Now at the end of November, the beginning of December, the World Polo Association gather in Buenos Aires for the greatest polo matches of the season. The wealthy, elite families come from all over the globe to overrun the city and Felina brought her family too. She had several students, and former students, of her prestigious riding academy competing in the games. Charles felt honored when Felina invited him to be her escort for the week long events, she treated him like an honored member of the family and they all came down from the Estate to celebrate, as they had for the last fifteen years. There was Serena, Bengiman, Aphina, Carlo, and his parents came over from Spain. Everyone was there, except for Xation and no one would quite explain to Charles why Xation, who played polo for ten years, before and during college, and still had the cups and trophies to prove just how good he was at it, had no interest, whatsoever, in the world of polo any longer, but then again there were a great many secrets being kept from our poor, unknowing Charles.
After the whirlwind of parties and polo matches, and thousands of crates of champagne had been emptied over that week by the socialites and social climbers, it was nearing Christmastime in Argentina, though for Charles, with this being the beginning of a sweltering summer in South America, it was strange to see Christmas lights and decorations in the city amongst the palm trees on a 95 degree day. This holiday was very special in the hearts of the Diaz family, like all good people, but Aphina made a huge splurge of her wealth by lavishing gifts upon her friends, family and staff; and Charles was all three of these things to Aphina and her family. So it was early on a sunny Christmas morning Charles was thrilled to find a set of keys to a brand new, silver Bugatti EB 110 SS. Aphina and Carlo had purchased the luxury sport car as a token of their appreciation of Charles for having saved the life of their cherished daughter. To them it was an overly expensive gesture, but to Charles it was a deep show of love and respect to him, in the form of a sleek, exquisitely designed chaise, with a chrome horse-shoe shaped grill and an aluminium body, with a 3.5 liter V12, 550 horse powered engine that could do 0-60 in 3.6 seconds. Charles found this out first hand when he and Carlo went for a spin down the long country lanes. This was, for Charles, the best Christmas ever, he only wished it was his father, Daniel, sitting next to him and not Xation's father. Carlo sensed this, but he loved Charles like his own son just the same.
Now, a few days after Christmas, when Xation and Charles had returned from a spin around the country side in his new sports car, after listening to Xation go on about how excited he was for his trip, {yet,another vacation Charles was not invited on}to Maui with Bengiman for the 1st PGA tournament the year, the two friends found the family, along with Bengiman, gathered 'round the table together just as they sat down to dinner. Charles and Xation were famished so they tucked in, slicing away at their rib-eyes and this is when everyone noticed Bengiman was just sitting there sipping his whiskey, not eating one bite of his food; which was strange for he usually ate two or three steaks in one sitting just fill his rapacious appetite to sate the stomach of his 6 ft 5 in., 260 lb frame.
"Bengiman? You do not look so well, are you feeling ill?" Aphina asked with great concern.
"No..," he paused, looking pale and sickly, as he rubbed his throat. "I've not been feeling to keen."
Charles looked up and over at Bengiman not as a family friend but a patient. "Let's have a look." he said as he arose from his seat to see what was the matter.
Bengiman brushed his hands away as Charles stood beside him at the dinner table trying to feel his throat. "Get off!" he shouted.
"Bengiman!" Xation said curtly "Get up and go to the gatehouse with Charles, let him have a look at you in his office, that is what he is here for! I need you well for our trip, we take-off in the morning." Xation said unnerved at the thought of missing another New Year's trip to Maui to see Lee Trevino and Seve Ballesteros play. Xation was also upset that Bengiman had not gone to see Charles sooner when he first started to fell unwell.
"I just need to go and have a lie down." Bengiman protested swearing he would not miss the trip.
"Go!" Xation shouted as he pointed towards the front door. Felina, Serena and Felina urged him sweetly to go and be examined by Charles. "Fine!" he said like a spoiled brat then he gave a sheepish look over at Felina saying "Felina, will you come with me?"
