Long Journey, Sabrina Ruiz, Surgeon

By Peggy Buxton

Inez Hughes had already made the trip to see Dr. Ruiz, and now was missing her left leg at the hip. Little did the lovely Jamaican realize the impression she made on Krista Drake at the clothing optional resort. If only Leon Hughes had understood what Inez really wanted, maybe he would have never mentioned Dr. Ruiz to her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peggy Buxton
• Release date: Sep 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311460394

Peggy Buxton

Author, wife, lover, and amputee. I have been missing my left leg for years. Growing up I felt that it should not be there, and it is has been a blessing to have it gone. Today's term for this condition is BIID and in the past simply referred to as being a 'wannabe'. I am a full-time crutch user. Like my husband, I find amputees fascinating. 'Devotee' is the frequently used term. My stories have characters that mirror my life in some manner - wanted/needed to be an amputee or want to live with an amputee. I make no apology for my descriptions of these people and there is no intent to take away from the suffering of some amputees. I love feedback on the stories, but I cannot promise to reply.

Book preview

Chapter 1 - Summeridge Resort

Krista Drake stared though the dark sunglasses at the dark skinned woman, probably Jamaican she thought. The woman had just returned to the lounge chair by the swimming pool and put the pair of forearm crutches down. The day was already warm, and now a new layer of perspiration formed on Krista’s forehead. Krista had only noticed the woman a short distance before reaching the seat, but she was lovely and missing all of the left leg. She knew just how much because the woman wore a white thong bottom without a top.

The Summeridge Resort was an older establishment located on Lake Brookden fifteen miles from Oldrose, a quaint village. The recent renovations gave it a contemporary feel without losing any of the rustic ambiance. Mattie Johnston and Irma Mathews, both in their later thirties, had spent summers there when they were children, and were the latest owners. They believed in the naturist lifestyle so clothing was optional for the adults-only guests who frequented the resort.

There were seventy-five cabins scattered randomly about the main commons and linked by trails smoothly paved with asphalt. Most were large studios, but also with one, and two bedroom cabins mixed in as well. The larger cabins all had kitchens and living rooms. All the cabins had spacious porches with several Adirondack-style chairs for relaxing and visiting with other guests. A common eating hall offered three basic meals each day.

A long pier extended out into the lake with shorter branches reaching out to either side. Canoes and rowboats were available. No motor boats were allowed on that part of the lake. An Olympic sized swimming pool provided the most popular activity with lounge chairs scattered around the paved deck. A small bar at the pool offered a variety of refreshments.

Mattie returned from her inspection of the cabins. The cleaning staff was her responsibility, and she made the rounds about noon to insure everything was ready for the new guests to check in that afternoon. She and Irma were in their forties, and had been together for nearly ten years. Both preferred a traditional feminine appearance, and most considered them beautiful. Both disliked the phrase lipstick lesbians, though it described them well.

Hey, love, Irma cooed, looking up from the desk in the office. Mattie wore a white blouse with spaghetti straps, not minding that the almost nonexistent stump of her right arm showed. Irma watched as Mattie rubbed the stump. I love you.

You know I love you, too. Mattie leaned against the wall, crossed one ankle over the other. Second to the stump, Irma loved Mattie’s long, nicely shaped legs. In her khaki short pants, she was stunning. What about the Jamaican?

Wow! Irma nibbled her lower lip.

My feeling exactly. What do you think happened?

Not a clue. Makes me think about going to see Dr. Ruiz. Irma chuckled.

You know, we could offer discounts for BIID amputees. There aren’t that many so we wouldn’t lower our revenue by much. All the cabins are finally accessible, and wheelchair friendly.

"It would be nice to have a few others that share our issues. Have you contacted Nora Blair?"

That triple amputee Tabitha Howell mentioned? No, and I should. She married Shaun Clavert, right? How’s that working for them.

Last that Tabitha said, fine. Whew, a triple amputee. Imagine having several of those here.

Nora and Tabitha would make two. Might be too much for me. Mattie sighed. I might run over to India and have more amputations. She laughed.

I have tomorrow’s menu ready. Irma handed it to Mattie to review. She handed it back. Looks good. Sounds like Tuesday’s menu from last week. Mattie laughed. Maybe we should contract out the mess hall...oops, dinning room.

I’ve been running the numbers, and it might be time to do that.

Chapter 2 - Pool

Krista continued to stare at the Jamaican lady with one leg now standing on the other side of the pool, looking towards the lake. A handsome black man joined her. Krista cursed as he touched the woman’s back then a buttock, leaving the hand in place for a long moment before removing it.

What? Allen said. Allen Rowe was her guest for the weekend, not quite a boyfriend, and surely not a husband. They shared a cabin, and enjoyed sharing a bed, but he was not the kind man who would ever want to stay with one woman, and Krista was not ready to settle down.

