Keeping up with the Jones’s by Phil Stephens

Part II—The Next Morning

Suzie joined her mother at the breakfast table while Dave sat in the den watching television.

“Cold, Suzie?” asked her mother.

“I am always cold these days,” replied Suzie.

“I was thinking,” said Mrs. Jones. “I didn’t trust that doctor in the hospital yesterday. He was so young I wonder whether he has a medical degree. I would feel more comfortable if we had gone to Dr. Fay. I called her office, but the earliest appointment we could get is tomorrow. This flu outbreak is keeping them busy. They said that David should take your scheduled appointment today; that they can fit you in tomorrow. Why don’t you have breakfast and you can come with us? You never know, they may be able to squeeze you in for your annual physical.”

“Okay mom. But I already ate breakfast,” said Suzie.

“When?” asked her mother.

“Oh, earlier,” said Suzie vaguely. “I’ll go get changed now.”

Suzie was feeling resentful as she got up from the table. Her mother doted on her brother. He had always been their parents’ favorite, no matter what Suzie did at school or with her ice skating. Her older brother always came first.

Just then they heard a moan from Dave in the den and the two women rose from the table. Suzie felt faint and passed out on the floor. Flustered over having to decide whether to tend to her son or to her daughter first, after a moment’s hesitation Mrs. Jones took Suzie’s feet and placed them on a chair, elevating her legs, and then went to her son to check on him.

Suzie slowly gained consciousness and cautiously sat on the chair. She sipped water from a glass on the table before standing up and walking to her room to change. In 10 minutes they were in the car and on their way to the doctor’s office.

Suzie was tired of listening to her brother complaining to their mother about his ankle. She was hungry and felt like she had no energy, but tried to convince herself that her hunger would soon pass. When they got to the doctor’s office, Suzie went to the nurse’s station, but everyone was busy. Bored, she decided to stand on the scale and weigh herself and check her height.

The nurse appeared just as Suzie stepped off the scale. “Hi Suzie. We’ve been busy today. Sorry you had to wait.”

“Just passing the time by checking my weight and height,” Suzie said as she pushed the metal sliders to their zero positions.

“So what was it?” asked Dr. Fay as she passed by the scale.

“Hi Dr. Fay, 5 foot 8 inches and 120,” Suzie replied.

“I thought you were coming in for your physical today,” said Dr. Fay.

“I was, but Mom said that Dave should see you because he hurt his ankle at practice yesterday. But I’ll be in tomorrow for my pre-season physical,” Suzie responded.

Some time later, Suzie’s mother and brother came back into the waiting room. Her mother seemed annoyed.

“These doctors stick together. She just repeated what that young hospital doctor said yesterday.”

Questions

What problems are there in Suzie’s life, and does she exhibit any peculiar signs and symptoms?
Why did Suzie pass out when she stood up?
Why did Suzie’s mother place Suzie’s feet on a chair?
Why did Suzie feel as if she had no energy at the doctor’s office?
Make an initial speculation about Suzie’s condition at this time. Assuming that your speculation is true, what do you think the doctor will find in the results of Suzie’s physical examination?

Go to Part III—Suzie Sees the Doctor

Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/jones/jones2.asp