it's me, Polly. I've come to say good-bye.”

Lucinda appeared to be asleep.

“Lucy, please wake up. I beg you, for I urgently wish to speak with you,” Polly whispered in her ear, at the same time removing some limp strands of hair away from over her friend's eyes. Still there was no movement.

“Lucy, please talk to me. I'm begging you.”

Lucy finally rolled over and opened her eyes. Polly immediately noticed that both her trembling wrists were tightly bandaged.

“Lucy, please tell me this is not what I think it is,” Polly cried out loud.

Lucy refused to reply as she lay on her back looking vacant with a lone tear rolling down her cheek.

“Forget the celebration with apple pie, Lucy, for I cannot bear to leave you in this way,” Polly whispered as she wiped away Lucinda's tear before planting a small kiss on her forehead. “I'll be back in a jiff,” she sniffed, as she then turned to race up the ward toward the door.

A nurse caught hold of her arm as she fled down the ward.

“What's wrong, deary?” she asked out of polite concern.

“Leave me alone, for I just need to get out of here,” a distraught Polly cried as she continued to race down the ward toward the exit door.

Polly burst through the exit door and was immediately met by Lady Butterkist, who was on her way in search of her.

“Polly dear, what on earth is the matter?” she quizzed as Polly quite unexpectedly threw herself into the arms of the lady.

With tears in her eyes, Polly looked up and at first found herself unable to speak, such was her distress.

“Now take a deep breath, Polly. There's a dear,” Lady Butterkist gently ordered. “There, take one more. Yes, breathe in deeply, and then come and sit down on this bench beside me,” she ordered as she gently directed Polly toward a long bench in the hospital corridor. “There. That's much better. Now we can talk.”

“Oh, Lady B., as much as I want to come with you and go on this holiday to the west country, I simply cannot even think to leave Lucy behind, and so, put plainly, I am unable to go with you.”

“Now, hang on a moment, Polly.”

“No, Lady B., I cannot hang on, for dear Lucy's poor life is just about hanging on by a thread, and she is in the worst crisis I have ever seen her in. As I am her only lifeline in that I am the only true friend she has, then I must remain close at hand, for right now she needs me more than ever,” she wept as she stumbled to get the words out.

“Right then, Polly dear. I must also go and see what I can do for her. So do as I say and go back into the ward and await my return,” she sternly ordered.

Lady Butterkist then marched determinedly down the long corridor as though she were on a serious mission, and Polly obeyed by making her way back to Lucinda's bed.

Once there, she immediately resumed consoling her friend. “Lucy, please take Langdon and look after him for me, will you? He will keep you warm, and he will hold all your tears, for he is a truly faithful elephant. I have told the good lady who has come to visit me that I will not leave without you. As usual, this might well get me into tons of trouble. Who knows? They may decide to lock me up for quite a long time for being such a nuisance and rebel. If they do, I will not see you for a long time, but I want you to know that I am near you, and I will be sending my love to you every single minute of the day,” she simpered.

Another lone tear rolled down one of Lucy's sunken, hollow cheeks as she still lay staring up into space.

Polly took hold of her hand and continued to promise to be there for her and do all she could for her close friend.

“Lucy, we really are in this together. We are more than friends; we are sisters, and so you mean everything to me,” she whimpered.

Suddenly Polly was forced to look up, for there was quite a commotion going on at the door entrance. A sorely fueled-up Lady Butterkist had once more returned to the scene.

“Nurse, do your job and take me immediately to Lucinda's bed,” she sharply ordered.

The nurse dutifully obeyed, and seconds later Lady Butterkist found herself standing at the end of bed as an anxious Polly sat holding Lucinda's pale, thin hand.

“Right, Polly. Everything is sorted. You, young lady, are definitely coming with me to the west country.”

“I'm so sorry, Lady B., but without wishing to offend you further, I don't think you quite understand my position, for there is no way I'm leaving here today without Lucy,” she glumly cried.

“Well, Polly dear, that's very good to hear, for I assure you that dear Lucinda is now coming with us too.”

