A moment of madness

A short story by Kath Ede

With unwavering focus, Edward's eyes remained fixed on Sean. Leaning over the desk, he observed intently as Sean meticulously examined the string-like texture of the stool sample under the microscope. As his eyebrows furrowed, he leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing with concentration. With wild ideas racing through his mind, the realisation that things were much simpler than he had been led to believe struck him.

“So it’s parasites and worms?” Edwards said with shock in his voice
With a swift motion, Sean glanced at Edward, his eyes filled with a mix of annoyance and superiority. “What an earth do you mean its parasites and worms? It’s not parasites and worms you fool in, it’s cancer.”

Irritated by Edward's stupidity and foolishness, Sean shook his head in disbelief. Edward remained oblivious to Sean's growing irritation as he enthusiastically shared his ideas out loud.

“So actually, it seems to me that we should be investigating whether cancer is a symptom of unchecked worms and parasites. And maybe if we treated people for the parasites and worms there would be decreasing cancer diagnoses, and possibly even a better healthcare system because we could plough more money into other things within the healthcare system.”

Sean's hand collided forcefully with the desk, the sound echoing through the room, as a surge of anger pulsed through his veins. Edward jumped and turned around when he heard the loud noise of Sean's frustrated outburst.

“I lost my wife to cancer. If it was as simple as parasites and worms I would have treated that, don’t you think? Don’t you think I would have treated the parasites and worms rather than her having to go through chemotherapy? It’s not parasites and worms its not that simple.”

As his anger intensified, Sean's face turned a fiery crimson, mirroring his inner turmoil. It was clear to Edward that he had to be cautious and refrain from expressing his thoughts aloud. It came as a surprise to him that Sean's wife had lost her battle with cancer. The weight of his foolish suggestion settled heavily on him, making him feel like a complete idiot. If cancer could be treated by addressing worms and parasites, Sean would have gone to great lengths to ensure his wife's health.

Sean took a deep breath, refocused his attention on the stool, and began examining the intricate threads within it. Reluctantly, he shifted his gaze towards Edward, his eyes filled with hesitation. With wavering confidence, he took a deep breath and posed his next question.

“Here. Do you want to have a look?”

Edward's head bobbed in agreement as he shuffled towards the microscope, his curiosity piqued to analyse the stool sample. While examining it, he couldn't help but notice the small, translucent eggs scattered throughout, seemingly infested with parasitic creatures. Then he looked at the tissue sample, only to see the eggs within the tumour. He clenched his teeth and pressed his lips together, desperately holding back the words swirling in his mind.

Sean had dedicated his life to the field of oncology, gaining expertise and experience over the course of two decades. Many considered him to be an exceptional consultant, someone who was frequently in high demand. A surreptitious sigh escaped Edward's lips, but he quickly caught himself and clamped his mouth shut, determined not to show his own exasperation.

He reminded himself that cancer was not a simple matter of parasites and worms. It was clear that cancer was not a simple matter of parasites and worms, and there were still many complexities to be understood. In the quest to understand the causes of cancer, an abundance of charities had sprung up, each striving to find answers. What made certain individuals more susceptible to developing cancer? What made their genes susceptible to harbouring cancer cells? No, cancer was far more complex than he made it seem, not just a matter of parasites and worms.

Edward shook his head, releasing a faint, embarrassed chuckle that escaped in a barely audible whisper. The weight of his own stupidity bore down on him, causing him to feel immense embarrassment.

“Sorry, Sean. I didn't mean to offend you; it was just a fleeting moment of thoughtlessness on my part. I long for the day when I can witness the eradication of cancer. I guess I got carried away with my own hopes, that it might actually be simple to treat it. When clearly that’s never gonna be the case. Well, not for a long time yet.”