"Of course I will sweetheart." Felina said with a gentle loving smile of concern, then she turned her gaze sharply to her little sister saying "And you Serena, do not eat my dessert!" Felina laughed at her sister, adding insult to injury to Serena, who had endured comments from her mother Aphina all night about her weight, pointing out the fact that she had packed on nearly 20 pounds over the holidays; which was true, but no daughter, on the face of this earth, wants to be embarrassed by their own mother at the dinner table in front of family and friends. Aphina was only 'verbally prodding' her daughter, with her words and caustic remarks, to urge her back into the gym to slim down.
Meanwhile, as Serena skipped dessert and went to her room to change into her bikini for she suddenly had the urge to go for a sunset swim in the pool, Charles realized Bengiman had a nasty ear infection, in both ears, his alimentary canals were swollen and filled with puss ridden bacteria growing all the way down his throat, his lymph nodes under his jaw were tender and inflamed to the size of golf balls.
Bengiman winced in pain rubbing his throat, saying "It hurts when I swallow."
"Well that's the rumor." Charles laughed trying to ease the tension, but Mr.Pruce was not amused as Felina snickered a little as she slapped Charles on the shoulder telling him to be serious.
Charles continued on with the examination and he found his patient was running a high grade fever along with the bacterial infection and would require a massive dose of amoxicillin, a powerful antibiotic for the next seven days "You've been swimming down in the river again haven't you?" Charles asked peering down into his ear canal with his lighted otoscope.
"Yeah." he said in a low voice as if he were confessing to a priest.
Felina had a shocked look on her face and she said, scolding him "Have you been skinny dipping with my maids again Bengiman?" he only answered by hanging his head low "Bengiman, they are only 19!"
"But, Felina." he whined "They enjoy my company."
Here Felina stood and faced him eye to eye as he sat on the examining table, as she stared down at his lap "Oh, I am sure they do!" then she said tapping the crotch of his trousers with her index finger "That is not the point!" then she shook her head, folding her arms against her chest telling him "Do not force me to remove any more members of my household staff on your account, please, if you don't mind, if you think you can control yourself.., for the love of God." with that Felina let out a heavy sigh as she jumped up on the table sliding over next to Bengiman, sitting there holding his hand, then Felina turned her attention to Charles asking him "Well Doctor, what is your diagnosis?"
"Bengiman you have two very serious ear infections, I will give you some antibiotics, but you can not drink or smoke until you are well in a few days." he informed his grumbling patient. "I mean it! No alcohol. no cigarettes, no cocaine, nothing!"
"Why?" he complained.
"Because the medicine will not work! And if we can't clear this up, the puss and bacteria will leach through your skull and get into your brain, and then.., you will be dead and you really won't be able to drink or smoke then! So give it a rest for few days. Healing takes time." Charles informed Bengiman, who gave him a dire look as if someone had just walked over his grave. "You should have come to me the moment you started getting sick."
"What about me trip?" Bengiman asked, already knowing what Charles was about to say.
"Yes, well about that." Charles paused.
"Oh no!" Felina interrupted as the devastated Englishman dropped his head as he listened to his doctor.
"Well, Bengiman I'm afraid, there is no way you can get on that plane tomorrow."
"Why? It's just an ear infection." Bengiman asked sounding more and more depressed.
"Listen, if you get on that plane in the morning, as soon as the captain pressurizes the cabin, you will hear two loud pops, followed by a life time of silence." Charles informed his patient correctly as was his sworn duty as a physician. "So if you want to go deaf for the rest of your life, for a week on Maui, than be my guest." Charles said as he walked over to the little sink washing and sanitizing his hands.
"Oh Bengi! My sick little darling, it looks like you won't make it to Kapalua this year after all. I am sorry, but don't worry sweetheart! I will be here to nurse you back to health." Felina said as she put her arm around the sad giant. "Well, Xation will be very disappointed." she sighed a little as she looked over at Charles, then Felina's face lit up when she was suddenly struck with an idea "Charles, you've been practicing your golf game, no?"
"Yes?" Charles responded wiping his hands dry on a paper towel.
"Why don't you go with Xation to Hawaii? You can take Bengiman's place." she smiled with a look of delight.
