Episode 17 - Request
The next morning, Natalia and I were finishing an impromptu brunch when Irma said, “Visitor, East drive.” A light blue 1969 Corvette parked just beyond the canopy. Sergeant Ramy got out wearing Khakis and a white polo shirt.
I greeted him at the door before he could knock. “Sergeant Ramy, what brings you here on a Sunday morning?”
Ramy seemed rather hesitant, which rang all kinds of alarm bells in my head.
“I’m not here on official business, but I was wondering if you might be able to help out a friend of mine.”
“Come on in and we can talk about it,” I said, stepping back from the door.
The living room screen lit up and a green-eyed brunette wearing heels, navy blue sheath dress, and pearls greeted Ramy warmly. “Ernesto! What a wonderful surprise! Did you come for a Sunday visit?”
“Hello, Irma. You’re looking especially lovely today.”
Irma blushed. “It’s so nice of you to notice.”
“I was hoping I could talk with you and Colin.”
Ramy stopped awkwardly when he noticed Natalia and the remains of brunch on the dining room table. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said.
I closed the front door and made introductions. “Sergeant Ramy, this is Dr. Natalia Bremmer from the University. She’s an old friend and a collaborator on the Companion project.
Natalia smiled and shook Ramy’s hand.
“Are you a psychiatrist?” He asked.
Nataila shook her head. “Pediatrician.”
Ramy blinked. “A pediatrician?”
Natalia nodded. “I’m also board certified in Internal Medicine. I believe the Companion project could be extended to help troubled children. After all, kids are more likely to accept an imaginary friend and confidant than adults.”
Ramy nodded.
“We were just having coffee. Can I get you a cup?” I asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
When everyone was seated and served, I asked, “Is this OK or would you rather talk outside?”
Ramy shook his head. “I wanted to talk to you about a friend of mine.”
“What’s up?”
“My first partner and one of my best friends retired from the force two years ago. He and his wife had a bucket list, travel plans, and activities they wanted to do together. They worked toward this moment for most their life. Then, six weeks after the retirement party, Agnes was killed in an auto accident. John was devastated. He’s following the path your father got trapped in--he’s drinking, he’s depressed, and he lives in a house full of guns.
What I wanted to ask is, well, do you think Irma can help him?”
I gave Natalia a questioning look. I knew the hardware and software was ready, but the therapeutic approaches still needed a lot of work.
Natalia smiled and raised her cup. “Colin, I think you need to put on another pot.”
I greeted him at the door before he could knock. “Sergeant Ramy, what brings you here on a Sunday morning?”
Ramy seemed rather hesitant, which rang all kinds of alarm bells in my head.
“I’m not here on official business, but I was wondering if you might be able to help out a friend of mine.”
“Come on in and we can talk about it,” I said, stepping back from the door.
The living room screen lit up and a green-eyed brunette wearing heels, navy blue sheath dress, and pearls greeted Ramy warmly. “Ernesto! What a wonderful surprise! Did you come for a Sunday visit?”
“Hello, Irma. You’re looking especially lovely today.”
Irma blushed. “It’s so nice of you to notice.”
“I was hoping I could talk with you and Colin.”
Ramy stopped awkwardly when he noticed Natalia and the remains of brunch on the dining room table. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said.
I closed the front door and made introductions. “Sergeant Ramy, this is Dr. Natalia Bremmer from the University. She’s an old friend and a collaborator on the Companion project.
Natalia smiled and shook Ramy’s hand.
“Are you a psychiatrist?” He asked.
Nataila shook her head. “Pediatrician.”
Ramy blinked. “A pediatrician?”
Natalia nodded. “I’m also board certified in Internal Medicine. I believe the Companion project could be extended to help troubled children. After all, kids are more likely to accept an imaginary friend and confidant than adults.”
Ramy nodded.
“We were just having coffee. Can I get you a cup?” I asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
When everyone was seated and served, I asked, “Is this OK or would you rather talk outside?”
Ramy shook his head. “I wanted to talk to you about a friend of mine.”
“What’s up?”
“My first partner and one of my best friends retired from the force two years ago. He and his wife had a bucket list, travel plans, and activities they wanted to do together. They worked toward this moment for most their life. Then, six weeks after the retirement party, Agnes was killed in an auto accident. John was devastated. He’s following the path your father got trapped in--he’s drinking, he’s depressed, and he lives in a house full of guns.
What I wanted to ask is, well, do you think Irma can help him?”
I gave Natalia a questioning look. I knew the hardware and software was ready, but the therapeutic approaches still needed a lot of work.
Natalia smiled and raised her cup. “Colin, I think you need to put on another pot.”
