The Door Behind Us by John C. Houser

Author:John C. Houser [Houser, John C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Chapter 17

JERSEY ARRIVED for his appointment with Mr. Gould on his new crutches. His muscles might be tired by the end of the day, but he was delighted to walk without aggravating the raw skin and bruises under his arms.

The nurse showed him into a room like a chemist’s shop. The cabinets that covered the walls contained a selection of artificial arms and legs rather than a chemist’s jars and bottles. On the left side of the room, maple-framed, glass-fronted cabinets above a counter contained a selection of carved hands and hooks. A taller set of cabinets on the right side contained lower limb replacements, some carved to the likeness of a human leg, while others were little more than metal braces riveted to a pair of shoes. A workbench with hand tools and plaster casting supplies occupied the back of the room. In the center, a table held a set of bound volumes. A chest-high folding screen stood in one corner.

“Mr. Gould will be with you shortly. While you wait, you may examine the catalogs in the binders. The legs are in the green volume,” said the nurse, as she ushered him into the room.

“Thanks.” Despite the invitation, Jersey wasn’t ready to look at pictures. Too many interesting devices lined the cabinets. The hands particularly fascinated him. Most appeared to be simple plaster casts or carved hands that had no function, but an information sheet from the D.W. Dorrance Company, which someone had posted next to a hook, explained how the device opened through the use of a strap across the back so one could grasp objects with it.

“I thought I’d find you looking at the legs, Mr. Rohn. My name is Gould.”

Jersey turned around to find a narrow man with a long face and workman’s apron holding out a hand to shake.

“Pleased t’ meet ya, Mr. Gould. Actually, I like the hands the best. That one is very fine, like a sculpture.” As he examined the large, finely detailed hand, Jersey realized with sudden horror why it had caught his eye; it had long, strong fingers remarkably like Frank’s.

Gould held his long head at a slight angle, brows furrowed. “Yes, it’s pretty, but it has little utility. Now, the Dorrance hook—a man can use that.”

Not to touch a person. Jersey’s face heated at the thought.

Gould frowned and turned briskly away as if he could read Jersey’s mind.

“It’s a leg you’re needing. We’ll start by making a cast of your stump. I’m afraid you must disrobe, Mr. Rohn.” He handed Jersey a flimsy gown and a pair of cotton shorts much like a boxer’s. “You may wear these. They are too short to interfere with the plaster.” He motioned to the screen in the corner. Jersey undressed while Gould continued. “We’ll start with some measurements. In a few minutes, I will wrap your stump with strips of cloth dipped in plaster. You’ll feel some heat as the plaster sets, but it should not be too uncomfortable.”

In all, Jersey spent about two hours with the prosthetist.

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