"Diary Entry - 'The Medicine Ball'"
(Early Afternoon) – I shouldn’t even be writing in this diary right now. I’m supposed to be sleeping…Martha has just banished me to the bedroom…Thanks once again to Captain Gregg!
I had not been having a productive morning at the typewriter, and I guess, though I don’t want to admit it, I’m not feeling well. Jonathan wanted to look through Captain Gregg’s telescope and I was short tempered with him and ordered him out of my room. He came back again a few minutes later doing an “almost imitation” of Captain Gregg when he’s trying to flatter me because he wants something, and I told Jonathan to go to his room and stay there.
Then Captain Gregg popped in. He said I wasn’t ‘quite myself’ and wanted to know if there was anything he could do. I tried to tell him that I was merely upset because I had absolutely no ideas for my article that’s due in a week. He gave me one…But I would be barbecued at the stake if I EVER titled ANYTHING “A Woman’s Place is in the 19th-Century’!!
Then he proceeded to describe a lawn party he hosted at Gull Cottage over a hundred years ago. He said, “The 19th-Century was a time made for women. The fashions feminine, the manners gracious, the parties elegant. The soft flickering lights of paper lanterns, a music ensemble playing a waltz—The dance of romance…” (I loved this last part) “If only YOU could have been with me there!”
It was sweet of him to say, and it sounded wonderful and romantic and beautiful as he described it, but it left me no closer to getting my article done! I was grumpy and I told him to go away…I had work to do.
THEN he decided I WAS ill—He asked how my appetite was and I maintained I could eat a horse. Then Martha called us for lunch. One lousy little dizzy spell on the stairs and just not being hungry and HE decided I should be in bed! Bossy ghost! I have too much work to do—I don’t have time to be sick! He used his ‘ghostly powers of persuasion’ and enlisted Martha’s help! She has packed me off to bed and called the Doctor…She says I have a fever.
Dr. Ferguson just left---Our regular doctor, Dr. Feeney is out of town. The Captain watched Dr. Feeney’s every move with a critical eye—and comment! He called him a ‘peep’ saying he was too young to be a quack! Dr. Ferguson said I have Virus X and called a prescription for me…But as usual Captain Gregg has his own ideas! HE said I have the ‘Ague.” (Wonder if I spelled that right) and said HE would prepare the necessary ‘cure.’ I told him no…I have more faith in the Doctor’s prescription, even if he is awfully young!
Martha just brought me some broth and the Doctor’s prescription---I guess I AM sick…They both taste the same to me…I’m really sleepy…More tomorrow…
Dear Diary, I need to get this down while it’s all still fresh in my mind…I’m feeling better…Everyone, including Captain Gregg thinks I’m taking a nap right now.
I dropped of as soon as I wrote my last word yesterday…and I ‘awoke' hearing beautiful music coming from the front lawn! At the bedroom door I found the electric light switch gone and a gas lantern in its place. I walked into the hall and down the stairs…The house was ablaze with candles! I reached the foyer and peered out the front door and saw a 19th-Century formal lawn party underway just like the Captain described to me!
The party looked beautiful…There were paper lanterns and formally attired couples dancing to a waltz played by a small music ensemble. I stepped back into the house and then and then looked down at myself to see that I was now wearing a long ball gown and carrying a fan. I had longer hair…swept up in a style from a hundred years ago. A liveryman exited the front doorway and I followed him to join the party.
I tried to greet Martha, Claymore, the children…Even Scruffy but they all ignored me! I was getting a little scared…I turned around and nearly walked into Captain Gregg, dressed in formal Naval finery! God! Did he look gorgeous! – So incredibly handsome! Just LOOKING at him left me breathless!
He looked at me and said “Madam, there is nothing wrong. It’s just that they can neither see or hear you.” “They can’t?” I said… “No one can. “ said he. “But you see me?” said I. “Of course…And what a lovely sight you are!” (Sigh!)
I was amused at the idea of being invisible now…Mrs. Coburn was there at the party with Claymore but she was making eyes at Captain Gregg. I stuck out my tongue at her and looked at the Captain again and said “Being invisible does have its advantages.” And he said (Be still my heart!!) “Well, tonight there are even GREATER advantages.”
He raised my hand to his lips and then escorted me to the dance floor. He led, of course and we shared a romantic, beautiful waltz...I was total mesmerized with dancing in his arms as we moved around the floor…We stopped dancing to the music and our eyes locked and we tightened our embrace and he looked deep into my eyes. Out lips almost met and…
We were interrupted--BLAST IT!! Women started fainting all over the dance floor, starting with Mrs. Coburn…There were shouts of alarm and Captain Gregg left me right there on the dance floor to attend the guests…and there were whispers…It’s the Ague…
I REALLY woke up then…Martha was at my elbow comforting me…She said my fever was down…I’m going to go back to sleep now…Maybe I can pick up that dream where I left off…BLAST that Mrs. Coburn anyway! Couldn’t’ she have waited just one more minute before she fainted? Now I’ll NEVER know….
Dr. Ferguson was by today—He says I’m fine. I commented as he was leaving that he sure “knew his stuff” and then the Captain popped in—He got all huffy and said proudly that it wasn’t the doctor’s prescription that ‘cured’ me—That it was HIS Willow Bark Golden Elixir that was responsible for my cure! Seems he switched medicines on Martha!
Captain Gregg asked me if I forgave him for switching the medicine and I answered that I did—He seemed relieved that I wasn’t angry with him for interfering. I asked him if he wanted to know why—And he answered, “Because I ‘cured’ you!” And I answered, “No, because you WALTZ so beautifully!” He looked totally bewildered! I think I’ll let him chew in that for a while!”
Candy is coughing and has a fever—Jonathan suggested that I give her the Captain’s ‘Willow Bark Golden Elixir,’ Candy asked what that was and Jonathan replied: “Willow bark, foxglove, alfalfa, sage, thyme, parsley and Mom, don’t forget the BRANDY—That’ll put a keel under it!” YUCK! I think I’ll stick to children’s cough and cold medicine this time!