Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PATIENT (11/25/21)
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TITLE: Not a Patient Person | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Westefeld
12/02/21 -
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It was especially galling when my boss shouted at me to hurry up. If he only knew he was talking to the Speedster’s secret identity. He yelled at me, “Belinda Snow, you’ve been late four times this week! Do you need a new alarm clock?”
I wonder if my dad, the original Speedster, ever had this happen? I’m used to sleeping in, taking a three minute bath, (a long time at my speed), and running to work in less than a second. I hope my speed will return. I can’t wait to resume racing to crime scenes to arrest criminals just as they’re leaving.
I was sitting at my desk for what seemed forever in my depowered state, when I got a report on my police scanner that Drainer was seen robbing a bank just down the block. I decided to head over to see if I could still do something to help out.
I ran down the block at what felt like a snail's pace. How can people get anything done so slowly? It took forever to shed my office clothes and pull up the mask of my Speedster costume in the nearby alley. I arrived as Drainer was strolling out of the bank, apparently unconcerned about any speedy hindrances. “Stop!” I shouted.
He did, though I suspect more from the surprise of seeing me than anything else. He took a detour around me, walking in an exaggeratedly slow way, as if to taunt me. “I didn’t expect to see you here, my dear,” he sneered.
Despite my powerlessness I still reached out, grabbed his arm, pulled him close and growled into his ear, “Return my speed, right now!”
Drainer smirked. “Aren’t you the impatient one? Yes, I hit you with a powerful blast, but it should wear off in a couple more weeks.”
I kept my cool long enough to shake him and demand, “You did this, you can undo it. Now!”
He pulled his arm free and wagged a finger in my face. “Can’t do that. I blew out my wrist blaster in our last tussle. That’s why I had to rob this bank. Electronic components aren't cheap, you know.”
The police finally arrived and cuffed Drainer. As they stuffed him into a squad car, Drainer taunted me once more. “See you soon, Slowpoke.”
I knew that I couldn’t possibly wait a couple of weeks for my speed to return, so I reached out to my late father’s doctor, who knew his double identity. I hadn’t seen him since Dad died, but knew that no one knew more about the medical nature of my powers than he would. I could barely wait to see if he had any answers.
Doctor Brown was an elderly gentleman, whose office staff tried to tell me he wasn’t taking on new patients, since he was nearing retirement. I informed them that I had seen him about five years ago and I really needed an appointment. They relented and gave me an appointment for Monday afternoon.
I arrived for my appointment, and Doctor Brown smiled as he shut the exam room door. He reached into a small refrigerator and pulled out a vial of something red. "I knew saving this for all these years might come in handy.”
He asked me to roll up my sleeve. While he looked for a vein, I asked, “You aren’t going to examine me to see why I’m here?”
He said, “No,” as he plunged the needle into my arm. “A week with no Speedster sightings gave me a pretty good idea, Belinda.”
As the syringe emptied into my arm I asked, “What was that?”
“A sample of your father’s blood I kept on hand for just such an emergency. Now if I’m right, this should restore your powers.”
I stood up and raced around the exam room a thousand times in a second. “I feel back to normal!”
On my way out he handed me a bag of leftover Halloween candy. “You’ll need this before trying any super-speed stunts.”
He was right. I ate it all in less than a second in the car, doctor's orders after all.
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Loved it. Where on earth did that come from?
Awesome creativity. I wish you the very best result.