Mindbend

She turned to glance at the Sony clock radio her mother had given her. She hadn’t told Adam about the gift because Adam had become touchy over her parents’ generosity, or, as he termed it, their interference. Je

Forcing a cheerful smile, she sallied into the living room where Adam was going over his speech for the tenth time.

“Isn’t talking to oneself the first sign of dementia?” teased Je

“Clever!” acknowledged Adam. “Especially since I didn’t think Sleeping Beauty could cogitate before noon.”

“How are you doing with the presentation?” she asked, putting her arms around him and turning her face up for a kiss.

“I got it down to the required fifteen minutes. That’s about all I can say.” He bent and kissed her.

“Oh, Adam. You’ll do just fine. I tell you what: Why don’t you give the presentation to me?” She poured some coffee and then took a seat in the living room. “What disease does the patient have?”

“Tardive dyskinesia is the current diagnosis.”

“What on earth is that?” asked Je

“It’s a neurological disorder involving all sorts of involuntary movements. It’s associated with certain drugs given for psychiatric problems…”

Je

CHAPTER 2

Dr. Clark Vandermer’s office was just off Park Avenue on Thirty-sixth Street. Je

Je

Je

As she opened the door, Je

There were a number of women in the waiting room. Je

After checking in with the receptionist, who admitted that she had no idea how long the wait would be, Je

It was two hours and fifteen minutes before Je

“Take off all your clothes and put this on,” the woman said, handing Je

Before Je

The room was about ten feet square with a curtained window at one end, a second door to the right, and bare walls. The furniture included a scale, a wastepaper basket which was full to overflowing, an examination table with stirrups, an open locker, and a sink. It was hardly cozy, and Je

Not knowing how soon the nurse would be back, Je

A moment later the nurse returned in a rush.

“I’m so sorry for the long wait,” she said in a pleasant but harried tone. “We seem to be getting busier and busier. Must be a new baby boom.” She quickly began checking Je

Je

“Good morning,” he said in a voice that did not invite conversation. His blue eyes swept over her, then her chart. The nurse shut the door behind them and then busied herself with the contents of a stainless-steel pan by the sink.

“Ah, yes. You’re Mrs. Schonberg, the wife of Adam Schonberg the third-year medical student,” Dr. Vandermer said.

Je

“I wouldn’t think this was a good time for you to be having a baby, Mrs. Schonberg,” said Dr. Vandermer.

Je

“I hope I’m not pregnant,” said Je

“What happened to the IUD?” asked Dr. Vandermer.

“I think it’s still there,” said Je

“What do you mean you think it is still there?” questioned Dr. Vandermer. “You don’t know?”

“I checked just this morning. The strings are there.”

Shaking his head, Dr. Vandermer indicated to Je

“That’s right,” said Je

“How old was your mother at the time?” asked Dr. Vandermer.

“I think she was around thirty-six,” said Je

“That’s something you should know about,” said Dr. Vandermer with thinly veiled exasperation. “Find out for sure. I want that information on the chart.”

Putting down his pen, Vandermer took out his stethoscope and gave Je