Summer Magic (7 page)

"Hi.
 
I'm Raphael.
 
I help out where ever I'm needed." The boy, who was unloading the contents from a large cardboard box, looked up and offered a shy smile.
 
Slender, with shiny dark hair that touched his collar, he appeared to be about fifteen.
 
"Doc Woodstock is back at the arena," he continued.
 
"He got called away to see what's wrong with Sudan."

"Sudan?"

"Yeah.
 
One of the giraffes."
 
He pierced through the thick packaging tape with his pocket knife and explained. "When it's raining hard like this, we try to find inside space for the animals.
 
Go to the south door of the arena. That'll take you right to them."

"Oh...all right.
 
Thanks, Raphael."

She hurried back, following the boy's directions.
 
The rain pattered.
 
Side-stepping a puddle, she tugged at the hood of her windbreaker as a single rain drop slid down her cheek.
 
She could feel her head throb with anxious anticipation.
 
What would the day bring?

At last she found Dr. Woodstock, examining the giraffe under the uppermost section of bleachers.

"Good morning, Dr. Woodstock."

He cast her a quick glance and grunted.
 
"Mornin'.
 
About time you got here."

She squared her shoulders, willing herself to remain calm.
 
Couldn't he at least say something like, "Nice to see you again," or even "Welcome aboard?""I reported to the veterinarian headquarters at eight," she told him.
 
"Just as we'd planned."

"Fine.
 
I told Raphael to keep an eye out for you.
 
But you'll soon discover, Miss Prentice, nothing around here goes according to plan."

"Yes, sir."

She trained her attention onto Sudan.
 
The giraffe, who stared down at her with dark round eyes, was wedged into a large metal framework.

The veterinarian probed the animal's knee joint, manipulating it gently.
 
"The swelling's getting worse," he muttered.
 
"I think we'd better get a picture as soon as possible."

Fascinated, momentarily forgetting her previous uneasiness, she kept her gaze fixed on the giraffe and the strange-looking cage.
 
She'd never seen anything like it before.

"What is that?" she asked, pointing.

"It's called a squeeze cage.
 
The sides are built on runners so they can be brought together to hold a critter in place while I work on 'im."

Nodding, she reached out impulsively to stroke the giraffe's side.
 
Sudan gave a start.

"Miss Prentice!
 
You never,
ever
startle a sick animal!" he bellowed.
 
"You, of all people, should know better than that!"

"Sorry!"
 
Her stomach flip-flopped.
 
She felt her muscles grow tense.
 
My first day on the job, and already I'm getting off to a bad start.

The giraffe bobbed his head and turned to look at her again.
 
He was so beautiful.
 
Lisa hadn't meant to frighten him.
 
She only wanted to touch him.
 
But Dr. Woodstock was right.
 
She might be inexperienced when it came to the circus, but she understood enough about most animals to have known better.

"Go to the clinic and get the portable x-ray," he said.
 
His voice softened some.
 
"You should find it on the bottom shelf at the far end of the trailer.
 
And don't waste any time."

She nodded, hoping his x-ray unit appeared similar to Doc Largent's and she would recognize it right away.
 
"I'll hurry," she promised him.

On her way, Lisa caught a glimpse of Michael, Claudette and Estelle striding towards the main auditorium for an early morning practice.
 
The sounds of their talking and laughter drifted her way.
 
For a moment, she longed to be with Michael, too, instead of trying to please an already disagreeable Dr. Woodstock.

Had Michael noticed her? she wondered.
 
If so, he'd given no indication.
 
And what about Claudette?
 
Had she told the others about her "special delivery?"
 
Hopefully that's not what they had been laughing about.

Pausing briefly, she watched them disappear through the large double doors into the back of the auditorium.
 
She exhaled a wistful sigh.

When she returned with the x-ray equipment a few minutes later, Dr. Woodstock's eyebrows were raised.
 
"Well, you didn't waste a minute finding it, now did you?"
 
His voice held a hint of surprise.

"No, sir."
 
Actually, Raphael had still been there and helped her.

She handed over first the rectangular cassette that held the film, then the x-ray unit that snapped the pictures.
 
The x-ray had a cone on the top and two handles to help carry it. Without a word, he passed her the electrical cord.
 
She struggled to plug it into the end of the extension cord snaked across the arena floor, but couldn't get it to fit.
 
She kept trying, fighting back her escalating frustration.
 
Still no luck.

"Easy," he cautioned.
 
"Do you want to break the connection?"

"I don't understand it.
 
Something must be bent," she stammered.
 
She pushed the plug again.
 
This time--what a relief--it worked!

"One of the show horses has a sinus infection," he continued evenly. "When we're done with Sudan, we must go take a look at her.
 
Hoshi, a stable boy, told me she's not responding to the antibiotics I've given her."
 
He positioned the cassette behind the giraffe's leg and prepared to take the first picture.

"Doc Largent always says when nothing else works, a good shot of whiskey will do the trick," she put in.
 
