The next day, Ascana goes down to check on the Wilsons, and she learns something more about Daniel Train. It seems he lives in the same low-income district.
“When I have back trouble, Dann’l shows me to lay like so with a pillow under my knee…when we have dry air in the winter, Dann’l shows us to wring then hang out washcloths in the room ‘fore going t’sleep…”
Esther leans forward and adds: “When God takes our Little One Home, Dann’l stays with me and Jedediah as long as we needs to talk—or even stays away if we needs that, no questions asked…”
“So we don’t ask him no questions neither.” Jedediah says.
“Tell Dr. Moreno about the medicine he gives us.” Esther smiles.
To this, Ascana almost jumps. Medicine? Ascana is beginning to like Daniel, but…unlicensed medicine?!
“Well, he gives us these small shiny things every once in awhile and tells us to take two of them, let them melt, not to chew them. They’re sweet and sour—fruitlike, if you ask me, Dr. Moreno.” Jedediah says. I don’t ask Dann’l questions, but can I ask you—what kind of medicine has fruity taste?
“I-I’m not the one that makes the medicine, so I don’t know,” Ascana dodges.
“What he gives me is minty!” says a voice in the doorway. Yesterday’s youth is standing there grinning.
“He gives you some too?” Ascana doesn’t even know who she is talking to, but she asks anyway. “This medicine—he gives it to you?” She feels uneasy. So it’s not just the Wilsons, but apparently a lot of people this Daniel Train pretends to play doctor with!
Later on, Ascana realizes Daniel has not been practicing unlicensed medicine. When he works for convenience stores and comes home with extra candy the store is going to throw away anyway, he happens to stuff some in his back pockets, so when he sees someone undernourished needing a sugar boost, he sometimes simply gives away a packet of whatever he happens to have. And make it last, he tells them, don’t eat it all at once but just two a day.
He doesn’t pretend it’s medicine, but everyone figures they call him “Doctor” Daniel, so that must be medicine he’s giving them, right? But Doctor Daniel’s medicine never tastes bitter!
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