It
had been a quiet night, there was
nothing happening, no celebrities being smuggled in through the Hospitals
backdoors for rehab, coated head bent low in shame and fear of discovery. Not so much as a scrape or bump from the
general population of SL city. Just another night, like so many before.
THEN,
it came, the sudden shrill of a banshee wail which shredded the peace and
composure around me as the vibrant flash of approaching sirens screamed into
the stillness, the vibrant flash of
lights illuminating the sky as if I was in the midst of an alien invasion and alerting
the world to a crisis of global proportion.
The cries of ‘Medic’ hit the air with a
frantic urgency amongst the ensuing onslaught of paramedics, Drs and nurses which
suddenly appeared, throwing open the
doors of the Egoisme General Hospital. Their faces were taut with fear and
anticipation. It was clear, something desperate was happening as the hordes of
medics around me suddenly swung into well-rehearsed and orchestrated practice.
Moving like one, each a tiny cog In a machine that instantly functioned as a well
oiled mechanism.
The doors to the Egoisme General Hospital flew
wide open, the gurney was pulled through in preparation, In the confusion, I
struggled to see the face of the woman that lay prone on the hard and shiny plastic
surface, screaming with agony, her face contorted, twisted into unrecognisable
features, pulled from the ambulance with accelerated speed. Through the blur of
movement all around me, I heard the words shouted ‘Lanai Jarrico’ female...and
then a pause for the fateful diagnosis - the fateful diagnosis ‘Twinkie overdose’ A doctor carefully lubricated a latex
gloved hand, snapping the cuff with a sharp snap, his eyes awash with terror..
“I’m going in..We need to act now or we’ll lose her. Lube me up.”
Looking
pale and wan, some two hours later, they wheeled her back into the main
hospital where I awaited the news scoop of the century. There was less urgency
now, but equal concern as she was trundled behind a curtain, screened from the
rest of us from our prying eyes, our busybody curiosity. I moved, with
paparazzi precision towards her, inching my way slowly ever closer, till I
stood listening, through a chink of the flimsy material. I heard her, reach for
the cell phone, I heard the tones as she clicked the buttons..I heard her speak
to some minion at the other end of the line ‘Party NOW, Egoisme General
Hospital..and..bring Twinkies’.
I
was in awe, this woman, survivor of numerous Thanksgiving dinners, was planning
a party from her hospital bed. I wanted to be there, I wanted a part of the
action. I sleuthed my way to the nurses
rooms, I found the collection of scrubs and selected one. With care I put on
the surgical mask, making sure my face was shrouded, unidentifiable and now,
suitably disguised, I was able to infiltrate the scene slowly unfolding before
me as a procession of caterers and party planners duly arrived. The Party began.
Somebody pushed a glass of champagne into my hand, they offered me a snort on
the gas and air..Twinkies..alchohol..drugs..and an unexplainable man in a
strait Jacket.
Ladies..gentleman,
readers. I am a hack, a humble hack. My words are not adequate to describe the
scene that unfolded before me. I was not prepared as Drs and Nurses
arrived..even patients left their beds and began pouring into the foyer, no
regard to the openings in their gowns that allowed their buttocks to swing free
and in time to the music that now began to play from the hospital P.A system.
The film ‘Caligula’ sprang to mind as half naked, swaying like badly dressed
Romans..the party began. Drs, Nurses..began to clamber and vie for each other
for position on the impromptu dance floor. Some, possessed by some sort of
communal hysteria and madness, began to strip, they waved Twinkies at me like
Crack cocaine. I resisted.
Revellers gathered, still disguised as a
Nurse, and perhaps the most dressed amongst all of them, I made my way amongst them, taking
photographs, catching snippets of information as it reached my ears. They
mistook my reporter’s notebook for a hospital clip board, I was able to make my
way undetected through the throng. Time after time, twinkies were pressed into
my hands. I feared for my life and my digestion.
Nervously, cautiously, I made my way through
the throng of half dressed DJ’s and scantily clad nurses. The party was in full
swing when through the doors burst what I was reassured was a CHUPACABRA. In order to placate it, I fed it the
Twinkies.
There
was an announcement of the competition winner. Reluctantly I made it. They
asked me to. I didn’t dare not to. I mumbled from behind my mask. The winner
seemed excited enough, though turned down the offer of a free prostate check,
saying she would pass it on. Similarly she declined the free pregnancy test. I
made my way to the doors, bumping into a smooth operator on the way, who tried
to ply me with Jelly babies and a trip on his Tardis. ( I do mean ON and not
IN) I wondered what surrealist nightmare I was in, as I hastily declined his
offer of a fumble with his sonic screwdriver. Will the madness ever end? I
must..leave.
I awoke this morning, my head pounding. I
remember little. I was presented with a large hospital bil at the front desk,
by a woman that I barely recognised clothed. I will pass the cost on to
Egoisme. As I left the building, I
glanced at my notes. I vaguely remember a half naked man in duck slippers. I
must get home to develop the pictures..who is this man coming towards me..with
a big syringe and a strait jacket? Why is he looking at me like that? What does
he mean ‘Can’t have this getting into the press”.
o.O
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