five years. That was
twelve years ago. Doc’s daughter is in Florida, with his
grandkids. He’s had a standing invitation to join a small
animal practice there part time. His idea was to bring you
on board to see if you like it. If you do, he’ll stick around
two years or so until you’re settled. When you find another
vet you both like, he’ll hand the practice off to you.”
“Really?” The prospect was both exhilarating and
completely intimidating.
“I doubt that Doc will say anything about it, at least not
for a while, so no worries. He knows your commitment is
only until spring, and he wouldn’t ever want to pressure
you. Doc is close mouthed and careful, but Bea is the
complete opposite. What Doc thinks of as top secret, Bea
has shared with the whole town. If anyone asks, you could
just say that you are here to help until spring, and Doc
hasn’t discussed future plans with you.”
“Got that. Doc isn’t much of a talker, but he is really
nice.”
“Oh, yeah, Doc is great at what he does, and he’s very
patient about explanations. Even if you forget and ask the
same question twice, he won’t mind. He’ll go into great
detail about animal care, but the other stuff is Bea’s
department.”
“Doc made me want this job, but, honestly, you made
me feel like I could do it, Alice,” Tess said. “You gave me
the courage to make the big leap. I might still be in
Philadelphia, bored stiff. This is a whole different world.”
“I could tell how competent you’d be right off the bat.
We need someone like you here. It will be an adventure, I
promise you that.” They’d arrived at the low brick building
where the veterinary clinic was housed. Alice shut off the
engine and turned to her. “There is something I want to ask
of you, really for my own sanity, but for all of us, too. Doc
is working too hard for a man his age and Bea will flip if he
keeps it up. He can’t keep going like this. You might not
want to hurt Doc’s feelings, but I’m asking you to promise
to tell me right away if you realize this isn’t the job for
you.”
“I’m going to love it, I know I will,” Tess answered.
“You might, but ranch calls are pig shit and cold
weather and biting wind and chapped cheeks and freezing
feet. It can be grueling. You’ll either like it or hate it, it’s as
simple as that. The next six months will tell. You have
amazing credentials and you can go anywhere, and if this
isn’t your cup of tea, we can bring someone down from
Fort Collins in the spring. I want to be straight with you,
because you’ve already taken the leap. This might be the
ride of your life, but if you decide you want a different
colored parachute, just say the word and I promise to get
you out of here gracefully, okay?”
Tess looked at Alice’s sober face, appreciating her
forthrightness. “I won’t bail on you, Alice, but I do get it. I
hope I love it. I think I will, but I promise to let you know
if I’m not happy.”
“Life is too short to be miserable, and you are too
talented not to have the exact life you want. It will be
challenging as hell when you are up to your ears in cow
poop and placenta after your fourth or fifth difficult calving
of the day on only two hours sleep, in a month of seventyfive farm calls. You’ll know by spring if it works for you.”
Tess nodded intently, grateful for Alice’s comforting smile.
Unlocking the back door, Alice hung their coats.
“Welcome to Green Junction Veterinary Clinic, Dr.
Bamberger. Let’s get you started.” She showed Tess
through the waiting room and office, into the examining
rooms, surgery, infirmary, and dispensary. Tess looked
through the set of large animal surgical tools Doc had
ordered for her. “Let us know whatever else you want,”
Alice called from the reception area.
Doc arrived at eight. He was a large-framed man, very
tall, with a furrowed, kindly face, a shock of white hair, and
an easygoing manner. “We’ve got a smooth morning
twelve years ago. Doc’s daughter is in Florida, with his
grandkids. He’s had a standing invitation to join a small
animal practice there part time. His idea was to bring you
on board to see if you like it. If you do, he’ll stick around
two years or so until you’re settled. When you find another
vet you both like, he’ll hand the practice off to you.”
“Really?” The prospect was both exhilarating and
completely intimidating.
“I doubt that Doc will say anything about it, at least not
for a while, so no worries. He knows your commitment is
only until spring, and he wouldn’t ever want to pressure
you. Doc is close mouthed and careful, but Bea is the
complete opposite. What Doc thinks of as top secret, Bea
has shared with the whole town. If anyone asks, you could
just say that you are here to help until spring, and Doc
hasn’t discussed future plans with you.”
“Got that. Doc isn’t much of a talker, but he is really
nice.”
“Oh, yeah, Doc is great at what he does, and he’s very
patient about explanations. Even if you forget and ask the
same question twice, he won’t mind. He’ll go into great
detail about animal care, but the other stuff is Bea’s
department.”
“Doc made me want this job, but, honestly, you made
me feel like I could do it, Alice,” Tess said. “You gave me
the courage to make the big leap. I might still be in
Philadelphia, bored stiff. This is a whole different world.”
“I could tell how competent you’d be right off the bat.
We need someone like you here. It will be an adventure, I
promise you that.” They’d arrived at the low brick building
where the veterinary clinic was housed. Alice shut off the
engine and turned to her. “There is something I want to ask
of you, really for my own sanity, but for all of us, too. Doc
is working too hard for a man his age and Bea will flip if he
keeps it up. He can’t keep going like this. You might not
want to hurt Doc’s feelings, but I’m asking you to promise
to tell me right away if you realize this isn’t the job for
you.”
“I’m going to love it, I know I will,” Tess answered.
“You might, but ranch calls are pig shit and cold
weather and biting wind and chapped cheeks and freezing
feet. It can be grueling. You’ll either like it or hate it, it’s as
simple as that. The next six months will tell. You have
amazing credentials and you can go anywhere, and if this
isn’t your cup of tea, we can bring someone down from
Fort Collins in the spring. I want to be straight with you,
because you’ve already taken the leap. This might be the
ride of your life, but if you decide you want a different
colored parachute, just say the word and I promise to get
you out of here gracefully, okay?”
Tess looked at Alice’s sober face, appreciating her
forthrightness. “I won’t bail on you, Alice, but I do get it. I
hope I love it. I think I will, but I promise to let you know
if I’m not happy.”
“Life is too short to be miserable, and you are too
talented not to have the exact life you want. It will be
challenging as hell when you are up to your ears in cow
poop and placenta after your fourth or fifth difficult calving
of the day on only two hours sleep, in a month of seventyfive farm calls. You’ll know by spring if it works for you.”
Tess nodded intently, grateful for Alice’s comforting smile.
Unlocking the back door, Alice hung their coats.
“Welcome to Green Junction Veterinary Clinic, Dr.
Bamberger. Let’s get you started.” She showed Tess
through the waiting room and office, into the examining
rooms, surgery, infirmary, and dispensary. Tess looked
through the set of large animal surgical tools Doc had
ordered for her. “Let us know whatever else you want,”
Alice called from the reception area.
Doc arrived at eight. He was a large-framed man, very
tall, with a furrowed, kindly face, a shock of white hair, and
an easygoing manner. “We’ve got a smooth morning
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