Next August Read Online Free Page A

General. I walk into a packed waiting room. People are hacking and sniffling all over the place. I walk up to the lady manning the check-in desk. She ignores me.
    “Excuse me,” I say, “I’m here to see Nashville.”
    “Nash is busy. You’ll have to wait your turn.”
    “She told me to come and see her. I cut my hand.” I hold my hand up for her to see.
    She doesn’t even look up from her computer.” Look, mister, unless you’re having chest pains, you’ll have to wait your turn.”
    The double doors open and Nashville walks into the waiting room with a patient, an older man. I stand and watch her.
    “Excuse me, sir,” says the clerk, “but you need to fill out this paperwork.”
    Now she decides to pay attention to me. I take them from her and hear, “August?”
    I turn around. Nashville stands a few feet away from me. I hold up my hand.” I decided to take your advice, but it looks like I may need to come back tomorrow.”
    She leans close to me. So close I can smell her. She smells of mango.” Follow me.” She whispers. She grabs the clipboard of paperwork and places it back on the desk.
    “He has to fill out the paperwork, Nash, and he can’t just go in front of all these people who have been waiting.” The pleasant desk lady looks like she’s about to grab my arm and toss me back into the waiting room.
    Nashville grabs the clipboard back off the desk, flashes a smile at her grim colleague, and drags me through the double doors.
     
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    “I’m glad you decided to come in,” she says. “I was worried that you wouldn’t. Can you fill out the paperwork while I get someone to help us?” She drags me into another room. It looks cold and sterile.
    “I’m left-handed.” I hold up my injured hand.
    “Oh, sorry. Here, let me have it.” She starts writing.” August. . . What is your last name?” She stops and looks at me with those big powder blue eyes.
    “Rylan.”
    She writes again.” Address and phone number?”
    I give them to her.
    “Insurance?”
    “Cash.”
    “Are you sure? The scan will be expensive. I can see if you will qualify for any help?”
    “Do I look like I need help?” I ask.
    “I’m sorry. I guess not,” she says in that southern drawl.
    I think I have hurt her feelings. I just restate “cash.”
    She looks down only at the paper now.” Any medical history?”
    This is none of her fucking business. I’m getting defensive. “No.”
    “What happened to your eye?” Now her blues have found mine.
    I look down and pick something imaginary off my pants.” Birth defect.” It’s a lie, but a plausible one.
    “Okay, Mr. Rylan, I think I have enough to get started. Let me go get some orders, and I’ll have someone take you to the CT Scan.”
    I guess I have pissed her off. Now I am Mr. Rylan, but suddenly I’m in a panic.” No.”
    She stops in her tracks.” No what?”
    “If you can’t take me, I’m out of here.” I get up to leave.
    She squints at me, and then stands close to me with her hands on her hips.” Do you just like being in control, or are you scared?”
    “I’m not afraid of anything.” That is the second time I have lied to her.
    “Well, if you were scared, I would just go with you, but since it is a control issue, you’re on your own.” She walks out.
    Shit. That backfired. This blue eyed southern spitfire has single handedly taken my control away. I start to hyperventilate. I’m a grown damn man. I can handle this. Both my hands are pulling at my hair when she walks back in with a transporter and a wheelchair. She looks at me wide-eyed.
    “Um…. It’s okay,” she says to the transporter. “I’ll take him. I’m sure you have other patients you can transport.”
    Relief washes over me and I relax.
    “Sit down, August.” Her voice is much softer, and she points to the wheelchair.
    I don’t say anything, but I sit. We enter the elevator and she pushes the floor number. “So, it wasn’t a control issue. You were actually