The War on Drugs: In Sickness and in Health: Chapter Four

Chapter Four 

November 10th, 10:20 AM

She had been standing perfectly still for just five minutes, but it had seemed like an hour.  She was in the back on the van now, looking out through its doors into the parking lot, watching the camera man and audio guy make their final preparations.  Evelyn, the news reporter and apparently Margot's contact, was dabbing something on her face with a makeup brush.

"I don't mean to be rude," Evelyn said.  "But you have such a beautiful face, and we really want it to pop on camera."

"Just watch the mask, okay?" Blue Lynx said for at least the third time in the past two minutes.  For the most part, Evelyn was discreet, but Erin could occasionally feel the brush pull up on the strings of her mask.

"Of course," Evelyn said, standing back from Blue Lynx, scanning her from head to toe and back again.  "We're on your side, babe."

Erin hoped so.  Once she had gotten in the van, things had seemed normal.  It was just a small film crew setting up.  That was all.  Her sense of peace might have been helped by the absence of Dr. Todd, who Erin hadn't seen since he'd led her through the van's back doors.

"This is good for us, good for you, and good for the city," Evelyn said.  "Now could you turn around, please?"

"What?" Erin said.

"Just turn around for a second."

"Okay," Erin said, turning so that she faced the back of the van.  She heard a small titter from one of the men, followed by a two-note wolf whistle.

"Okay, you can turn back," Evelyn said.

Erin turned around and looked at her, then at the cameraman and audio guy, both of whom were grinning.  "What was that for?" she stammered.

"Oh, Mark just wanted to check out your ass," Evelyn laughed.

Erin's face flushed red.  She scowled as the men burst out laughing.

"Consider it a deleted scene," the cameraman said.

"That's not funny," Erin said.  "You're disgusting."

"Oh lighten up, princess," Evelyn said.  "It's the news."  She stepped toward Blue Lynx with the makeup kit.  "If you can't handle that..."

Erin snatched Evelyn by the wrist.  "Film the PSA.  Now."

She squeezed Evelyn's arm.  The reporter cried out and stepped back.

"Jesus," she said.  "Fine.  Bitch."

Erin shook her head.  "Just film it.  So I can get out of here."

"You know, bitter's not a good look for you," Evelyn said, stepping back toward the van's entrance.  "Doc!  She's ready now."

Doctor Todd stepped up and into the van.  He seemed to lose his footing, and the audio guy had to help him up by the arm.  Todd signaled that he was fine and looked at the Blue Lynx.  He smiled.

"You look great.  Now.  Let's do it."

The doctor stepped to a tray with a few medical implements.  Evelyn found a place near Erin and stood up straight.  She turned her face back toward Erin and sneered, and then faced the camera.  She put four fingers in the air.

Erin inhaled.  And exhaled.  "Here we go," she thought.  She watched the audio guy position his microphone over her head, saw the cameraman stationed behind his instrument.  Evelyn dropped her fingers one by one, and then, she began to speak.

"We're here with the city's new superheroine, Blue Lynx, to talk about the importance of getting a flu shot.  As you know..."

Erin tuned out Evelyn's speech, which she had already heard the reporter practice multiple times.  She focused her attention on Todd, who was examining a syringe in the light of the van.  He gazed at the needle with a curious look, and then at Erin.  He smiled broadly.  "Ready?" he mouthed.

"So now Blue Lynx will receive her flu shot," Evelyn said.  "She's such a brave little girl."

For a moment, Erin glared at Evelyn, then quickly resumed her the pleasant, closed-mouth smile she had worn since the camera started rolling.  Margot's contact was a real bitch.

Todd had stepped toward Erin, close enough so that she could hear him breathing.  "I'll have to roll up your sleeve to find a vein," he said, loud enough so the camera could hear.

"Wait," Erin said.  "Is that really necessary?"

Evelyn laughed.  "Who's the doctor here, Blue Lynx?  The guy in the labcoat?  Or the girl in the blue spandex?"

Once again, Erin couldn't help but flash a look of pure fury at Evelyn.  "Stay calm," she told herself, silently.  She felt the doctor's hairy hands on her wrist.

"Alright, if you say so," Erin said, forcing a laugh.  "It's for my health, right?"

"Exactly," Todd said, his eyes glimmering as he pulled Erin's blue spandex sleeve from under her glove and began rolling it up her arm.  Erin felt the hairs on her arm prickle as they were exposed to the cold air of the van.  The doctor rolled her sleeve up to her shoulder so that a large wad of blue fabric seemed to double her shoulder's size.

It all felt wrong, almost inappropriate for television.  Erin tried to remind herself that it was for the best.  "For Margot," she said.  "If for nothing else."

Todd now brought the syringe up near her face.  "Ready, dearie?"

Erin nodded.  And in a fast, abrupt motion, the doctor plunged the needle into Erin's upper arm and pushed the pump.

"Oww!" Erin cried out.  Sharp pain flooded through her arm.  Erin had gotten shots before, but they usually weren't that bad.  "Right?" she thought.

Todd removed the syringe and smiled.  "There."

He went to fetch a band-aid, but Erin shook her head and starting pulling down her sleeve.  "Thanks Doctor, but I don't think superheroines need band-aids."

Evelyn giggled.  "That sounded like it hurt, Blue Lynx!  Are you going to be okay?"

Erin tucked her sleeve back into her glove and tried to suppress a glare.  "I'll be fine.  I'm better now that I'm safe from the flu."

Evelyn turned back to the camera.  "So there you have it.  Thank you for being with us today Blue Lynx.  And remember folks: get your flu shot!"

The cameraman said "Cut."  The audio guy set the microphone down.  Dr. Todd fiddled with his instruments on the metal tray.  And Erin let her smile relax.  She rubbed her arm.  It still hurt like hell, far more than any other injection she'd ever received.

Evelyn turned around to face her.

"You want a sticker?  You did so good!" Evelyn said, with a high-pitched, mocking voice.

"No thanks, I'm leaving," Erin said.  She looked away from the reporter and walked toward the van doors.  She jumped from the van onto the asphalt of the parking lot, feeling her arm throb as her boots met the ground.  Just as readied herself for a sprint back to the other lot, she heard snickering, followed by the voice of the doctor.

"Please be in touch if there are any side effects," Todd said, with a smirk that was practically audible.

And Erin took off, running as fast as she could, trying to clear her mind of this odd, uncomfortable morning, and trying to not focus on the immense, growing pain in her upper arm.

On to Chapter Five