Nothing.

What’s he see in her?

What’s not to like? She’s beautiful.

She’s missing a leg.

So?

What do you mean, Allen? What if I needed my leg off, would you stop seeing me?

Not as if we have a commitment.

Thankfully, she scoffed, watching the couple walking towards the pier. The woman walked expertly as though she had been an amputee for a long time. The scars on the stump hinted it had been more recent. If she were a new amputee, she was handling the loss quite well. Would it matter if I were missing an arm instead?

Like the dyke at the front desk?

Jesus, Allen. You are something else. What an asshole?

What did I say?

Krista stood and gathered her towel and bag. She glared at Allen. Maybe you should go home.

What about you?

We came in separate cars. I have a way to get home. She walked away.

He followed. Okay. When will I see you again?

The end of time would be too soon.

Krista sat in the chair on the cabin porch while Allen packed his bag. It did not take long for him to be outside.

Been swell, he said, leaning down for a kiss. She jerked her head away leaving him to kiss the air. Best of luck.

She watched Allen walking along the path towards the parking lot, and got into the new Mustang convertible that he claimed made him more manly. She was happy with her three-year old Prius. She listened to the tires squeal as he drove away, happy to be rid of him.

Krista pulled an iPad from her bag and continued to read the current novel, a crime-detective story.

Chapter 3 - Pier

Inez Hughes sat on the pier with the single foot swirling the brownish water, watching the mud from the bottom making the water less clear. She leaned back and felt the sun on her dark brown flesh. The white thong bottom lay beside in a small wad. It was rare she had a chance to be naked around others since leaving Jamaica and the resort she had once owned, but being so today she felt was good for her soul.

The amputation was a godsend, a gift that she had never expected, but had wanted all her life. Such was the curse of BIID, a rare disorder that had made her feel the leg was not supposed to be part of her body, not so different from a transgendered person believing they were living as the wrong gender. She wanted more, but this was a start.

Nice day, isn’t it? Leon said. They had met about a year before and married soon afterwards. He worked at a health insurance company in the claims division, and had noticed five claims with reference to BIID. His mind had gone into overdrive thinking about what that would be like to be with someone that wanted to be an amputee. He had always enjoyed the sight of an amputee lady, especially one missing all of one leg. Being with you would make a cloudy day bright.

Is it just because I had the amputation?

Before that conversation, I felt that way.

But now it is for real.

Yes, darling. How are you?

You know I wanted...needed it. I’m sorry I did not tell you.

Neither had shared their secrets - his being a devotee, her a wannabe. One night he mentioned the claims and how they referred to BIID. She confessed she had it, and he confessed he was a devotee. Within a few weeks, Inez was on the operating table at the Grayson Hospital in Powai, India, a neighborhood of Mumbai, and Dr. Ruiz was preparing to amputate the leg at the hip leaving only the pelvis.

It all worked out for both of us. What if I had never mentioned the claims?

I’d probably have eventually gone crazy. I don’t know. I didn’t know anyone to talk with, and honestly thought I might be the only one.

Hadn’t you looked on the Internet?

I’d seen the websites with pictures of amputee ladies. That only made things worse. They had what I thought I’d never have. I guess I had not formulated the search query correctly because I did not learn about wannabes or BIID. What do you think about Mattie?

Nice stump.

Should I go back to India? She chuckled.

No, you just got back.

When I spoke with Ayesha, it made me think some about my arms. Have you heard from her?

Ayesha Hamrick was a clerk working for Leon, and noticed the BIID related claims about the same time as Leon. She went to India just before Inez to have her left arm amputated above the elbow.

She met a guy on the flight home. He lives in Atlanta, and she moved in with him.

Bet you’re sorry about that. Imagine having an employee with one arm to look at every day. She snickered.

Why do that when I have the most beautiful amputee beside me all the time? Vicki should be back next month. Vicki Logan was a co-worker of Ayesha’s and traveled to India to have a leg amputated a few weeks before Inez. I wonder what Carol will think about it. Carol Scott was one of the people that approved claims. I still don’t know if Carol has any interest in BIID things.

I thought she just approves claims, that she gave those to you to review because she wasn’t sure how to handle it.

Yeah; maybe that’s all. I have this fantasy about everyone in the office having an amputation. He laughed. It almost seemed that way at the hospital. He laughed again. Two of the nurses were.

I spoke with Dr. Ruiz briefly, and Sabrina hinted there were others...both men and women. Maybe I should go back. She grinned.

Nah, I prefer you with one leg.

Chapter 4 - Napping

Krista fell asleep, the iPad in her lap. The soft afternoon breeze was soothing. Dreams came and went,