“What’s wrong?”
“My legs, uh, sting a little.”
“Okay, you need to take a shower. A cold shower. Do not rub your ankles. Try not to itch them either. I think fiberglass particles are on your ankles. That’s what’s stinging. It’s from the old insulation. When you shower, you want the pores to stay closed. Understand? And do you have aloe vera?”
“I do.”
“Use that after you take your cold shower. It’ll calm the skin. We’ve got to remove the insulation up there. We’re going to have to do foam. You’re too sensitive to fiberglass. I shouldn’t have let you up there.”
“Let me? I own the place.”
“You’re not going up again. It’s my job anyway.”
“And don’t you have a raccoon in a cage to manage? I’ll deal with my own issues.”
“Crap, yes, I do. Okay. Rinse off, I’ll get rid of the critter, and you stay out of the attic.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Goldie did think a shower was in order after her attic experience.
“I’m going to have my buddy pick up the raccoon. I’ll be on the grounds, but text me if you’re nauseous again. Or if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t put those clothes in your normal hamper.”
“What?”
“Just put them on the floor. I’ll come to get them in a garbage bag. They’re not expensive, I hope.”
Goldie did not have a gauge for what Joe thought was expensive.
Goldie did as Dr. Joe instructed.
Her phone buzzed with a text every ten minutes. Each time, it was Joe.
You okay?
Remember not to itch.
Go easy on the aloe vera. You don’t want to rub it in hard.
At first, it was annoying, and then, it started to dawn on her what was happening. Joe gave a darn. He was legitimately worried about her.
After she was showered, changed, and feeling a million times better, she went outside to find him. Joe was waving to a man driving a truck that was leaving the property.
“Ricky the Raccoon taking a trip?”
“It’s all humane. He’ll take him to the woods, where he can’t eat insulation or poo inside.”
“Good, that makes me happy. So, what’s next on the agenda for the day?”
“I would think you firingme.”
“What?”
“I shouldn’t have let you in the attic. I should have checked your footwear. That’s inexcusable.”
“Please, it’s fine. I’m not going to fire you.”
