Chapter seven
Nora: (entering her car ) Jones drop your school bag in the back seat and sit in the front.
Jones: kk
(... Jones puts her school bag at the back seat, then sits at the front seat and fix her seat belt...)
Jones: All set and ready to go.
Nora: How was school today?
Jones: Well better than last week...
Nora: that's good to hear. I'll drop you at my house then go back to work, today is quite a busy day for me
Jones: wait I'm going to be all alone? Why?
Nora: (places both arms on the staring wheel) well ...your mom is at work, she didn't drop your house key and Linda isn't around and I'm having a busy day at work. So technically you're going to stay at my house all alone
Jones: I don't think I can do it
Nora: why!?..(looks at her) Don't tell me you're scared?
Jones: ugh!.. That isn't the case, it's just your house is big...
Nora: well that gives you enough room to do anything you like, you can watch the television and also there is a lot of junk food in the fridge for you to eat but don't take the ones with Linda's name written on it
Jones: well... Hmm (scratching her head). How about you take me to your workplace? I'll love to see doctor Nora in action ( chuckles nervously)
Nora: You say what now!!?
Jones: well (turns to face her) it'd be like "take your child to work day but... In this case, it takes your neighbor's child to workday
Nora: (looks at her using her side eyes) what!!?
Jones: it's sounded much better in my head...
Please!!? I promise I'll behave well (joins her hand together )
Nora: (sighs) well... Since you say so I'll take you...
Jones: thank you so much!!
Nora: yea... yea!! don't rub it in (turns the car key to start the engine, puts the gear to drive then drives off...
On getting to the hospital, she parks her car in the car pack...)
Nora: Jones don't forget your school bag at the back seat (opens the door and steps out with her doctor's coat on her left hand and stethoscope around her neck )
Jones: (steps out of the car, grabs her school bag from the seat, and hangs it at her back) all set
Nora: (presses the lock button on the car key) once you get there, you're staying in my office. Let's go (walks into the hospital)
Jones: Okay ( walks directly at her back).
Wow nice, this place is beautiful ( looking around)
Nora: (still walking) tell that to patients (laughs)
Jones: (stands at her front) so tell me which section do you work? Is it an emergency? pediatric? , dental?, ENT? optical?
Nora: ( moves her aside with her hand and walks away)
Jones: hey!!! (walks up to her)
Nora: (stops walking and turns around) what!?
Jones: why are you avoiding my question?
Nora: I'm not avoiding your question. Well if you must know, I work at the emergency section and I'm a medical doctor; a consultant, I also carry out operations, but there's more in being a medical doctor than just cotton wool and surgical scissor ( turns to her left-hand side and enters the elevator)
Jones: (follows her) well that's nice.
( they took the elevator to the third floor in the hospital...)
Jones: so where's your office?
(the elevator stops and the door opens then they both step out and continues to walk. Tire screeching sounds everywhere as patients on wheelchairs are been pushed by the medical assistants from one ward to another. Doctors, Patients, other medical professionals, and visitors moving up and down...)
Jones: wow it seems like everyone is busy, the place looks kinda crowded...
Nora: (stops walking then looks at her) yes it is and please do me a favor and don't say another word for the next two minutes.
Jones: bu...
Nora: don't!!! (interrupts her) please (walks away)
( on getting to her office, opens the door and walks inside with Jones)
Nora: ( entering inside her office) welcome to my little world
Jones: (enters into the office and sits on the chair) hmm!
Nora: what do you mean?
Jones: (no response)
Nora: (closes the door) oh!! I see what's happening here, you're mad at me!!. Well, I'm sorry it's just you talk too much and you should know something; doctors talk less, observe and listen more. So I'm sorry
Jones: it's okay! I know I can be talkative sometimes, but I just love asking questions.
Nora: that's good but less talking, please
Jones: ( chuckles softly) okay
(the door opens ..)
*Nurse1* : (enters into Nora's office) good day doctor Nora
Nora: a good day to you too
*Nurse*1: please your attention is needed in the emergency room Jones: Duty calls doctor Nora
Nora: I'll be right there...( wears her doctor's coat).
