The Troubleshooter: August 6

Tuesday

August 6

There are some days I regret not being affiliated with a corporation. I could've been, since Mom is. She works for a department store chain as a shift manager. She's apparently an awesome worker, and they love her there.

Anyway, the reason I regret it is because it means I can't visit corporate doctors when something goes wrong. There aren't many non-corporate doctors around any more, and they're so poorly trained you wonder if they got their medical license out of a vending machine. Hm, maybe they did. For example, when I got shot last month I had to visit Dr. Meddleston. He operated out of an office at the back of his house, which was located in one of the few unnamed districts left in Marblecreek. The waiting area was dusty, and his examining room wasn't much better. He only washed his hands because I insisted, and I swear he tried to hurt me in retaliation when he examined the bullet wound. If I'd gone to a corporate doctor I would've gotten pain medicine and probably antibiotics. Instead all I got was an x-ray and a bandage, and this thing is still bothering me. I could get some stuff from A.J. for the pain, but I won't. I'd rather die than ask anything of my brother.

I heard there are a few doctors working as Troubleshooters, but I don't know any. I really don't know anybody else in this business except Ladybug, and she lives in San Francisco.

My birthday is in less than a month. I'll be 21. I heard that used to be some sort of magic number, like you could vote and drink and stuff like that. Now it's just another age.

Updated: Almost forgot to mention that yesterday was Rhee's 10th birthday. I bought a couple movie tickets, and I promised to take her out to eat and to the movies this weekend. I'll let her eat all the junk food she wants at the theater. I'd buy her something she could take home with her and play with, but I'm afraid Morgaine would just steal it and sell it.