Monday, January 23, 2012

Doctor Julie McMillan~Part 1

 
Julie McMillan had been a source of pride and exasperation to her father, Doctor Benjamin McMillan. Julie was the youngest of Mary and Doc McMillan's two daughters. Josephine was a quiet, well behaved young lady even at an early age. Julie was born during the worst thunderstorm that anyone in Camden Corners could remember. With claps of thunder nearly breaking the sound barrier, the neighbors could still hear Julie's cries the moment she was born. She was a rough and tumble tomboy all through her childhood. Even the older boys in town didn't mess with Julie and if they did they had the bruises to show for it. Tommy Campbell was the only boy who wasn't afraid of Julie. He always treated her like a girl and Julie didn't like that one bit.
As the years went on, she noticed her heart did flip flops when Tommy came around. That made Julie so mad she would punch him just because he was near her. Tommy just smiled at her and went about his business.
Tommy had known from a very young age that he wanted to be a doctor. When he was nearly 7 years old, his Momma had become very ill with a high fever that strained her heart. Doc McMillan had been by her bedside day after day until she showed signs of improvement. All of the neighbors that stopped by to see her left in tears. Although they didn't say anything to Tommy, he knew they all thought his precious Momma was going to die. Doc told him that he would not give up on her until she was well again and he was as good as his word. Doc believed in miracles as well as medicine and after his mother fully recovered, so did Tommy. From that point on, Tommy followed Doc around whenever he could. Eventually he applied to medical school and off he went with Doc's blessing.
Julie missed Tommy when he left town although she wouldn't admit that even to herself. Julie didn't know when her interest in medicine had begun. Maybe it was because she was following around after Tommy as he was following around after Doc. She announced one evening that she had decided to go to medical school herself and become a doctor.
Doc thought it was a noble profession, but not for a female. It was difficult enough for a man, but women had it so much harder. Julie, always up for a challenge, was not to be dissuaded. Mary told Ben he'd better just give in because Julie would do what she wanted anyway. Doc, Mary and Josephine saw Julie off at the train station. Mary knew Julie wouldn't appreciate tears from any of her family so they all remained stoic until the train left the station. If medical school had been difficult for Julie, she never let on. Dr. Julie McMillan graduated with honors and was ready to practice medicine alongside her father and Tom who had joined her Dad the previous year.
Doc McMillan was happy to have the extra help with his patients. He had been the only doctor in Camden Corners for many years. Mary began helping Doc with his office work when he started his practice on the first floor of the old McMillan family home. Together they decided it was high time they took a vacation and planned a trip to St. Louis to attend the World's Fair and maybe see some of the sights along the way.
Martha Wharton's niece, Louisa was coming to Camden Corners to stay with her aunt for an extended period of time. Martha suggested that Louisa would be available to help out with the office work while Mary was away. Louisa had worked for doctors before so Mary would be happy to have her fill in while she was gone. When Louisa arrived at the McMillan house. Mary invited her into the reception area and since all the doctors were with patients, she began to show her the files and went over the routine of the office. Doc and Julie both finished with their patients and Mary introduced them to Louisa.
Before long Tom came out of the examining room after stitching up Willie Burke's split lip. He stopped in his tracks as Louisa Andrews threw her arms around him and gave him a big kiss on the lips.

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