Jones here's some money (brings out Money from her bag and gives it to her)
Jones: (takes the money) thanks but what am going to do with it?
Nora: (walks to the door and opens it) get something to eat and don't leave the vicinity of this building...
Jones: but!!...
Nora: no "buts " (she interrupts her) I don't have time to look for you okay?
Jones: okay
Nora: good, Nurse shall we?
*Nurse1*: Yes
(...they both step out of the office, Nora closes the door behind her and they made their way to the emergency room.
On their way there...)
Nora: so what's the case?
*Nurse 1*: a young man was hit by a stray bullet in his left leg. He was brought in forty-five minutes ago...
Nora: how critical is it?
*Nurse 1*: well lucky for him the bullet didn't touch his bone
Nora: (stops at the door of the emergency room) so why then do you need me?, just carry out an X-ray which has already been done, paralyze the cells within the area, open it up, remove the bullet and Stitch it up and also put it him on drip and blood transfusion in case he needs one
*Nurse 1*: easier said than done doctor Nora, I suggest you see the patient first.
Nora: (sighs) okay then
(opens the door and enters into the emergency room with the nurse directly following her at her back.
She finds a young man in his late twenties lying on the bed screaming like a child...)
Nora: what in the world is going on here!!?, why is he shouting like that?
*Nurse1*: that's the patient Mister Drake is the name
Nurse Kelly: (on seeing doctor Nora) oh my!! thank goodness you're here doctor Nora ( moves closer to her) I don't know what's wrong with him!!!!!!!.
He's been yelling and shouting for about thirty minutes now, he doesn't want anyone to do anything to him
Nora: like Lucy!!? (chuckles)
Nurse Kelly: oh no!!. Lucy is a child, this is a man a grown man, or more like a chicken
Drake: hey!! Nurse (sobbing) am not a chicken Okay... This stuffs hurts so bad (crying).
And this is your fault Adam (pointing at the guy standing close to him) all your fault.
Adam: I said " am sorry!! "
Drake: keep your sorry to yourself and go phone mom (blows his nose with a tissue paper)
Adam: okay bro (moves close to the door and opens it)
Nora: and as you do that mister Adam also call the police and report this to them, bullets don't fire themselves
Adam: okay doctor (goes out of the room and closes the door)
Nora: okay!!! Drake (moves closer to him and puts on her hand gloves). Let me take a good look at your injury
(she attempts to touch him, then he starts screaming...)
Drake: no!! (tries to come down from the bed ) don't touch it. (put both legs on the ground) Ouch!! OMG!! WTF!! This hurts more than a heartbreak !! ( falls to the ground)
Nora: Wow what a senseless act (walks up to him and squats)
How about you do yourself a favor and save us some time
Drake: don't touch me, please!!! (crying)
Nora: Can you please stop acting like a baby and let me do my job before things get out of hand...
Drake: what if I don't want to?!
Nora: (sighs and stands up) nurse Kelly please pass me the scissor, I don't mind removing the bullet while he's on the floor (looks at him while smirking )
Nurse Kelly: I'm sure mister drake won't want that or do you?
Drake: you are not behaving like a doctor but an assassin
Nurse Kelly: in case you don't know she can be both
Drake: I need my mommy!!!! Adam? Adam!!?
Nora: Drake, a little girl was brought in here a few days ago with an arrow pierced into her stomach, and trust me she wasn't a pain in the butt like you are. (sighs) look you're not a child so why don't you be a man and not a chicken and let me help you!
Drake: ( looks at her face) o... Okay...if you say so
(... Both of the nurses helped him up, he lays down on the bed quietly although still sobbing but allows doctor Nora to remove the bullet.
It took her about thirty minutes to remove the bullet, clean the wound up and bandage it...)
Nora: you see" easy pizz ".
Drake: but it hurts.
Nora: of course it will.
Nurse, Please put him on drip
*Nurse1*: Sure ( goes out of the room)
Drake: so doctor Nora do you know you're so beautiful
Nora: (no response)
Drake: how about once I get better, you and I hang out like go on a date?