Charles was stunned by this prospect and he said "I think that is an capital idea!" he smiled as Bengiman sat there as feelings of rage, jealousy and loathing began filling Bengiman's heart and mind. He did not want Charles taking his place and he was so overcome with anger, by Felina's suggestion, Bengiman found himself unable to respond, nor could he speak as he stood to his feet, snatching his medicine from off the counter. As Bengiman stormed out of the gatehouse slamming the front door behind him Felina ran after him calling out his name.
"Bengiman, sweetheart, wait!"
After the whirlwind of parties and polo matches, and thousands of crates of champagne had been emptied over that week by the socialites and social climbers, it was nearing Christmastime in Argentina, though for Charles, with this being the beginning of a sweltering summer in South America, it was strange to see Christmas lights and decorations in the city amongst the palm trees on a 95 degree day. This holiday was very special in the hearts of the Diaz family, like all good people, but Aphina made a huge splurge of her wealth by lavishing gifts upon her friends, family and staff; and Charles was all three of these things to Aphina and her family. So it was early on a sunny Christmas morning Charles was thrilled to find a set of keys to a brand new, silver Bugatti EB 110 SS. Aphina and Carlo had purchased the luxury sport car as a token of their appreciation of Charles for having saved the life of their cherished daughter. To them it was an overly expensive gesture, but to Charles it was a deep show of love and respect to him, in the form of a sleek, exquisitely designed chaise, with a chrome horse-shoe shaped grill and an aluminium body, with a 3.5 liter V12, 550 horse powered engine that could do 0-60 in 3.6 seconds. Charles found this out first hand when he and Carlo went for a spin down the long country lanes. This was, for Charles, the best Christmas ever, he only wished it was his father, Daniel, sitting next to him and not Xation's father. Carlo sensed this, but he loved Charles like his own son just the same.
Now, a few days after Christmas, when Xation and Charles had returned from a spin around the country side in his new sports car, after listening to Xation go on about how excited he was for his trip, {yet,another vacation Charles was not invited on}to Maui with Bengiman for the 1st PGA tournament the year, the two friends found the family, along with Bengiman, gathered 'round the table together just as they sat down to dinner. Charles and Xation were famished so they tucked in, slicing away at their rib-eyes and this is when everyone noticed Bengiman was just sitting there sipping his whiskey, not eating one bite of his food; which was strange for he usually ate two or three steaks in one sitting just fill his rapacious appetite to sate the stomach of his 6 ft 5 in., 260 lb frame.
"Bengiman? You do not look so well, are you feeling ill?" Aphina asked with great concern.
"No..," he paused, looking pale and sickly, as he rubbed his throat. "I've not been feeling to keen."
Charles looked up and over at Bengiman not as a family friend but a patient. "Let's have a look." he said as he arose from his seat to see what was the matter.
Bengiman brushed his hands away as Charles stood beside him at the dinner table trying to feel his throat. "Get off!" he shouted.
"Bengiman!" Xation said curtly "Get up and go to the gatehouse with Charles, let him have a look at you in his office, that is what he is here for! I need you well for our trip, we take-off in the morning." Xation said unnerved at the thought of missing another New Year's trip to Maui to see Lee Trevino and Seve Ballesteros play. Xation was also upset that Bengiman had not gone to see Charles sooner when he first started to fell unwell.
"I just need to go and have a lie down." Bengiman protested swearing he would not miss the trip.
"Go!" Xation shouted as he pointed towards the front door. Felina, Serena and Felina urged him sweetly to go and be examined by Charles. "Fine!" he said like a spoiled brat then he gave a sheepish look over at Felina saying "Felina, will you come with me?"
"Of course I will sweetheart." Felina said with a gentle loving smile of concern, then she turned her gaze sharply to her little sister saying "And you Serena, do not eat my dessert!" Felina laughed at her sister, adding insult to injury to Serena, who had endured comments from her mother Aphina all night about her weight, pointing out the fact that she had packed on nearly 20 pounds over the holidays; which was true, but no daughter, on the face of this earth, wants to be embarrassed by their own mother at the dinner table in front of family and friends. Aphina was only 'verbally prodding' her daughter, with her words and caustic remarks, to urge her back into the gym to slim down.
