Not All Consumed by Soil Critters

The Upper Basin Chronicles

Chapter 27

Not All Consumed by Soil Critters

As Alexander and Grandma Teresa finished cleaning up and tucking in a very sick Rose Murphy for the second time, the telephone rang.

"Hello." Alexander picked up the portable in the upstairs hallway.

"Hi! It's Laura, how are you?" she said.

"Hello! Yes, I know it's you. Great to hear your voice. It's been awhile. I'm fine. But, Rosie's a pretty sick kid at the moment," he replied.

"Oh? I'm sorry. What's wrong?" Laura asked.

"Flu-like stuff. She's vomiting, has diarrhea and cramps. We don't think it's anything she ate. No one else at the table feels bad. She did go tubing in the marsh today with Mai Vang. I think she must've swallowed a mouthful of bad water," he said.

"Not good," responded Laura. "Does she have a fever?"

"Yep." Alexander cut off another sigh. "Where are you?" he asked.

"O'Hare. What about E coli?" she queried him.

"What about it? This is the first time you've called. You need a ride?" Alexander knew his voice showed an edge. He immediately regretted it.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I should have called. I was with family, you know how that is. But now I'm worried about Rose. Do you think she could have an E coli infection?"

"Maybe. I have a hunch Harold Mundt really pumped the manure to the field above our slough. So, if he over-applied it -- and there would be E coli in the manure -- you can imagine how it would not all be consumed by the soil critters, and the extra would move downgrade with any runoff, especially with the storms we've had. I found a breached terrace up there today, in fact." He paused.

Laura said again, "Not good. It can be nasty stuff. Was there any blood in her diarrhea?"

"No. Why?" Alexander sounded worried now.

"Well, there are several stains of E coli, and some can cause hemorrhaging by attacking the lining of the colon. She'll get dehydrated, too." Laura said.

"Great," he said. The line was quiet, then crackled with static. Thunder rolled south of the Murphy place.

"Look, I didn't mean to sound irritated that you haven't called. I sort of missed you. I mean, I did miss you. And I'd be happy to come get you at the airport, but I'm worried about Rose."

"Sort of missed me, eh? That's good, I think..." Laura felt awkward.

She pressed on. "Sounds to me like you need to get Rose in right away to see a doctor, so don't think about me right now, OK? Anyhow, there's a thunderstorm here, so my flight's not going anywhere, at least for awhile," she said.

"She seems quiet right now," Alexander said. "I thought I would take her to the doc in the morning. And I do miss you. I want to see you."

"Alexander, are you aware there are now super strains of E coli that are resistant to many antibiotics? The theory is that overuse of livestock antibiotics is creating new strains resistant to the standard antibiotics we use to treat E coli infections in humans. Just keep a close eye on her," she replied. Then, "I miss you, too."

"Damn," he said. The line crackled again. Thunder pounded south of the farm. He heard Rose moan faintly from her bed.

"Daddy?" she said, "Say, 'Hi' for me."

"OK, Hon'. Go to sleep, please." He held the phone away from his mouth, and then spoke to Laura again.

"Rose says to say 'hi'," he said. "So, when was your flight due in?"

"Ten-fifty-five" she said. "But, who knows at this point. I may rent a car rather than take the rain check bed. We'll see. Can I call you back in awhile?"

"Sure," he said. "I'll look forward to that. Thanks for calling."

"Me, too," she said. "Give Rose a hug for me. She's a sweetheart."

"Yeah, I know. I'm a lucky guy. You take care."

"You, too," she said, "And you are a lucky guy. I'll see you soon. Bye."

"Bye." Alexander hung up.

The prairie sky boiled low and dark in the south with rising anvil clouds capped in gleaming white. Another distinct band of gold over violet ran along the western hills. Alexander sat down at Rose's bedside and gave her a little hug.

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Next week... "Rose's Request of Mother Earth," Chapter 28.

The Upper Basin Chronicles, Chapter 27 was written and edited by John Gabbert.

Comments? Email feedback to The Upper Basin Chronicles, Chapter 27.

The characters presented here are purely fictional, and neither bear resemblance to persons living or dead, nor represent the views or opinions of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.