Nora: Thanks for the offer but I don't go out chickens, I go out with men.
Drake: how dare you!!
Nora: nurse Kelly please sedate him, he needs to rest, and also once the nurse arrives with the drip please fix the line, I have other things to do Excuse me!
(opens the door...
Drake: who the hell do you th...
Nora: (goes out and slams the door).
( At the hallway ...)
Nora: (talking to herself while pressing her phone " why isn't Linda picking up her calls? ")
...( she makes her way back to her office and then her phone rings..)
Nora: it's about time (picks the call). Hello Linda what's wrong with you?
Mrs. Jones: ( on the phone) it's Jones's mom
Nora: oh sorry
Mrs. Jones : ( on the phone) yes ugh... please is Kelly with you?.
Nora: yes she is. She's at the hospital with me ...
Mrs. Jones: what!! What happened to her?
Nora: nothing she's fine, I brought her because she didn't want to stay at home alone
Mrs. Jones: oh OK I'll come to pick her up right now
Nora: sure thing (enters into her office) she's at my office as we speak (closes the door and hangs up) or maybe not!
Kelly!? Kelly!? (enters the restroom) Kelly!? Where is she? (talking to herself) where on earth is she? I don't understand why a child can't listen. Let me check if she's downstairs
(...she walks downstairs checked the reception, asked people around but one saw there then she made her way back upstairs to the hallway...)
doctor Nora !!
Nora : (turns to her left-hand side) are you kidding me!?
Jones: what!! You told me not to leave the vicinity of this building but you never side I couldn't go to the veranda.
Nora : (sighs) I guess so but seriously I was looking for you
Jones: sorry about that.
Nora: no problem. By the way, your mom is on her way here to come to pick you up.
Jones: why!! I was just about to ask you if I could check out other buildings in the hospital.. (shaking her head)
Nora: don't worry! Some other time but right now you have to go home and rest.
Jones: yea yea
Nora: let's go back to the office ( takes her by the hand).
( on their way there...)
Jones!!!
Jones: mom! ( moves closer to her mom and hugs her)
Nora: good day Mrs. Jones!
Mrs. Jones: hello Doctor Nora, Jones let's go, please.
Jones: OK but first I need to get my school bag from her office (walking away)
Mrs. Jones: hurry, please!!
Nora: Mrs. Jones?
Mrs. Jones: yea what's up doctor Nora!?
Nora: did you call Linda?
Mrs. Jones : yes but she isn't picking her calls I went over to you girl's house and saw her car parked there but I didn't see her.
Nora: maybe she's inside napping because she never leaves without her car except otherwise.
Mrs. Jones: well if what you're saying is true then she sleeps like a dead person because I knocked and no-one answered me
Nora : (chuckles)
(Jones arrives a few minutes later and leaves with her mom...)
Nora : (talking to herself "Linda doesn't sleep like a dead person I'm getting worried, she isn't like
this. (pressing her phone) I'll can someone to check her up.... )
( on the phone... )
Nora: Hello Andre
Andre : ( on the phone) hi princess, how are you doing today?
Nora: am good thanks. ugh!! can you do me a little favor, please?
Andre: yea sure
Nora: please if you are less busy, can you drive over to my house and check if Linda is okay?. I have been trying to call her but she isn't picking up.
Andre: Sure thing,
Nora: thank you so much (sighs)
( she hangs up) . Talking to herself "well that's settles it " (sighs)
****
(4:00 AM)
A voice from the speaker: Hello everyone! Please can all head of sections including all medical attendants who are free at the moment go to meeting room we're having an urgent meeting right now...
Nurse kelly: now I wonder what the issue is?
Nora:(places both hands on her shoulders) well I don't think we will be able to find out by standing here and watching others as they head down there...
Nurse kelly: that's true
Nora: com'on
(...both of them including other medical personnel made their way to the meeting room.
It took about a few seconds for the large room to be occupied, each and everyone chatting with each other and exchanging presents like they're all seeing each other for the first time.