On hearing the surprisingly good news, Polly instantly burst into tears.

“Now then, Polly, don't you dare throw a wobbly on me, for there's been more than enough emotions expressed throughout this day.”

“Are you sure? Answer me truthfully and tell me this is not some stupid, mindless joke.”

“Hand on heart, this is no joke, Polly, for I would not do such a thing to you of all people. Lucinda really is coming on holiday with us,” Lady Butterkist confirmed. “Yes, girls, it will be nothing but fun and frolics for the next four weeks, I will see to that.”

“Frolics?”

“Oh, that's an old-fashioned word for ‘constant laughter,' or something like that. We, my dears, are going to have ourselves a simply glorious time,” she triumphantly stated.

“That's all well and good, but can you not see for yourself that Lucy is looking so pale and poorly that I cannot imagine ever seeing a smile light up her pretty face again?” Polly ruefully observed.

“Well, let's get on the road, shall we? Then we will see what can be done to help dear Lucinda.”

“Lady B., tell me straight: how can we leave to go on holiday when the news circulating around the wards is that you are the celebrity expected to cut the ribbon at the official ward-opening ceremony, which I am told is less than two days away?”

“Well, Polly, believe it or not, I've already sorted out that little problem, for I do indeed have friends in high places.”

“High places?”

“Polly, do be a dear and stop repeating my every word, for it's very irritating to say the least. When I say ‘high places,' that's precisely what I mean. Yes, my dear, I have arranged for one of England's latest and biggest celebrities to take my place and, so, cut the ribbon.”

“Really, who is that then?” a surprised Polly quizzed.

“Well, someone who has a real thirst for champagne and who cannot bear to be out of the limelight for any length of time.”

“Don't speak in riddles. Tell me now, for I'm dying to know,” Polly wistfully groaned.

“Well, don't get too excited Polly, but it is none other than Freddie Fruitless! How's that for a spectacular event?” she cried, clasping her hands as she savored her sheer brilliance.

“What? Freddie Fruitless?” an alarmed Polly cried.

“Polly dear, I hate to say this, but you're doing it again by repeating my words. So yes, dear, you heard right the first time. Freddie Fruitless is taking over from me. Now, if you wish to stay behind because, like every other teenage girl, you too secretly adore the man, then I will try my best to understand and come to terms with it.”

“Oh, Lady B., I fear you have made one terribly big mistake, for please don't be offended when I say out loud that the man is a real slimy toad—and I know this firsthand!”

“Hmm. I had hoped that might be your reaction, for in all fairness, if the man keeps on going down this most destructive path, well, he might as well get an early preview of where he is almost certain to end,” she stated very tongue in cheek.

“Are you saying that he may well find himself incarcerated behind the walls of a mental institution?”

“Yes, Polly, I do, but time alone will tell. It is all up to him, for fame and fortune most certainly come with a heavy price tag.”

“So is Dr. Ninkumpoop happy to be getting Freddie?”

“Oh, absolutely! Dear Dr. Ninkumpoop really brightened up, well, momentarily anyway, and he became most ecstatic at the news, especially when I told him that I had already settled things in terms of financial reimbursement, for, as you are probably aware, these stars do not come cheap.”

“Oh, Lady B.,” Polly giggled.

“Yes, and he is not a totally stupid man, for he knows that such a big name like that will most certainly pull bigger crowds than some rustic old dame—minus her nylon stockings,” she said, giving Polly a most mischievous wink.

“Oh, Lady B., you really are becoming a bit of a scallywag.”

“Well, I don't know about that, but if I could predict anything of tomorrow's events, then certainly, I believe, by the time the official ceremony is well under way, many a tongue will indeed be wagging. Anyway, enough said. Let us concentrate all our efforts on getting dear Lucinda back to normal, as she really needs a lot of tender, loving care.”

“Oh, Lucy, this is the best treat that has happened to either of us in a very long time. I promise you we will have such fun and friendship,” she cried as she squeezed Lucy's pale hand tightly. “So let's get you up and dressed and ready to go,” Polly excitedly cried.