Spencer Brown

The door suddenly flew open and a new doctor came in holding his chart.  The doctor was very tall and walked in large heavy steps.  He came across the room with his hand extended far in front of him.  “Hello Mr. Brown, I’m Dr. May”, he said very professionally in a rather deep voice. “I see we have a few things to talk about.”

Spencer stood up as they shook hands but took his seat again and listened as the doctor spoke.  An hour later, when everything was said and done, the doctor decided that it was best for Spencer to contact his son and daughter.  He felt that they needed to know what was happening to their father’s health.  Spencer nodded in silence as he agreed with the doctor’s concerns.

As Spencer drove himself home, he couldn’t help but think about Claire.  He was hoping that he would be around long enough to complete his plan.  He knew that she would be perfect for what he had in mind.  He knew from the first day they met, that she was the one.  He now knew that he needed to tell her.

Spencer picked up his cell phone, which lay beside him on the passenger seat, and called Claire’s number.  He let it ring three times and then sadly listened as it went to voice mail. 

Claire lay in her bed and faintly heard a ringing sound. She had the blankets up and over her shoulders and was buried deep within its confines.  She didn’t know what the ringing was and couldn’t be bothered to get up and check.  She knew it would stop soon, so she waited and it did.

Spencer heard her voice, then the beep, and he started speaking.  “Hi Claire, I hope you are well”, he said disappointed that he didn’t get to speak with her directly.  “I’m sorry that I didn’t get to see you on Saturday evening but I’m sure you had a good time.”  Spencer paused as his eyes started welling up with tears.  He knew he had better speak fast or the recording would end.  “I need to ask you something”, he said.  “Could we meet?”

Spencer clicked the red button to end the call.  He drove himself home and waited by the phone in case Claire called him back.

Claire sighed happily when the ringing stopped.  She then rolled over and slept for another few hours.  She felt much better when she got up later that day, more like herself.  She was even able to eat again, which made her very happy indeed.

Spencer waited two hours for Claire to call him back.  When he didn’t hear from her, he decided to call his children and they agreed to come to his place for supper that night.  He told them that they needed to talk.