On seeing one of her old friends and mentor, Nora walks up to him wearing a smile on her face...)
Nora: professor!!
Professor: (with a cracky tone) my one and only beautiful doctor
Nora: now you are making me blush ( chuckles softly), how are you doing?
Professor: well I should be asking you that, you seem pretty occupied with a lot of thoughts in your head, well that's the rumor I can keep hearing about you
Nora: well they say" a doctor's job is never done, by the way how's your new heart functioning?
Professor: (places his right hand on the left and side of his chest) well it doesn't feel the real one but it's functioning properly but it doesn't feel like my other heart
Nora: hmmm.. well new heart or not it doesn't change the fact that you're a man of goodwill and good heart ( smiles at him )
Professor: I guess you are...
Doctor Nichole: ( majestically walks to the center of the room thereby causing an interruption in their conversations) Can everyone settle down, this is a meeting and not a family or friends reunion
(...soon everyone kept quiet and all attention was on doctor Nichole as she begins to address them ...)
Doctor Nichole: welcome all qualified and non-qualified medical personnel ( this she said while gazing directly into Nora's eyes)
Nora: I don't know why you think some of us here are unqualified to be here.. ( folds her arms and stands upright)
Doctor Nichole: doctor Nora it's guilty conscience that's disturbing you ( smiles at her)
Nora : ( whispers to herself)" one point for you, I know where to get you".
Doctor Nichole: ( clears her throat) as I was saying, the reason for this urgent meeting is because the medical student would be having their practical class by the end of the week and we need volunteers.
( Everywhere became silent like a graveyard...)
Professor: what doctor Nichole is trying to say is that we need any medical personnel to volunteer to teach the students, so anyone!!?
( The hall was quiet for some seconds, then...)
Doctor Nichole: well ( stands upright with a shoulder-high) I'd love to volunteer professor since I'm the only qualified one to do the job
( everyone begins to murmur after hearing what she said...)
Doctor Nicole: oh please spare me all these!! ( she yells), I'm the only one qualified here since the rest of you decided to stay silent
Nurse kelly: Doctor Nicole you ain't the only one who is qualified to do the job here, we all are...
Doctor Nicole: excuse me !! ( She quickly interrupts ) who do you think you are to talk to me like that!! ( She moves closer to her, and stands at her front) .
Nurse kelly: (stumbles a little) hmm ... I was just saying that...
Doctor Nicole: don't you ever in your life interrupt me while I address again. Take a good look at yourself ( looks at her from her head down to her feet) your not even close to my level, nor are you up to my standard.
Nurse kelly: I... Am...
Doctor Nicole: A timid nurse!! , what a shame...
Nora: wo!! ( She interrupts) what is the meaning of...
( Another dark-skinned tall nurse pulls Nora back from behind ...)
Nurse Titi: Doctor Nora how about I handle it from here ( smirks at her)
Nora: with all pleasure nurse Titi ( laughs softly and gives way for her to move closer to doctor Nicole)
Nurse Titi: ( stands in front of doctor Nicole and looks straight into her eyes) so you can see her flaws but you can't detect yours, hmmm what a shame
( Everyone in the room all started laughing...)
Nurse Titi: it's the truth na ( chuckles) you are comparing yourself to nurse kelly OMG, "am so surprised". But you have forgotten that nurse kelly here is a married woman with two adorable children to show for it, she is intelligent and highly respected by all unlike you ( folds her arm) you are just too full of yourself, you lack humility and good character no wonder at age thirty-nine you are still single.
Nora:( laughs hysterically ) am sorry ( clears her throat)
Nurse Titi: there's no need to be sorry doctor Nora because it's the truth.
Doctor Nicole: ( chuckles nervously) Titi... you have crossed your boundaries, you seem to have forgotten your place!
Nurse Titi: my place!? ( Chuckles softly)wow!!. These are the words coming from a human who doesn't even know her place in this hospital ( rolls her eyes) she's everywhere and at the same time nowhere, she claims to know it all but unfortunately, she knows absolutely nothing!!.
