Just My Duck

Chapter 6 An Unfortunate Encounter

I lay at the bed staring up at the canopy. My leg hurts. I somehow managed to toss TicToc from the bed last night and I don't feel like retrieving him, but I still want to cuddle him. There's a knock on the door.

"Ms. Masters, it's your nurse, Luanne. May I come in?" She asks.

"Yes, you may."I straighten up a little. A tall old woman with pointed ears comes in. I'm guessing she's an elf but do elves get old?" Hi."

"Hi." She gives me a smile. "I'm going to be fetching your breakfast then looking you over. Is there anything you need help with? Say a trip to the bathroom?"

"I can manage. Thank you. But could you help me with the giant crocodile?" I point over the side of the bed.

"Oh, goodness." Luanne looks surprised as she sees it. "Oh it's a doll." She walks over and manages to give me half of it and toss the other half over as I wrestle it back to it's rightful side of the bed. "How does your leg feel?"

"It hurts and it's awkward and I know it's too soon to itch but I feel it itching." I complain.

"It's a removable cast. We'll be able to wash and scrub the leg to prevent some itching but some will simply be because it's healing." She informs me. "If there's nothing else, I'll be in the kitchen."

"Thank you." I scoot over to the edge of the bed. My crutches are right there leaning against the nightstand.

The bathroom is huge with plenty of room to manuever in and the bath looks like a hot tub with seats in it and everything. Maybe I can take a bath after breakfast. I don't think I got to take one yesterday after my little dip in the river.

Breakfast is muffins, those little homemade ones not the giant bakery cupcake muffins. There's real sausage not turkey crap and scrambled eggs. Alot of scrambled eggs.

"I've been told you need extra protein for the next few days." She gives a curt smile like she both knows and disapproves of why.

"In my defense, he was really, really hot."

"They usually are." She places the breakfast tray over my lap. "I hope he paid you. No? Don't let them sweet talk you into giving it to them for free. They have places they can go to get fed if they lack donors for some reason. They just don't want to have to pay for their meals when they can get away with it."

"I can understand that." I take a sausage link.

"Excuse me." Luanne nods and walks out as a phone rings. "Maller residence. Who may I ask in calling?.... Oh, yes. Yes I have actually. I have no idea what you'd think I'd find so tempting as to relay but I assure you I keep to my word. Would.... Understood. Would you like to speak to Ms. Masters, Mr. Maller?.... Very well then, We will see you shortly."

"Is everything alright?" I call out to her.

"I don't know." she sounds a bit bewildered. "I'll go draw your bath. Give it a chance to cool." Luanne heads to the bathroom.

I'm almost done with breakfast when I hear the front door open. Doug is laughing.

"What happened?" I ask as he brings a wriggle bundle of clothing into the room.

"Voila." he yanks it out, sending a white duck tumbling out onto the bed.

"You got a duck? Don't do that to a duck!" I lean forwards and stroke it's head. I just shaes me off as it tries to get in a more dignified position. "Hello, duckie!" I break off a piece of toast. "Are you hungry?" I hold it out.

"Probably but don't feed ducks bread. They need watercress or something." Doug takes it away and eats it himself. The duck gives him a deserved nip on the leg before taking refuge between my arm and tic toc.