Is There A Doctor In The Village?/Part 4

"It's very surprising to discover that Jokey contracted a potentially fatal disease after trying to fool Dabbler with a disease in order to give him a purpose," Polaris said.

"We were surprised ourselves, Polaris," Smurfette said. "Luckily Dabbler proved that he was good enough doctor to smurf Jokey the medical treatment that he needed."

"And it was also very fortunate that Jokey's condition actually wasn't very serious, if this smurf remembers from what this smurf was told of the incident," Empath added. "Otherwise, this smurf would be mourning his loss to this very day."

Smurfette giggled. "I wouldn't miss him too badly, but the village just wouldn't be the same without Jokey Smurf. Anyway, Papa Smurf came home a few days later and saw how things were smurfing in the village when he checked up on Dabbler and Jokey."

Then Polaris saw that Papa Smurf was in Dabbler's house with a few other Smurfs while Jokey was still laid up in bed, having a water bag over his head. "Well, my little Smurfs, it seems that you've had a busy time while I was away," Papa Smurf said.

"Fortunately, Papa Smurf, Jokey's condition proved to be less serious than I suspected," Dabbler said.

"Yeah, who would have suspected that I was allergic to pink paint?" Jokey added.

"How do you feel, Jokey Smurf?" Papa Smurf asked as his attention was turned to Dabbler's patient.

"Well...it only hurts when I laugh, Papa Smurf," Jokey replied, laughing for a bit before he groaned in pain.

"Dabbler's special skin cream should have him up and around in a few days," Smurfette said.

"You've done very well for yourself, Dabbler," Papa Smurf said, sounding pleased with Dabbler's efforts.

"Thanks, Papa Smurf, but now I know that there's a lot more that I need to learn before I can smurf myself a real doctor," Dabbler said.

"Indeed there is, Dabbler, but at least you have the enthusiasm," Papa Smurf said, patting Dabbler on the shoulder to show how proud he was for him.

"Oh yes, Papa Smurf," Dabbler said. "I am prepared to study for days and days...maybe even weeks."

"Maybe even years, Dabbler," Papa Smurf said. "The practice of medicine is a lifelong dedication, but I'm sure that you have the will to smurf it through for as long as you're eager to learn."

Dabbler gulped. "Years? Oh boy."

Tapper laughed. "It's just like becoming a disciple of the Almighty, my good Dabbler. One must have the neverending desire and hunger to follow wherever the path of your education may smurf you."

"But at least he seems to be smurfing onto the path that your Almighty may be smurfing in, laddie," Duncan said as he stood beside Tapper.

Then suddenly Dabbler could hear Farmer singing the Smurf song as he was passing by outside his house. "Uh, would you mind smurfing over for a minute, Papa Smurf?" Dabbler said as he handed over the stethoscope and examiner's headband to the village leader.

"Why, certainly, Dabbler," Papa Smurf said as he watched Dabbler leave his house to join Farmer.

"Why, thanks for the hand, Dabbler," Farmer said as he handed over one of the baskets of smurfberries he was carrying to his fellow Smurf.

"My pleasure, Farmer," Dabbler said as he started to walk off with him over to his fields. "You know, I often think that I would smurf a pretty good farmer myself."

"Ah, you don't say," Farmer said. "Well, there's plenty to smurf in my fields that could use a second hand."

Duncan laughed as he and the other Smurfs watched. "Maybe your Almighty has something else in mind for the laddie, Tapper."

"I sense in my spirit that he will smurf back to his role as doctor someday, my good Duncan, I just know it," Tapper said with some certainty.

"Well, here we smurf again," Jokey said, laughing before he groaned and Smurfette helped him back to bed.

"Don't worry, Jokey, you'll be smurfing back to your feet in no time as long as I'm smurfing care of you," Papa Smurf said as he turned his attention back on his patient. And then Smurfette noticed that Papa Smurf himself was stumbling.

"Papa Smurf, are you all right?" Smurfette asked as she caught him before he fell to the ground.

"Uh...I don't know what exactly smurfed over me, Smurfette," Papa Smurf said as he tried to stand up straight. "But I'm sure it's just something that will pass as I..."

"Michty me!" Duncan said as he and the Smurfs with him watched Papa Smurf collapse again.

"Great Smurfiny Crickets," Tapper exclaimed. "Now we have two patients to smurf after here."

"Quick, get Dabbler to smurf in here right away," Smurfette said as knelt next to Papa Smurf.

"It figures that the Almighty would pick now as a time for Dabbler to return to becoming a doctor, laddie," Duncan said as he and Tapper both left the house.

"I certainly wasn't hoping it would be this soon, Duncan," Tapper said.

To be expanded.