intense burning sensation, but when I started scratching I couldn’t stop, much as a junky can’t resist getting a fix. The feeling was addictive, something like an orgasm, but caused by exquisite pain instead of pleasure.
I called Tina at the family business and told her my symptoms after assuring her this new problem wasn’t related to my injuries, which were fine. Tina had cleaned up my wounds the night before. Rigo was the only one who didn’t buy my story about tripping in the parking lot of the motel, but he was unable to get the truth out of me during a mild interrogation. He knew about most of my previous adventures when I was seeking my identity, and said I attracted trouble like a candle flame attracts a moth. Tina finally told him to lay off.
Tina was sympathetic to my new problem. “A family friend of ours is a dermatologist. I’ll give you the number of the office where she works. Give it a call and mention my name. Maybe she can fit you in.”
I called the doctors’ office in Torrance and asked for an appointment with Dr. Kemp. The receptionist asked me to wait while she checked the schedule. “Dr. Kemp has a cancellation at noon. Can you make that?”
“I’ll be there.”
Other than the itching, I only felt a bit stiff from my injuries. Maybe running would take my mind off my troubles. I put on my running clothes, keeping my arms and legs covered, and headed out the door to run in the hills of Palos Verdes. I had to run slowly or the itching became worse, so it was less than a successful workout.
***
“What have you been doing the past couple of days?”
I was bare from the waist up. If Dr. Kemp were male this might be uncomfortable, especially since my breasts were covered with the rash. On the other hand, a male doctor as handsome as Dr. Kemp was blond and pretty… She looked much too young to be a doctor.
I stared at Dr. Kemp. What did my activities have to do with the rash? “Yesterday morning I went to a memorial service.”
“That’s probably not it. Most churches don’t have—”
“It was outdoors.”
“Outdoors where?”
When I explained, Dr. Kemp shook her head. “I think you have poison oak. I doubt that you could have gotten it there. You need to have contact with the plants.”
“Oh.” I blushed as I remembered. “Yesterday afternoon a friend and I went to Nojoqui Falls Park in Santa Barbara County. We…sat in some greenery.”
“Aha. From the looks of it, you rolled around in some three-leaved greenery. Was your friend male, by any chance?”
“Yes.” I laughed. “I don’t know why I’m so embarrassed about it. I hadn’t seen him for several months.”
“From the looks of things, you made up for your celibacy. It’s covering a lot of your body. In fact, this is about the worst case of poison oak I’ve ever seen. Have you had it before?”
“I…I don’t remember.” I didn’t want to get into my amnesia problem.
“You probably have. You’re showing a strong allergic reaction.”
“I…have itching in my genital area.”
“I had a male patient with a case almost as bad as yours. He complained about genital itching so I asked him to pull down his pants. His penis was really swollen. It was definitely caused by the poison oak, although our head doctor says I have the highest EQ rating in the office.”
“EQ rating?”
“Erection quotient.”
I laughed. “I’ve never heard of that before.”
“Secret of the medical profession. Regarding the itching, I’ve had patients with poison oak who had to tie their hands together at night to try to keep themselves from scratching in their sleep. I’ll give you some steroids and some lotion. Scratching just makes the itching worse. The rash should go away in a couple of weeks.”
“A couple of weeks?” I groaned.
Dr. Kemp gave me samples and a prescription. “Well, you’re my last patient. At least I get Wednesday afternoon off. Although unlike many doctors, I don’t play golf.”
I
I called Tina at the family business and told her my symptoms after assuring her this new problem wasn’t related to my injuries, which were fine. Tina had cleaned up my wounds the night before. Rigo was the only one who didn’t buy my story about tripping in the parking lot of the motel, but he was unable to get the truth out of me during a mild interrogation. He knew about most of my previous adventures when I was seeking my identity, and said I attracted trouble like a candle flame attracts a moth. Tina finally told him to lay off.
Tina was sympathetic to my new problem. “A family friend of ours is a dermatologist. I’ll give you the number of the office where she works. Give it a call and mention my name. Maybe she can fit you in.”
I called the doctors’ office in Torrance and asked for an appointment with Dr. Kemp. The receptionist asked me to wait while she checked the schedule. “Dr. Kemp has a cancellation at noon. Can you make that?”
“I’ll be there.”
Other than the itching, I only felt a bit stiff from my injuries. Maybe running would take my mind off my troubles. I put on my running clothes, keeping my arms and legs covered, and headed out the door to run in the hills of Palos Verdes. I had to run slowly or the itching became worse, so it was less than a successful workout.
***
“What have you been doing the past couple of days?”
I was bare from the waist up. If Dr. Kemp were male this might be uncomfortable, especially since my breasts were covered with the rash. On the other hand, a male doctor as handsome as Dr. Kemp was blond and pretty… She looked much too young to be a doctor.
I stared at Dr. Kemp. What did my activities have to do with the rash? “Yesterday morning I went to a memorial service.”
“That’s probably not it. Most churches don’t have—”
“It was outdoors.”
“Outdoors where?”
When I explained, Dr. Kemp shook her head. “I think you have poison oak. I doubt that you could have gotten it there. You need to have contact with the plants.”
“Oh.” I blushed as I remembered. “Yesterday afternoon a friend and I went to Nojoqui Falls Park in Santa Barbara County. We…sat in some greenery.”
“Aha. From the looks of it, you rolled around in some three-leaved greenery. Was your friend male, by any chance?”
“Yes.” I laughed. “I don’t know why I’m so embarrassed about it. I hadn’t seen him for several months.”
“From the looks of things, you made up for your celibacy. It’s covering a lot of your body. In fact, this is about the worst case of poison oak I’ve ever seen. Have you had it before?”
“I…I don’t remember.” I didn’t want to get into my amnesia problem.
“You probably have. You’re showing a strong allergic reaction.”
“I…have itching in my genital area.”
“I had a male patient with a case almost as bad as yours. He complained about genital itching so I asked him to pull down his pants. His penis was really swollen. It was definitely caused by the poison oak, although our head doctor says I have the highest EQ rating in the office.”
“EQ rating?”
“Erection quotient.”
I laughed. “I’ve never heard of that before.”
“Secret of the medical profession. Regarding the itching, I’ve had patients with poison oak who had to tie their hands together at night to try to keep themselves from scratching in their sleep. I’ll give you some steroids and some lotion. Scratching just makes the itching worse. The rash should go away in a couple of weeks.”
“A couple of weeks?” I groaned.
Dr. Kemp gave me samples and a prescription. “Well, you’re my last patient. At least I get Wednesday afternoon off. Although unlike many doctors, I don’t play golf.”
I
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