She's also from a scattered home, where the younger sister is nothing but a nuisance to the community, mum dead, and her father...
Nelson: oh!! Chill nurse Titi ( quickly chips in)
Nora: she already got the message ( smirks and looks at doctor Nicole)
Doctor Nicole: ( turns to professor) professor!... you are just sitting there and watch me been mocked .... by this stupid girl ( points at her and tries to control the tears in her eyes from dropping by constantly blinking her eyes)
Nurse Titi: Awww our" almighty doctor Nicole" is in tears ( smiles at her) what a shame. Here ( gives her a wipe to clean her face-off).
(... doctor Nicole slaps the wipe of her hand and moves closer her to face..)
Doctor Nicole: don't you dare me ( she whispers to her face)
Nurse Titi: ( looks straight into her eyes) I'm not scared of you
(... Just then nelson tries to separate the both of them...)
Doctor Nicole: don't touch me ( pushes nelson hands away and steps back )
Nora: who else thinks the meeting is over?, cus I know I do ( rises and right hand up and puts it down dramatic) after all the" qualified one " has volunteered for the job ( laughs)
(... everyone moves out of the room excitedly like they have just finished watching a very interesting but dramatic movie leaving doctor Nicole in a frozen state, like " what just happened " lol.
Nora and nurse kelly walks out together and departs in a different direction...)
Nurse Titi: Doctor Nora!?, Doctor Nora!!? ( She cries out)
Nora: ( turns around) Hey what's up? ( walks closer to her )
Nurse Titi: if it isn't the doctor herself ( wears a deep smile on her face) Doctor Nora ( puts her hand out)
Nora:( shakes her hand and smiles at her) nurse Titi!, How are you doing?
Nurse Titi: ( takes a deep breath and stands upright) well I'm happy today
Nora: why won't you be, after what you did back there
Nurse Titi:( chuckles softly) well I just had to give her a taste of her own medicine.
Nora: True, true but you better watch your back.
Nurse Titi: I'm not afraid of her, the worst she can do is to report me.
Nora: hmmm... Ain't gonna lie I did miss you ( laughs and gives a hug)
Nurse Titi: not a hugger! not a hugger!!
Nora: whatever ( pushes her right shoulder ). By the way, how's Nigeria?
Nurse Titi: Good, arrived yesterday though. So I decided to come to work today
Nora: hardworking lady ( uses her fingers to make air quotes)
Nurse Titi: ( rolls her eyes) so what's up with you?
Nora: what do you mean?
Nurse Titi: well you look lean and stressed out and it seems your mind is occupied with something.
Nora: yes am stressed out and my mind is occupied with something. I've been trying to reach out to Linda but she isn't picking
Nurse Titi: maybe she's busy or something
Nora: Nah! I doubt. I'm a little bit worried because I sent Andre over there yesterday evening to check up on her and give me feedback about her whereabouts but till now I haven't received any calls or texts from him
Nurse Titi: hmm well Linda isn't a kid and she can take care of herself
Nora: that's true but at least picking her calls would be nice
Nurse Titi: oh well, but I don't think sending Andre over there was a good idea.
Nora: ( looks at her mysteriously) why do you think so?
Nurse Titi: well during the little time I spent with both of you, I can clearly say that Linda has a very huge crush on Andre...
Nora : ( she quickly interrupts her) what's your point?
Nurse Titi: well don't you think sending Andre over to the house would create an opportunity for...
Nora: wo!! Hold it right there, look Andre and Linda ain't kids, Linda is a lot of things but she has self-control, she might act like a psycho whenever he's around her but she has limits and she's very responsible...
Nurse Titi: Are you sure? ( smirks at her)
Nora: absolutely!!! ( Frowns)
Nurse Titi: oh well ( takes a deep breath) if you say so ( slowly steps backward) once you get home, tell her I said" hi"
Nora: Sure.
(... Titi walks away, Nora stands in the hallway for a while deep in her thoughts, as usual, a few minutes later she walks to the counter, signs out then goes to the car pack and drives off....)