Lucky's Again
Broneese stared at the vast selection of mints. It was his own pharmacy, yet he felt overwhelmed. To sugar or not? Better not. Flavors? Better stay conservative, I don't really know Diane that well. He selected two canisters of SucraFreeje’s, and was drawing himself up from the stoop necessary to reach the bottom shelf when something hit him from behind.
It was the impact of a body hurtling down the aisle in a great hurry. By the time he looked around, it was already heading to the pharmacy window. Female. Not old. Apparently desperate.
She doesn't know that she just knocked over her pharmacy tech, he thought wryly. Well, she also doesn't know that I'll get to see what she's about. Forgetting to pay, he pocketed the mints and walked back towards the pharmacy staff entrance.
When he got in, Diane was already talking with the new customer. “Yes, we got the refill request. It's a little bit early.”
“Isn't there anything we can do? I really need it now.” Her complexion was that of a pale female bronzed by the sun, giving her a seasoned appearance at odds with her evident youth, as though a prodigious cabin-girl who had meteorically worked her way up to become master of a clipper-ship. However, her overall youthful appearance was compromised by fine wrinkles in the standard corners of eyes and mouth, consistent with the classic sun-damage of the sailor. Despite the bronzing, there was the further complication of a ruddy overcast, which even without her behavioral agitation communicated that at the moment, the appearance of a calm captain was only that. Broneese tried to be discreet, but the scene at the drop-off-prescription window was as interesting as he had seen in some time.
Diane's Mickey Mouse mouth mask was not false advertising. She remained cheery and helpful. “I know doctor Adonis won’t object if I give you just enough to last until you're next eligible. You're a lucky girl, you’ve got a good doctor who I happen to know.”
“Yes- and he would never call me girl.” The customer’s mutter was audible.
“Oops, sorry! I'm kind of old fashioned. A lot of guests like it.”
“It's OK- I appreciate what you're doing.” The ruddiness had left most of her face, with the exception of a patch right on the tip of her nose.
“OK! So, let's see- to last until Friday, that will be three pills.”
“Three? How...”
“One per day times 3 days- I'm stretching it as it is.”
“OK,” the pale customer sighed. “I'm just under a lot of stress lately.”
“I know Dr. Adonis is a good person to talk to. That will help,” Diane finished in her positive yet authoritative way. As she reached to close the drop-off window, a stray ray of light glinted off the red of the Mickey Mouse mouth on her mask.
Broneese counted out three 1 mg Claritize capsules and deposited them in his smallest vial. The printer whirred and he read the label as he applied it with practiced élan. “Rachel Rasmussen-a dark pale name,” he thought. Eager to interact with her, he was at the pick-up window first.
She leaned forward with eager tension. “Do you need to consult with the pharmacist again with any questions or concerns about this medication?” he said smoothly.
“Only to find out how I can get more,” she replied with a tired smirk.
“I guess we'll see you in a few days,” Broneese said, keeping his voice neutral with a slight effort.
“Thanks.” She grabbed the bag that contained multiple papers and a plastic vial containing 3 pills, and walked briskly away.
When he was sure she was out of earshot and after checking that no other customers were around, Broneese turned to Diane. “Tough customer, huh?” he empathized. “Literally,” he added with a chuckle. “Here’s a reward for sailing through dealing with guests like that.” He proffered a box of SucraFreeje’s.
“She's a pussycat,” Diane replied. “Thanks for the mints,” she added, popping open the tin with one hand and deftly lifting the mask off her cheek with thumb and middle finger and popping the pellet in with her index finger.
“I know, you're great at handling that type. I'm too cynical and wind up confronting them, which is the last thing you want to do.”
“Cynical? What does that mean?” The auditory effect of her mask-covered smile was only detectable by its subtle effect on her voice, but Broneese knew her well enough to detect it.
“I envy your attitude.” They both turned back to their clerical tasks. A moment later, Diane looked up. “How much do I owe you?”
There was a pause. “Oops!...nothing. I forgot to pay.”
A clicking sound came from beneath Diane's mask. “You're incorrigible!” she turned to the register, extracted the box from her white coat pocket and swept it over the price scanner, simultaneously inserting a card into the slot. “Thanks, the next two are on me,” Broneese said with some embarrassment, following her lead by ringing up the box in his pocket.
Nothing happened but peaceful routine for some time. There were no customers at the window and the phone did not ring. They both puttered away at tasks that were not overly meaningful, and thus not overly stressful. Then, just when it seemed they were no longer characters in a novel, Diane spoke.
“I heard the water shortage is getting worse.”
“Well, still no rain...”
“It's not just that- the reservoir level is falling.”
“Well, with no rain...”
“But faster than they expected- much faster.”
“Weird- really bad news for all our renavirus patients.” Broneese looked up and their eyes met in silent understanding. “It seems they should know how fast the water level will fall if there’s no rain,” he resumed.
“That's what I thought. I was reading that this councilwoman is calling for an investigation.”