He led him down a brown and blue hallway. Emery used the walker as little as he could to walk, making it a few steps each time before he had to put any serious weight on it. The doctor kept glancing backward at him as he showed him the way. The hallway opened up into a sterile-looking gym with stretching tables, resistance bands, exercise bikes, padded boxes, and exercise balls everywhere. There was a counter and cabinets built into the wall next to the stretching tables, with a fridge and freezer built into it. Emery sighed as he passed it all. The doctor gestured at the exercise table and Emery approached.

“Have a seat,” Dr. Farthing said.

Emery gingerly placed his ass on the padded table and grunted. Dr. Farthing pushed the walker to the side and grabbed him by the legs and slowly swung him over to the length of the table. He got Emery to be completely on his back, and Emery panted lightly.

“So,” Dr. Farthing said, “why a year?”

“Just didn’t see the point,” Emery said.

“Why?”

“Just a whole lot of trouble. Ain’t too bad to use a walker. I’m old, anyway,” Emery said.

“You are not that old,” Dr. Farthing said.

“I feel old,” Emery said.

“Well, you’re as old as you feel,” Dr. Farthing said.

“I guess so,” Emery said.

“So, let’s get you feeling less old,” Dr. Farthing said.

“Sounds good,” Emery said.

“So, if you didn’t see the point then, I’m guessing you do now. Where do you wanna be?” Dr. Farthing said.

“Just a little better, I guess,” Emery said.

“What changed?”

“Excuse me,” Emery said.

“What changed? You didn’t see the point, now you do, you got a goal in mind? Ditching the walker or something?”

“Well,” Emery said, “I want to take care of my dog better. And she wants to go for a walk in the woods.”

“Perfect,” Dr. Farthing said. “I can work with that.”

“I know it’s silly,” Emery said.

“Who cares? Every reason to get better is a good reason. I got your back. Now, let’s loosen you up, huh?”

1937

From The Desk of Fuhrerprinzip Fritz Julius Kuhn, Addressed to St. Louis Office Leader Barry Siegfried, Regarding Placement of Midwest German American Heritage Sites and Discrete Locations for Boy Camps Amidst Troubling Activity in Congress

Siegfried,

I am deeply troubled by your report out of Armin. I am deeply disappointed in your understanding of the scenario. What we have there is a bucolic, German-hearted settlement in a wide open wilderness that seems ideally suited to what we have requested for our New York and New Jersey departments. I have read the newspaper clippings! A hundred years ago they promised that all the children there would be raised speaking German! For Goodness sakes, it is named after a legendary Roman-killing General! A stalwart!