Morris Hollett and St Vernon’s Ward for Strange & Unusual Diseases
13. The Cup with Purple Spots
The Doctor, Morris, and Matron Wisely sat in the Doctor’s office – waiting for Marvin to bring Hot Chocolate to help lift their spirits.
While they waited they were trying to see a way out of the problem, but so far they hadn’t been able to come up with anything.
‘It’s unfortunate, we’d put Peter in his little jar in Ivan’s room –,’ said Matron.
‘Ivan?’ said Morris.
‘Why yes, his friend, suffering from a head full of eyes, Ivan,’ she said.
‘Oh I see, we have a different name for him,’ added Morris.
‘Well we put Ivan in with Peter for company as Peter was getting so small, and he was taking up such a tiny amount of space in his room that we thought it a waste to use two rooms really,’ whispered Matron Wisely, her cheeks had now returned to their normal shade but her hair remained in a bit of a tangle.
‘Surely with all this magic that the Wizzers can do they can come up with something?’ said Morris quickly, ‘I mean they’re magical aren’t they!’
‘Yeeeees,’ said the Doctor, ‘but our magic friends aren’t really cut out for confrontation; they’d much rather talk a problem through.’
At that moment there was a knock at the door and the chinking of a loaded tray.
‘Come in Marvin!’ called the Doctor.
Marvin crept in balancing four steaming mugs and a pile of Choc Mallow Delights.
‘Four mugs Marvin?’ questioned the Doctor with a smile and a definite question mark type curve to his hair.
‘Oh I’m so sorry Doctor, I couldn’t –.’
‘Remember? Don’t worry,’ said Doctor Grunk warmly, ‘I’m sure young Morris might like an extra treat today.’
‘Or perhaps Marvin might like to join us?’ said Morris.
‘Oh Master Morris, you’re very kind but –,’ started Marvin.
‘Well of course,’ said the Doctor, ‘a fine idea, perhaps Marvin might have an idea as to how to get out of our problem!’
Marvin slowly slid into the chair that the Doctor offered him, desperately trying not to make a noise and feeling rather out of his depth – but at the same time grateful to be included.
They all took a loud slurp from their drinks and the collective rustle of plastic announced that the Choc Mallow Delights were popular with everyone.
‘Dreebil is our problem Marvin,’ announced Morris.
‘Ah yes,’ sighed the old man.
As each was left with their thoughts for a moment, Morris looked around the Doctor’s office.
It was not unusual – a big desk with a huge pile of papers on one side, a computer and telephone on the other, shelves that reached to the ceiling stuffed with medical volumes wrapped in blue leather and the odd skeleton part here and there.
In the middle of the desk Morris noticed a floor plan which seemed to be of the hospital wards with names and small pictures of people.
‘Is that...’ he pointed to the document, ‘the people that I’ll be seeing?’
The Doctor sat up – he had been rather enjoying his drink – and his moustache now had a frill of chocolate running along the bottom.
‘Er yes, he said. ‘This is a plan that shows our patients and their illnesses.’
He offered the sheet to Morris who studied it carefully.
He read out loud;
‘Molly Heggs – moos like a cow
Samson Later – elastic arms
Jon Frog – super long legs
Mary Flappit – rabbit ears
Olivia Squirtit – rather likes chewing cutlery
Archie Bold – non-stop dancing feet
Bear William – musical wind (sometimes string instruments)
Posie Nookit – dangerously sharp pointed nose.’
The list went on until he got to one room, the only room with two people;
‘Peter Potter – shrinking fast
Ivan Hughes – a head full of eyes.
Well I guess, if I have to make a choice. There are lots of people here with problems, and there are only two of my friends…’ he thought hard. ‘If there’s no way of saving Peter and Eye-eye then I’ll have to save the others first, at least that way…’ his voice trailed.
Morris felt like he had betrayed the only people who had asked to be helped…now he felt he might not be able to help them at all and possibly leave them to a fate that he didn’t bear thinking of.
‘Why don’t we plan a trap for Doctor Dreebil?’
The voice was quiet and timid and Morris and Doctor Grunk looked at Marvin with surprise.
‘Why Marvin! How would we ever do that?’ asked the Doctor, his hair standing on end in surprise.
‘Well…’ the old man lifted his cup as if to hide behind it and looked at them with scared eyes.
‘Go on Marvin,’ said Morris, ‘please.’
Marvin put down his mug slowly, knitted his fingers together and nervously wriggled in his seat.
‘I’ve been mixing a potion myself,’ his voice was almost a whisper. ‘I don’t know how but I just know…and I think what I’m mixing might be able to help.’
‘You’ve been mixing a potion? But you’re not a Wizzer Marvin, how could you –?’ cried the Doctor.
‘I – I d-don’t know Doctor, I had a very strange dream the other night and after I felt…driven…to start…mixing…’
‘I wonder…’ thought the Doctor.
‘– if Marvin was hit by a spell from the trainee Wizzers?’ added Morris.
‘Why yes!’ said Doctor Grunk. ‘I think we need to have a chat with our friends.’
The Doctor reached for his phone and tapped in an unusually long number.
Morris looked at Marvin who was looking more uncomfortable than ever. Could it be that Marvin might hold the key to their problem?
‘Thinley,’ said the Doctor, ‘we need to talk…yes…now. Marvin’s Office…yes, Marvin’s…see you there.’
He put down the phone.
Doctor Grunk looked at Marvin and Morris, then raised his eyebrows as he looked at Matron, who, having had her Hot Chocolate and three Choc Mallow Delights mixed with enough excitement for a day, was now fast asleep and snoring with her mouth wide open.
‘Perhaps we’ll leave Matron Wisely to catch up on some sleep. Let’s go!’
‘I do hope I’m not causing too much bother,’ whined Marvin desperately as they got up to leave.
‘Marvin, at this moment you offer us some hope, at the very least we need to find out what you’re mixing…I just hope it’s not an elaborate soup,’ said the Doctor.