Chapter 8
Floyd was vaguely aware of being taken through what he thought must be the hospital. He was completely past caring about anything at the moment, except the pain he was in. Eventually the wheelchair he was in stopped by a bed which he was asked to get up on. Somehow, he did not know how, he managed to climb onto it, with about as much grace as an elephant that had fallen down and was trying to get up. He then felt himself panting with the exertion that little effort took as he curled onto his left side. While laying there in a daze of misery a nurse approached him, stuck a thermometer in his mouth and pulled one of his arms towards her while she attached a blood pressure cuff to it. He felt the cuff tightening, then relaxing and then the nurse taking it off and removing the thermometer. He then noticed Janice change places with the nurse and her nodding at something the nurse said to her. Janice picked up one of his hands in both of hers and gently kissed his fingers.
“Nurse said the doctor won’t be long honey.” She murmured. “Like, how are you rully feeling?”
“Like I’ve gone 20 rounds with the Pork Princess! And lost!” Floyd ground out. Janice was about to reply when they were approached by a young woman in a white doctor’s coat.
“Hello there, I’m Doctor Jameson. I’m here to examine Mr Pepper.” She introduced herself. “Mr Pepper, are you able to roll yourself onto your back please?” she then asked.
“I think so.” Floyd muttered and pushed himself over grunting the whole time. The doctor then started moving his pajama jacket out of the way. “Just a couple of questions first. When did this pain start?” she asked Floyd.
“This afternoon.”
“Have you been nauseous, vomiting?”
“Yeah, both.”
The doctor nodded. “Alright. I need you to tell me exactly where the pain is when I press on your abdomen.” Janice watched the doctor move carefully from Floyd’s left side, pressing down but not getting any response. When she pressed down on his right side Floyd jumped.
“YEEOWW!!!” he cried out in pain. “What are you trying to do to me you stupid b-“
“FLOYD!” Janice shouted. Floyd looked over at Janice, slightly stunned. “Like don’t you DARE speak to the doctor like that! She’s only trying to help you!” she snapped. Janice turned to the doctor “Like, I’m so sorry. Rully.”
“Sorry Doc.” whispered Floyd. Doctor Jameson smiled and shook her head. “No problem. I’ve been called it all and much worse. Mr Pepper I will order all the appropriate pathology tests but it is all pointing to appendicitis. What we will do is have you admitted and contact the surgical registrar to have you placed on this morning’s theatre list.” The doctor then turned to the nurse who was nearby and rattled off a number of orders.
Floyd shook his head. “An operation. What a drag.” He muttered. Janice said nothing but kissed his fingers again. The nurse who was assisting the doctor came up to her.
“Would you mind just waiting outside with your friend for a few minutes while we get Mr Pepper ready? I’ll come fetch you when we move him to his room.” She said.
“Then can I like wait with him until he goes?” Janice asked anxiously.
“Of course.”
“Okay hon, I’ll go find the rest of the band and tell them what’s happening. I won’t be long!” Janice forced herself to smile at Floyd and kissed his forehead. “See ya Mama!” he whispered.
Zoot had complete the forms he had been given and handed them back to the administration working sitting at the reception desk. The person looked over the form and nodded that it was fine. Zoot then heard the familiar shout of an over-excited Animal and Doctor Teeth trying to calm him down. They entered the emergency room and Zoot walked over to meet them.
“Whoa, steady. Easy there Animal.” Said Doctor Teeth. “We’ll be seeing Floyd soon.” Turning to Zoot he continued “Sorry to keep you waiting so long man. I decided to do about 10 laps of the parking lot to try to wear Animal out before I brought him in. Don’t know if it worked.” Zoot nodded, wondering the same thing.
“Any sign of Janice yet?” Doctor Teeth asked, knowing that she would be the one to stay with Floyd.
Zoot started to answer “Not yet,” then noticed the door Floyd and Janice went through open and saw Janice come out. Doctor Teeth, Animal and Zoot went over to join her.
“Janice? What’s happening? Did the doctors see him?” Doctor Teeth asked.
Janice nodded. “Like yeah.” She said quietly. “They say they’re gonna like take his appendix out later this morning.“
Doctor Teeth and Zoot just looked at each other. While not surprised, it was still a lot to take in. “Well, at least we know properly now.” Doctor Teeth said. “And of course it’s something they can fix!”
“That’s right.” Zoot responded quietly. “So Janice, do you know what’s happening right now? He asked.
“They’re like gonna take him up to a room….”Janice started explaining when she was interrupted by Dr Jameson.
“Excuse me, but are you all here for Mr Pepper?” She asked.
“That’s right.” Doctor Teeth replied. “Janice was just filling us in on what’s goin’ down.”
“Well, I’m afraid there has been a change of plan. We’re not taking Mr Pepper to a room first. He is going straight up to surgery now.” The doctor said.
“Why?” asked Zoot.
“We’ve been monitoring his vital signs. His pulse, blood pressure you know,” explained the doctor “and we have noticed his pulse has started to race. This is a fairly strong indicator that his appendix is about to burst or has already done so. We have contacted the surgeons and they want us to take him right up. If it has ruptured and we don’t act quickly it can become life threatening.”
The Electric Mayhem just looked at each other unable to speak. They were expecting to be told Floyd needed surgery but to be told that he was being rushed up now, just to save his life was a shock no one was prepared for.
“Umm….. when will we know if they’re in time?” asked Doctor Teeth.
“Once the surgeons take him in, if the appendix has not ruptured, the surgery will take less than an hour. If it has, depending on how much damage there is to surrounding tissues, it could take anything up to 4 hours.”
“Can we see him before he goes?” asked Zoot.
“We’re about to take him up, but you are welcome to walk up with us and wait outside theatre. Come this way please.” the doctor led them through as the door opened and Floyd was wheeled out. He’d been changed into a surgical gown and a cap covered his hair and seemed to be unconscious. Doctor Teeth looked over his shoulder and noticed Janice had not moved. Handing Animal’s chain over to Zoot, he turned back and grabbed her hand.
“C’mon baby. We’re going upstairs now.” He said gently pulling her to follow. The group entered the elevator first and then the orderly guided Floyd’s bed in. As the doors to the elevator closed and started moving, Floyd stirred and tried to focus on where he was.
“What’s happening?” he whispered. “Where’re we goin’?”
“Taking you to theatre mate,” replied the orderly as the doors opened. “You’ll be sound asleep in no time. Just relax mate.”
Floyd was unable to process what was going on. ‘If he was going to the theatre, why would he be sleeping?’ his clouded mind thought. He lifted his head to take in his surroundings and then spotted the rest of the Electric Mayhem.
“Hey guys, where am I? What’s happening” he asked.
Doctor Teeth smiled at him. He knew Floyd would never understand what he was saying at the moment. “The doctors are gonna to take you appendix out and we’re gonna wait out here for you!” he said as the theatre doors opened and Floyd was wheeled in.
“Bye bye!” Animal called in a subdued tone. Janice blew him a kiss and said nothing.
“See ya soon man!” Zoot called, then the theatre door closed. “This isn’t happening. I’m having a nightmare – I know it!” Zoot muttered to himself. Doctor Teeth walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“If it is, I’m having the exact same one!” he said kindly. Doctor Teeth took in their surroundings. “Well, let’s all have a seat over there,” he said nodding in the direction of a couch, and the group walked over and sat down. ”Nothing to do now but wait.” He finished with a sigh.
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was confused falling asleep on the way to the theater. Thanks for posting, please continue when possible. 
