The Enigma Always

“What do you mean, bring her in for another specialist review? We were just there last week for her monthly checkup! Don’t you people know who is coming and when around that facility? …

“Don’t be using your uppity attitude on this old Georgia farm boy, young lady! At least I know how to pour bovine urine out of a boot with the instructions written on the bottom of the heel, unlike some people I talk to on the phone …

“Well, of course I want her to have every opportunity to be helped, but why couldn’t you have told me last week …

“Yes, I know Su Lin is a special case. I realize that means many specialists are interested and not all of them show up at a convenient time …

“Well, I have my regular job too, you know. These little jaunts to the medical facility take time out of my regular schedule to accommodate these random specialist reviews …

“You mean this visiting specialist is so important that you will come fetch her and bring her back when the review is over? Well, I don’t know about that. I’m her guardian, and ever since the accident I …

“Yes, she does know all the folks there, so it’s not like I’m sending her off with a bunch of strangers …

“You make a pretty good case for this one time, which would help me out with my work load …

“And the driver’s name? …

“Leroy, okay. Got it! Thanks. We’ll see Leroy then day after tomorrow….”

Andy was really annoyed that they wanted to see Su Lin on such short notice. He was scheduled to depart in a couple of hours to his customer in California to provide some updates to their equipment. Carlos had readily agreed to watch out for Su Lin while he was gone, yet Andy felt it almost an imposition. Su Lin was essentially a ward of Andy’s since her heart had stopped for that short duration so many months ago, damaging her mind.

Su Lin was a lovely woman of Asian descent that Andy had been extremely attracted to before the accident. The lack of blood pumping through her system for the extended period of time had caused some significant damage to her memory. The once expert in cyber technologies and leading edge applied technologies now had the social skills of an almost twenty something rather than the fifty something of her actual age. Skills were being relearned through some special training as well as the time spent by Andy with her, but progress was very slow.

The accident had occurred shortly after she had brought her pig, Franklin, and her student, Daisy, to work on some nanotechnology experiments. Even though overall the experiments had proven successful, Su Lin’s accident was attributed to this experimentation. Daisy had returned to finish her schooling while Su Lin and Franklin had remained. Franklin had fit in with the other animals on Andy’s farm, and Su Lin delighted in the responsibility of the care and feeding of her pet.