Page 55 - Effable Encounters

Kids’ Krusade for Krissendom
(Fantastic Transactions 3, 2006)

“Thanks for coming up here in the middle of the week, Dr.
Easton. I know you have patients who will be distressed at your
absence.”
The psychiatrist eased his tweedy torso into the padded but
straight-backed chair across a small table from the information
officer.
“National emergencies are not the sort of call I usually receive
from my exchange in the pre-dawn hours, Colonel Sennick. Truth to
tell, as I treat children exclusively, my absence will largely be an
occasion for rejoicing. And please call me Rod: informality is my
stock-in-trade.”
The woman’s painfully-executed ice-breaking smile almost reached
the melting point suggested by her iceberg-lettuce-green blouse.
“Yes. Then you may address me as Sarah, until and unless we appear
in public together. Now let’s get down to cases.”
“Would you like me to take notes?”
“That will not be necessary. You had a top security clearance when
you served in Vietnam and we had you thoroughly vetted before I
called. You may assume our conversation is being recorded. If need
be, a redacted transcript will be made available to you pursuant to the
Freedom of Information Act.”
The doctor shrugged professionally. “I presume you want none of
what we discuss to go beyond this room. Fine. You are consulting
me: the normal confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship is in
force, as far as I’m concerned. I could not stay in business otherwise.
But you must know that largely as a result of my Army Medical
Corps service I decided to specialize in helping disturbed children
when I returned to civilian practice. I have no current expertise in
dealing with traumatized soldiers. The service must have dozens of
qualified doctors, all with the latest data on psychotropic drugs. That
makes me wonder why you need me, Sarah.”
Colonel Sennick frowned unprepossessingly and looked down at a
folder in her lap. Fluorescent ceiling fixtures glinted silver highlights
on her hair, slightly longer than regulation. “That will become
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