She wasn't sure how receptive he'd be to Doc's old-time remedies, but figured anyway it was worth a try.

Dr. Woodstock's gaze hardened.
 
"Thank you, Miss Prentice.
 
But if you don't mind, I'll abide by more conventional modes of treatment."

Lisa broke out into a cold sweat.
 
She wanted to crawl off and disappear somewhere.
 
Anywhere.
 
Even a squeeze cage would do.

"I hope you plan to watch me carefully and listen to everything I tell you."
 
The veterinarian's voice pulled her back. "I don't like to waste time repeating myself." He stood back to snap the second picture, this time a side view.

"Yes, of course," she answered, tipping her chin.
 
"And as for the horses, I'm already quite comfortable around them, you may remember.
 
I'm so glad to hear how well Ebony's been doing this past year."
 
Surely he hadn't already forgotten about that day back in Madison Square Garden, she thought.
 
But in case he had, it wouldn't hurt to jog his memory a little.

He grunted again as he moved back from the giraffe. "There's more work here than three of us can handle. Obviously, I can't turn you loose working with the larger animals yet.
 
Even the grown monkeys can be much more cantankerous than most folks realize."

She nodded agreeably and forced herself to put on a broad smile.

The rest of the day went much the same as Lisa accompanied Dr. Woodstock from one end of the sprawling circus grounds to the other.
 
They administered pills and injections.
 
They hot-packed draining wounds. They splinted and set at least a half dozen fractures.
 
They took more portable x-rays.
 
The work seemed to go on and on.

But all the time, no matter how hard she tried, Lisa couldn't seem to please him.

Late that evening, after the last show had ended, Lisa lingered wearily in the back lot, watching the work crews fly into action.
 
Tomorrow at the crack of dawn, Jessell and Stern would be moving to the next town.
 
Today had been one of the rare times, she'd learned, when they stayed in the same place for two days, not just one.

As she continued to look on, new fascination eclipsed her fatigue.
 
The flurry of activity was intoxicating! Elephants trumpeted.
 
Men shouted.
 
Already the menagerie tent had been taken down and carted away.
 
Floats, riggings and props were packed and loaded in precise order.
 
The smells of animals mingled with the lingering scent of hot dogs and popcorn.

"Lisa!"

She jerked around.
 
In the purple dusk, she saw
 
Michael sauntering towards her.
 
He was wearing a light-colored shirt that was open at the neck, a shiny dark vest and snug-fitting jeans.
 
Her heart leaped at the sight of him.

"I'm sorry I missed the show tonight," she said.

"I figured you were busy."

“Yes, Dr. Woodstock and I worked late.
 
Oh, Michael, I can't begin to tell you about all those poor, sick animals..."

“I know.
 
Last spring we traveled through some unusually damp weather.”
 
He paused, his eyes roving over her.
 
"So what are you doing?
 
I mean, right now?"

"Just standing here, taking it all in.
 
I've never seen anything like this.
 
It's incredible."

He followed her gaze.
 
"Yep.
 
Man and beast working together, never missing a beat," he said philosophically. "It
is
pretty, amazing, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"So how did you and Doc Woodstock get along today?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
 
He studied her intently as he waited for her answer.

"Good, I guess."
 
She shrugged, then laughed nervously. "Actually, not really so good..."

"Hmm."
 
For a long moment, he held her gaze.
 
"Well, don't let it get you down."

"I won't," she lied.
 
"I've got big shoulders."

"Estelle and Claudette are back at the motor home," he continued.
 
"Mom's fixing beef Stroganoff, poppy seed noodles, and green salad.
 
She asked me to tell you you're welcome to come too.
 
Hungry?"

"Ah...well."
 
She stalled, debating how to answer.
 
"I hate to intrude.
 
Besides, it's awfully late."
 
Apparently Claudette hadn't told him about what she'd done.
 
If she had, Lisa doubted he'd be talking as if they were one big happy family.

So now what?
 
Her thoughts raced on.
 
Should she tell him herself?
 
No, better not.
 
It might make her sound like a whiner, and that certainly wasn't her style.
 
She'd find her own way of handling this.

"Don't worry about the time," he insisted.
 
"This is the normal dinner hour for most circus performers."
 
He inclined his head, then broke into a lazy smile.
 
"Actually..." His smile broadened, showing a flash of even white teeth. "Actually, I think I have a better idea."

"Oh?"

"Let's go somewhere and grab a pizza instead.
 
Frankly, I'm not much in the mood for beef Stroganoff"

"Well...all right.
 
But be sure to tell your mother thanks for me.
 
Better yet, I'll tell her myself.
 
First chance I get tomorrow."

She met his heart-stopping gaze, privately taken back at how quickly she'd agreed to go with him.
 
Still, what would it hurt, this one time?
 
She'd been running herself ragged ever since she'd arrived.
 
She deserved an hour or so to relax.
 
Besides, time like this alone with Michael would undoubtedly be a rarity.