THE RECRUIT
By; Gerald A. Polley
Chapter 8
In the morning as he was getting dressed, he realized he didn't have a
dress uniform, only duty clothes. He mentioned this to his
wife. "Oh, dear!" she moaned, "That's right! You don't get
dress uniforms until the day before graduation. Don't worry, I
know several people your size. I'm sure we can get some
loaners. I'll get Roseanne on it! She's kind of upset about
training. She really doesn't know if she wants it. Any way
you can get her out of it?"
Imal thought a moment
then answered, "No. I agree with Tabitha. She should know how to
defend herself, and, others. I think she should go through the
basic training."
He called the hospital about a
psychiatrist. He was given to his favorite doctor. "Oh, Lords!" she
moaned, "We're terribly short handed. It might be months before
we could get her to somebody! Wait a minute! I heard
there's a new civilian in town just arrived. Hasn't really got a
practice going yet. I'll see if I can give her a call. I don't
know if she's had much experience with children, but I'm sure she'd be
able to help. Probably won't even charge."
"Well, she most certainly will be paid!" Imal insisted. "Thank you!"
He went about his duties, went to class, had his first therapy,
returned home to find a very attractive woman in their livingroom with
Tabitha and Raphael. They were laughing joyously.
"I don't think," the woman managed, "you have to worry at all,
sir. You're doing very well. I wish real parents cared as
much about their children, not that those in this house don't.
But I really think it's a good idea that this young lady start going to
the day care. She has to get out amongst other children."
Tabitha looked up. "Father!" she cried, "Come say hello to Mrs.
Johnson! She's wonderful! She knows all about me without me
even telling her anything! I think she might be one of The Lords."
Everybody roared with laughter. Imal came over. "Very glad
to meet you!" he remarked. "I take it you're the psychiatrist."
"Yes," the woman answered. "And a great deal of my old practice
was children. I'm very glad to be of service. This is going
to be a very interesting assignment."
Imal looked
at the beautiful yellow dress the woman was wearing. He knew full well
what it meant. No woman in The Republic wore yellow unless they
were a person under punishment allowed to work freely among the public.
"I'd better explain," the woman
remarked. "I'm afraid the group I was with in The States didn't
think they were making enough money, so they created false patients and
submitted claims to MediCare, taking in hundreds of thousands of
dollars. As with everybody like that they thought they would never get
caught, but they did! I was given a choice, surrender all my
property to be rented to pay back what I'd stolen, and accept an
assignment here, as a prisoner for ten years, or go to a prison.
They made it known that my services were needed here and I would be
appreciated. That it would be a shame for me to sit in a prison and let
my talents go to waste. You know, they were absolutely
right! I have already made several friends and am working on some
very important cases, people that really need help. Sometimes
when you're stupid it's best to get smart."
Imal
smiled. "I know precisely what you're saying!" he agreed.
"Yes. I think it's time. My wife is getting awful busy here
in the house, and both Raphael and her aide are going to officially
begin training. What about it, young lady? Would you like
to spend some time with other children?"
"I'm scared to death," Tabitha admitted, "but yes, I would!"
"Good!" Imal smiled. "Well, excuse me," he complained, "but I gotta go put on fancy clothes."
"You'd better take a shower first," Tabitha put in. Everybody laughed again.
"Good idea!" Imal praised, and headed off. In a little while him
and his wife headed out to a vehicle that had been provided for them
for the night. "I still think we could've used the bus!" Imal
complained.
"They want us to appear important," his wife answered, adjusting his collar.