Meanwhile, as Serena skipped dessert and went to her room to change into her bikini for she suddenly had the urge to go for a sunset swim in the pool, Charles realized Bengiman had a nasty ear infection, in both ears, his alimentary canals were swollen and filled with puss ridden bacteria growing all the way down his throat, his lymph nodes under his jaw were tender and inflamed to the size of golf balls.
Bengiman winced in pain rubbing his throat, saying "It hurts when I swallow."
"Well that's the rumor." Charles laughed trying to ease the tension, but Mr.Pruce was not amused as Felina snickered a little as she slapped Charles on the shoulder telling him to be serious.
Charles continued on with the examination and he found his patient was running a high grade fever along with the bacterial infection and would require a massive dose of amoxicillin, a powerful antibiotic for the next seven days "You've been swimming down in the river again haven't you?" Charles asked peering down into his ear canal with his lighted otoscope.
"Yeah." he said in a low voice as if he were confessing to a priest.
Felina had a shocked look on her face and she said, scolding him "Have you been skinny dipping with my maids again Bengiman?" he only answered by hanging his head low "Bengiman, they are only 19!"
"But, Felina." he whined "They enjoy my company."
Here Felina stood and faced him eye to eye as he sat on the examining table, as she stared down at his lap "Oh, I am sure they do!" then she said tapping the crotch of his trousers with her index finger "That is not the point!" then she shook her head, folding her arms against her chest telling him "Do not force me to remove any more members of my household staff on your account, please, if you don't mind, if you think you can control yourself.., for the love of God." with that Felina let out a heavy sigh as she jumped up on the table sliding over next to Bengiman, sitting there holding his hand, then Felina turned her attention to Charles asking him "Well Doctor, what is your diagnosis?"
"Bengiman you have two very serious ear infections, I will give you some antibiotics, but you can not drink or smoke until you are well in a few days." he informed his grumbling patient. "I mean it! No alcohol. no cigarettes, no cocaine, nothing!"
"Why?" he complained.
"Because the medicine will not work! And if we can't clear this up, the puss and bacteria will leach through your skull and get into your brain, and then.., you will be dead and you really won't be able to drink or smoke then! So give it a rest for few days. Healing takes time." Charles informed Bengiman, who gave him a dire look as if someone had just walked over his grave. "You should have come to me the moment you started getting sick."
"What about me trip?" Bengiman asked, already knowing what Charles was about to say.
"Yes, well about that." Charles paused.
"Oh no!" Felina interrupted as the devastated Englishman dropped his head as he listened to his doctor.
"Well, Bengiman I'm afraid, there is no way you can get on that plane tomorrow."
"Why? It's just an ear infection." Bengiman asked sounding more and more depressed.
"Listen, if you get on that plane in the morning, as soon as the captain pressurizes the cabin, you will hear two loud pops, followed by a life time of silence." Charles informed his patient correctly as was his sworn duty as a physician. "So if you want to go deaf for the rest of your life, for a week on Maui, than be my guest." Charles said as he walked over to the little sink washing and sanitizing his hands.
"Oh Bengi! My sick little darling, it looks like you won't make it to Kapalua this year after all. I am sorry, but don't worry sweetheart! I will be here to nurse you back to health." Felina said as she put her arm around the sad giant. "Well, Xation will be very disappointed." she sighed a little as she looked over at Charles, then Felina's face lit up when she was suddenly struck with an idea "Charles, you've been practicing your golf game, no?"
"Yes?" Charles responded wiping his hands dry on a paper towel.
"Why don't you go with Xation to Hawaii? You can take Bengiman's place." she smiled with a look of delight.
Charles was stunned by this prospect and he said "I think that is an capital idea!" he smiled as Bengiman sat there as feelings of rage, jealousy and loathing began filling Bengiman's heart and mind. He did not want Charles taking his place and he was so overcome with anger, by Felina's suggestion, Bengiman found himself unable to respond, nor could he speak as he stood to his feet, snatching his medicine from off the counter. As Bengiman stormed out of the gatehouse slamming the front door behind him Felina ran after him calling out his name.
"Bengiman, sweetheart, wait!"
No comments:
Post a Comment