Ben Chamberlain's Inheritance

Chapter Five

"How is she?" Ben asked Dr. Mekenzie immediately he came out to the reception.

"She is okay at the moment but she is sick."

"But what caused her to collapse? Its not like, I over worked her on the farm." Mrs. Palsy said uncaringly. The doctor gave her a look that was laced with questions.

Mrs. Palsy just looked away.

"She was weak that's what caused her collapse." Dr. Mekenzie said with the expression he gave her earlier.

"But what caused her to be weak to the point of collapsing." Ben asked worriedly.

"Come into my office please, let's talk in there."

In the office, Dr. Mekenzie continued,"We.did a test on her, after I noticed the paleness of her skin; I realized there was an issue."

"What sickness?" Ben asked alarmed.

"She has Acute Myeloid Leukaemia; and the situation is not looking good."

Mrs. Palsy said nothing. She looked disinterested.

"Doctor I am surprised because she never complained about feeling sick," Ben said.

"And no one noticed anything sickly about her all this while?" The doctor said with a surprised look.

Ben said nothing; the statement felt  like an indictment on him, especially since his mother was no more.

"Come to think of it doctor, this wasn't the first " Ben said.

"It had happened on two other ocassions but we didn't read too much meaning into it." 

"You all should not have ignored it." The doctor said.

"Dr.Mekenzie what do we do now," Mrs. Palsy asked impatiently.

"She has to undergo treatment." he replied with an annoying look.There was a brief silence."And it has to start as soon as possible." The doctor said.

Worry was etched on Ben's face." Can I see her now?" Ben asked.

"She is sleeping now but in the next 30, you can go in and see her.

............................................................................

"Ben I am sorry I didn't get here in time." Henry 

said immediately Ben came out of the ward

where Betsy was.

"Its okay." Ben answered sullenly

"So how is she?" Henry asked

"She is fine right now but she is really sick." 

"What kind of sickness."

"She has cancer."

"What!" Henry exclaimed.

Ben tried to stifle the tears that were threatening

to cry out.

Henry was speechless and sad.

As Ben and Henry talked Mrs. Palsy kept looking

at Henry suspiciously especially with the hood

that he wore.

"She will have to go through treatment, obviously." Henry said.

"Yea, that is what the doctor said."

"She going to be fine Ben, she will." Henry said; trying to comfort Ben and give him hope.

"Thanks Henry, thanks."

"Aunt Mary couldn't be here; she is not feeling too well."

"What is wrong with her." Ben asked.

"She had a fall and broke her ankle."

"Oh! How is she now?"

"I guess she is okay." Henry replied.

"Would you like to see Betsy?" Ben asked.

Henry's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"I sure would love to." He said smiling.

.....................................................................

Six weeks after they came back from the hospital,

Mrs. Palsy called Ben, "Listen I don't think I can cope with taking care of your sick sister."

"But ma'am, I can't take care of her all by myself and right now she needs to start her treatment." Ben said with a teary voice.

Betsy in her weak state just looked at his brother with empathy.

"Also that means you have to find somewhere else to live." she added.

"But ma'am what have we done to you." Betsy's voice was low and Mrs. Palsy could hardly hear what she said.

"You have done nothing; I just can't cope with this anymore." Mrs. Palsy said pointing at Betsy and her wheel chair.

"But we have nowhere to go."  Ben said.

"Of course you do," she countered.There was a confused look on Ben's face.

"Ben, the first day at the hospital I overheard a bit of your conversation with the boy who wore a hoody." She said.

 

Ben said nothing.

"I took you in because you didn't have any relative with whom you both  could live with." she paused. Ben said nothing.

"But from the conversation I overheard, you seem to have an aunt." She said with that kind of smile that someone has when he or she has discovered a treasure.

"Is that not so Ben?Did I hear wrong?" She asked.

"No ma'am, you heard right."

"But why didn't you say anything about it to me."

"I didnt know about her until after the death of my mum. It was during that period I knew of her existence."

"Listen, I am a widow and I can not cope with this right now. Her treatment is goin to be expensive; as if being crippled wasn't enough, she also has cancer." She yelled that last part.

"Both of you will have to go live with her. So inform her to come see me tomorrow so that I can hand you over to her  formally." She said.

Ben still did not say anything.

I allowed you both to remain here on my farm after your mum's death, because I was persuaded to do it."

Betsy was crying as she heard what she was saying.

"Your mother was not that useful in the house.

"She was useless; always falling sick and ......."

"Enough of what you are saying Mrs. Palsy." Ben said menacingly.

"What did you say?"  She asked casually.

"I said enough with the rubbish that you are spewing."

There was shock on her face

"How dare you talk to me that way?" She said

"I will talk to you anyhow I seem fit." Ben said moving towards her.

The shocked expression on her face , transformed to fear

"My mom was your maid and she worked so hard that it affected her health till she died." Ben said in anger

Mrs. Palsy was terrified now.

"Probably if you had paid her, the two months salary that you owed her, she would not have died." Ben yelled

Tears just trickled down Betsy's face as his brother spoke about their mum.

"You are a woman without a soul; a slave mistress." Ben yelled out.

Mrs. Pasly began to shiver as though she had been trapped 

in an iceberg."Only God knows if it wasn't you that also killed your husband with your cold heart." Ben said finally.

There was a silence that was deafening. Ben was panting hard from the energy he expelled saying those words to Mrs. Palsy.

"Get out, get out, get ooooooooout." Mrs. Palsy yelled.The walls vibrated due to her yelling. "Take your crippled sister and your wretched existence out, from my house."

Ben looked at her straight in the eye and said, "one day you

will wish you never said that," and he left with his sister to his aunt.

................................................................................

"I am glad you came Ben. Please make yourself at home."

Mary said with a feeling of elation. "Thank you aunt. It really feels good to finally meet you." Betsy said, feebly.

"You don't need to thank me. This is the least I can do to honour the memory of my only sister."  She said with teary eyes.

"Its okay aunt, *cough*" Betsy started coughing.

Betsy was given water to stop the cough; but she was weak from it so she was taken to the bed to lie down.

"Ben what is the next thing as regards Betsy's situation?"

A backdoor that led to the back of the cottage opened and Henry walked in. "Hi! Ben."

"Hi! Henry."  Ben replied.

"To your question, she is suppose to go for chemo today, although she has some drugs that she has been taking, moreover it has been six weeks since she was diagnosed." Ben replied.

"That means she ought to have started chemo a long time ago." Henry said.

"Yea, you are right." Ben replied.

Mary had a reflective look on her face. She was wondering how she was going to raise money to fund her niece's treatment which was going to cost money that she did not have.

...............................................................................l

"Ben! Ben! Ben!."  Mary shouted hysterically.

Ben got up instantly.

"What is it?" He asked looking towards where Betsy lay.

"I don't know what is wrong with her. She woke me up and complained about having a headache and then she went limp." Mary said crying.

"Betsy! Betsy! Betsy! wake up,  please wake up." Ben shouted in fear. Betsy was not moving and there was blood coming out of her nose.