Sean's nod was so slight that it was almost imperceptible, and he clenched his lips as he forced himself to smile. Edward’s naïveté was apparent to him, as he seemed blissfully unaware of the harsh realities of the world. Despite his flaws, Edward's heart was filled with good intentions, making him not such a bad man. With a little encouragement and better education, Sean could envision Edward making significant strides in the field of Cancer research. One day, he might reward Edward with a promotion. But he could see right now, that Edward was not ready for that. Still, Edward was someone that he would keep an eye on.

As the day came to a close, Edward hurriedly retrieved his jacket from the changing rooms located just outside the lab. Putting on his jacket, he noticed Sean approaching with a small nod of acknowledgment.

“You did well today, Edward. I was happy with your work. And as you know, I’m looking to promote some people. So, with a bit more training, I do see promotional opportunities for you. How about we go out for a drink and discuss this matter? Have you got time now? Are you needed at home? I know you’ve got a couple of young children.”

As soon as Edward heard the words opportunity and promotion, his posture automatically straightened and he stood at attention. “Yes, yes, yes, absolutely I can make it for a drink with you right now. I’ll just let Kelly know what’s happening.”

During his break the next morning, Edward made a quick visit to a pet shop.

“I’m looking for a dewormer for dogs or cats, possibly even horses. Do you have any?”

The shop assistant signalled for Edward to come to the area with over-the-counter medication for animals. “Is this what you’re looking for, Sir? Edward nodded his head repeatedly, a faint smile formed on his lips.

“Thank you. Are they expensive?”

“Er. Nah. Not really.” Replied the shop assistant with a dismissive shrug.
Edward's eyes moved back and forth, carefully examining the array of choices in front of him. He leaned in, his arm wrapping around the packets, clutching them protectively against his stomach. Determined to make it back from his break on time, he hurriedly ran to the till to pay for his things.

"Sir, you must have quite the collection of animals," remarked the shop assistant, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

Giving her a hesitant nod, Edward forced a tight smile onto his face as he left the shop and got back to work.
Sean saw Edward pace quickly through the office door. “Edward. I’ve been talking to my manager about getting you some training. To succeed, you must put in dedicated effort and meticulously follow the program from start to finish. But if you're willing to go the extra mile, then I believe we can pave the way for you to potentially earn a promotion after you complete your education.”

“Oh yes. Absolutely. Most certainly, I’d be interested in taking that course. Thank you Sean. I appreciate the encouragement and the opportunities.” Edward's eyes sparkled with a positive glint as he responded.

Upon arriving home, Kelly had prepared a stew on the stove as Edward had asked. Making his way to the cooker, Edward could hear the bubbling of the saucepan as he eagerly lifted the lid and was greeted by the irresistible smell of the lamb stew. Reaching into his pocket, he could feel the soft texture of the sachet he had purchased at the pet shop the day before, before finally pulling it out. He emptied the contents into the stew, swirling it around with his spoon.

“Daddy, can we get a dog, please?” Asked Edward’s eldest daughter at the dinner table as they sat down to eat their lamb stew as a family.

“No sweetheart. We won’t be getting the dog or any animals for that matter. I’m very busy at work, and mummy is very busy with the three of you. So, we won’t be needing any pets just yet. We have no time for them.”

“Just yet? You said just yet. Do you think we will do it, eventually? One day?” His daughter asked with excitement.

Edward shook his head, contemplating how to soften the blow of his daughter's inevitable disappointment, unsure whether to fake a smile. As he studied her face, he could discern a sense of resilience that reassured him she could handle whatever he had to say. “One day, you can have a dog in your own home. But we’re not getting one here, sweetheart.”

As he glanced at his wife Kelly, he caught her eye and she responded with a subtle smile before resuming her meal.

“This is delicious, love. We’ll have to have stew more often, maybe.” Edward said as he smiled back at his wife lovingly. The other sachets of dewormer in his pocket pressed against his thigh, leaving a faint scratching sensation. A smile spread across Edward's face as he contemplated the possibility that his unconventional actions with their food could assist his family, providing him with a sense of relief.