10/1/01
While I have a very clear idea of Edward Galich, I’m still a little fuzzy on the two characters who are becoming the main characters of my story, Lawrence Anderson and Michael Galich. They are still rather one-dimensional for me, especially Michael who seems to be a typical ambitious, caring doctor and nothing more. I’m not sure what sort of exercise would open the man up to me right now. But I’ll tackle him through the main points of the chapter.
What he does: Simply put, he does his best. He is a doctor by choice, perhaps because of the life of death he was born into (from the war) or perhaps because he has such a caring soul that it was the most immediate way to help. Either way, he has a passion for the field of medicine- the challenge, the patients, the lifestyle. But he realizes his limitations more easily than some, always trying to heal his patients through medicines… but also acknowledging when simple caring can go far beyond a prescription.
He is trying for chief resident of the ER, and spends much of what free time he has on the other side of the hospital in the children’s ward. He befriends a young boy named James (whom he refers to as James Bond when they play) who is living (barely) with AIDS.
What he thinks: I will probably be writing Michael’s section in third person to alleviate problems of comprehension in time jumps. So the third person will be omniscient and know his thoughts. First, he’ll be worried about his spot for chief resident. He’ll be rather preoccupied with trying to save the life of a Vietnam vet, then trying to find him through the major part of his section. Then he’ll blame himself quite a lot, and then visit his friend. He always enjoys his visits with James, despite the terrible circumstances of the boy’s being there. Ironic that he as a child who didn’t die brought so much hope to his family, while now a child who will inevitably soon die brings so much hope to him.
What he says: He rarely (never) speaks of his emotions, certainly not to patients. He has no wife or current girlfriend, so if he is to show emotions at all, especially grief or worry, he does so completely in private, on top of the hospital roof for example. But most times when he is emotionally distraught he pays a visit to Jamie and anything terrible is overtaken by excitement and happiness.
What others think about him: Little Jamie sees him as a friend but also looks up to him for his position. The child is wise and comforting and brings much to Michael’s life… and they truly care for each other. His father (and mother) are both very proud of him.