Page 31 of Organized Chaos

“That would be terrific.” Sarah settled the headset and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’d love to see a video on how to give cats medicine.” She held out her arms and traced one of the old, white scars lining her arms. “I got this the last time I tried to get my cat to swallow a pill.”

Dr. Andrews leaned back in his chair.

Phillip’s chair squeaked. He tapped a few keys on the keyboard and pulled the microphone closer to his mouth. “Dr. Andrews, if you would put your microphone up like this.” Phillip showed what he wanted.

Dr. Andrews dragged the mic close but focused on Sarah. “Did you wrap him in a towel first?”

“Yep. He wiggled out.” Sarah scooted her seat closer and leaned toward Dr. Andrews. “Then he hid in a cabinet where I couldn’t reach him.”

Dr. Andrews’s deep laugh rumbled out.

“We’re ready to go.” Phillip tapped a stack of notecards on the desk. “Recording begins in five seconds.”

Sarah pushed back from the desk to give Phillip space to work.

Phillip cleared his throat and adjusted the microphone one last time. “Good morning, Mosher County. This is your friendly neighborhood podcast host, Phillip Williams. Today, I have the esteemed Dr. Andrews with me and we’re going to see how we can help you take better care of your animals.”

“Thank you for that warm welcome.” Dr. Andrews clasped the microphone and his eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I was just presented with a wonderful question that I’d like to address.”

“Actually,” Phillip interjected. “I have several things I’d like for us to discuss. The listeners sent in a list of questions for us.”

Sarah craned her head around to watch Phillip’s computer screen. It was filled with lines that jumped up and down likea heartbeat. She frowned and made a vague motion at the computer.

Phillip made a miniscule movement with his head. “Dr. Andrews, the local farmers would like to know what you recommend when it comes to inoculating cows.”

“It’s a great idea. And thankfully cows are much better at taking medicine than cats.” Dr. Andrews grinned in Sarah’s direction and relaxed in his seat. It squeaked as he rocked forward and back. “Now if you want a handy trick to giving medicine to cats, you can always try putting it in their favorite food.”

Sarah slapped a hand over her mouth to cover the burst of laughter.

Phillip looked back and forth between them with a dark look pinching his face. He made another motion toward her that she couldn’t decipher.

“Sarah, what other questions would you like answered?” Dr. Andrews continued to rock.

Phillip tapped the cards on his palm and frowned down at them.

“I’ve heard that there are a lot of common human foods that are devastating to dogs. Is that true?” She tried to smile at Phillip, but he ignored her and split his attention between the computer and the cards.

Dr. Andrews answered with a long list of foods that dog owners should avoid feeding their pets and rolled his hand around in a circle, motioning for her to continue.

Sarah and Phillip spoke at the same time, asking different questions.

Phillip groaned and rubbed at his eyes. He tapped the keyboard and pressed his fingers into his eyes. “Can we start over? Sarah, you don’t have a microphone, so the audience can’t hear when you speak.”

“Then get her a mic.” Dr. Andrews pushed forward. “This is fun. I like the unpredictable. That’s part of why I went into veterinary medicine.” He must have caught the look of pain that overtook Phillip because he rushed to clarify. “Not that I don’t appreciate your approach, Phillip. Those questions are great, but they’re a bit boring. And they’re all things that people call me out to the farm to treat.”

“No.” Phillip cleared his throat and tugged his collar. “It’s fine.” He rolled his head side to side. “I can make it work.”

He dug a third microphone out from under the desk and plugged it in. They spent the next thirty minutes flying by the seat of their pants. Sarah loved every minute of it but the growing line between Phillip’s eyes said that he felt the exact opposite.

By the time they finished and Phillip ended the recording, he was rubbing his head like a massive headache brewed there.

Dr. Andrews stood and shook Sarah’s and Phillip’s hands before clapping a Stetson over his salt and pepper hair and heading out.

Phillip followed him. Sarah dropped her headset on the desk and ran after them. Her foot caught on the microphone cord and tangled until the microphone fell onto the floor and bounced.

She kicked her foot free of the cord and made it downstairs in time to see Dr. Andrews throw up a hand in a wave and rumble down the drive.

“That was fun.” Sarah bounced down the steps and stopped beside Phillip.

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