Dr Bellen Explains His Surgery. Again.

Dr Bellen was enjoying a cup of tea in his office. The day was cold outside, and snow covered the Cosy Apartment Feline Sanitarium, its buildings and grounds. But all was warmth and comfort within. The doctor’s office did not resemble many doctor’s office’s, with its sterile walls and metal filing cabinets, but was more like a study. He found it conducive to both work and relaxation, and particularly appreciated it on such days, when a fire glowed in the grate. He found it quiet and healing. That was about to change.

A knock on the door signified visitors.

“Come in.”

The door opened to reveal a quintet of cats. Four were residents at the sanitarium – Neville, Hector and two who were new to the institution, Horace and Zofia – while the fifth was Dr Bellen’s able assistant, Renn. The latter seemed less to be guiding the others as joining them.

“Are we disturbing you, Doctor?” Renn asked with concerned.

“Well, as a matter of fact---“

“We’ve come on a matter of grave concern,” mumbled Neville. The felines gathered in front of the human’s chair.

“I was afraid of that,” said Dr Bellen, in an equivalent mumble. Louder, he said, “How can I be of help?”

“It’s about your operation, Doctor,” Horace stated. Though he was new, he was not shy about speaking. He was not forward, either, but simply forthright. He assumed that good manners would be appreciated in any case.

“Yes, yer operayshun,” confirmed Hector.

“Crik squeek week er er,” Zofia chimed.

“She sez, ‘Yes, yer operayshun,’ ” Hector translated.

“Well, it went very well. What needed doing was done, quite quickly. I’ve been prescribed two weeks rest, away from work and disturbance. Away from disturbance…”

“I’d heard that you’d had another operation earlier in the year, Doctor,” said Horace politely.

“That’s true. That was on the other side, the left side. This one was on the right side.”

“Theoretically, then, you could still have one on your backside,” hypothesized Neville, grumblingly.

“Well, yes, I suppose, in theory, but considering the cause, that’s very unlikely,” responded the doctor.

Little Zofia looked worried.

“Crik wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk er wee pik pik queek er er week crik whee mip creek week mikk mikk erk.”

“She sed, ‘Oh?’ ” Hector interpreted.

“Uh, yes,” Dr Bellen continued, hesitantly. “The cause of both surgeries is not something that should be repeated, so I don’t think there is a reason to expect a third such operation.”

“That’s good, Doctor, because they are very dangerous,” Renn claimed, nodding.

“Well, no, they are routine these days,” began the human. “There’s a highly skilled anaesthesiologist, the surgeon, several nurses, all are very well trained.”

“What if there are complications?” suggested Horace.

“What if something unexpected is found?” Renn sounded anxious.

“What about malpractice…?”  stated Neville, dryly.

“Whee tik squik wik week er er…” added Zofia

“She sed, ‘Wot happinz if, wen yoo are under th’ nife an’ there’s a ayleein invayzhun, an’ they exploed a elektro-magnetik pulse wepin in th’ atmisfear an’ nock out th’ power all over th’ gloab jist as th’ sirjin is abowt t’mayke a insizhin, an’ he aksidently cuts off yer hed?’ ”

Dr Bellen looked at Hector, then at Zofia, then back at Hector. All the cats seemed to want an answer to this alarming question.

“As viable a possibility as that is, Zofia,” the doctor said, his eyes on Hector, “the fact is that my operation passed without a hitch. Everyone involved was professional and competent, the organisation smooth and practiced. No one needs to worry.” He smiled at the feline faces watching him. “All I need now is rest.”

There was a pause, as though the cats were trying to determine what the last sentence signified. Eventually, Renn said:

“If you need anything, Doctor, let us know. We’ll be all around you in an instant.”

“Thank you, Renn. That’s…comforting…”

The human’s able assistant nodded happily and shepherded his fellow felines toward the door. Before it was reached, though, Zofia piped up.

“Ik peek er.”

“She sez, “Doo yu want wun ov us t’stay with yu in case th’ aleeins attak?’ ” Hector waited expectantly.

“No, no, thank you. I think I’ll be safe, for the time being. Thank you…”

“Cawl us if yu want protekshun…”

When the door was closed, Dr Bellen sat back and reached for his cup of tea. It was cooler now, but still delicious. Outside the short early winter day was already ending. The human glanced at the darkening sky outside, and smiled. Between the staff at the infirmary and the feline residents of the sanitarium, he would be safe tonight.