The Story of Beatrix Franklin Part One!
The fog and rain never seems to dampen Trixie's spirit or her curls, they always kept their bounce as she rode her bike through the poorest area of London. She eyes the dark black clouds over head as she catches a flash of light jetting across the sky. Not many things unnerve her, but the sound of lighting sets her teeth on edge. The bike breaks to a quick stop, white knuckled as she grips the bars muttering softly cursing as she counts the timing between the flash and hearing the roaring thunder. Eleven, she counts, it's far off in the distance that she knew she'd make it to her patient before the storm was over head.
Even in the darkest and coolest of nights, nothing made her wish or long for those days back home. This was home now; it took her a while of setting up routine and getting used to the long hours, busy days never a dull moment as a nurse and midwife. She wasn't the kind to set to rules and being organized; in fact, it took her some time to find her footing and an even keel. Looking back now, those were the days where a few times she'd had packed her bags and nearly up-sticks to the hills. Why did she stay, when her step mother has offered a trip to France? She knew nothing could change her past, but this was her present and future, no amount of dazzling trips or fancy flower arrangement courses would change this for the world.
She turns her attention back to the bike allowing the memory to fade, as she steadies herself before she pushes on. The slipperiness of the sole of her shoe from the rain causes her to loose balance as she pushes off from the ground again to resume to her patient's flat. A tyre hits a groove in the cobbles and it sends her head over heels into the pavement. She lands quite hard on her rear bruising her tailbone and her pride.
Through the rather unpredictable weather, a constable working the beat notices this accident; it's a good thing, because no one else was around being in the small hours of the night. They were near the India Docks where a lot of the unsavory fellows can hide out; this made the constable slightly concerned for her safety. Often they are to assist the nurses during the weather like this, and he ponders why she hadn't made the call, one of them would have gladly assisted her to a labouring woman. The young constable juts across the street to her side and offers a hand up.
Trixie took the hand as a lady would tries to conceal her rips in her stockings. With shaky hands she fixes her uniform and raincoat, then she finds a few loose strands of hair, and re-pins her curls back into place. She would feel it later, but she grimaces through her pain and thanked him for the assistance. "Trixie Franklin." She bats her eyelashes at him. Her disposition never fads from the fall, she smiles between winks pushing her embarrassment a side as she stood before the constable.
"Constable Kenmore, at your service, Nurse, you're not hurt?" He reaches down to help her assist with the bike noticing it wasn't damaged or at least from the look of it the frame was still in order.
"Gosh, just my pride more likely, nothing likes a good soak in the tub when I'm done with Silvia Randall." She points her head in the direction of the old buildings. The fog in this area had thinned the tiniest bit. He offers her the bike, as she climbs back on getting ready to push off this time keeping her balance with one foot on her peddles and one firmly on the ground.
Again, the flash of lighting, she closes her eyes, waits for it, and her lips mouths as she counts. "Eight!" she exclaims as she opens her eyes again.
"It's closing in, not far now maybe an hour away." The new constable walks with her as she rode slowly along the old cobble road.
She notices that he was a young man, kind of handsome, has great eyes, and a dimply smile. She then looks away feeling guilty with her flirtatious behaviour, and blushes deeply. Not often she notices a working class man attractive. She is from a different kind of life style. Yet, she couldn't help notice how he smiled.
"I don't wish to be rude, but I must ride on. I've wasted a few minutes now with the fall and I should head off. Babies don't wait to be born. Thank you again Constable for your assistance."
She pulls away quickly, but hears him, "Do be careful, you should call us when done, don't want to see you fall again."
He watches her ride a lot more carefully on the docks, before he turns back towards an ally way to which he was headed. He knew that the Men's club would be out soon, fully pissed on ales. They forget who they are drunk and can be quite crude around certain type of company. He's been to a few meetings himself, so he knows all too well how men can be even around a nurse. He sets off once she was out of sight, knowing that he'll probably see her again soon. With a simple glance back, she saw the tail end of his cape turning the corner as he cuts into the shadows of the alley way.
Onward she peddles, into the fog and rain. Normally the docks were busier at this time of night, but only a few boats were in as she passes a few fishermen docking as they pull in the mooring line. They've been out for at least a week, "Good to see ya, Nurse. Betsy is done great, same as the babe." She indicates this with a simple nod and turns the corner. The mists have thinned out a bit as she came along the first building of the larger Tenements.
The cold stone building was completely dark, all lights were off, not a good sign she thought. Lately they've been on rolling black outs due to the storm though she wonders if the lighting caused a transformer to blow. Just another little perk added to her annoyance after her fall. Some of the windows she could see a faint flicker of a warm glow coming from them. That was their only source of light. Luckily, for her, she could hear the woman howling in labour, and knew where to go by following it as it grew louder.
With a sore hop she climbs off her bike, for a second a hand presses against the bruised tailbone and gives it a gentle rub. Then she unclips her medic bag, and heads towards the flat where Silvia howls from. "Nurse calling..."
For her and the labouring mother, it will be a long night as she assesses the room where she found Silvia who caught another wave of pain this one was tougher on the woman as she pants and puffs from within her lungs. As long as she had boiling water and warm towels, she could manage to help Silvia deliver her baby safely into the world. The room was small, but everything was ready for her, the equipment on the bedside table, the water proof paper spread on the mattress, and the bedding pulled back as she helps the labouring mother onto the bed.
She was on her knees, with one free hand holding Silvia's and the other counting through the long contraction. "Oh, good job, just pant now." She coaxes the young labouring woman. "Nearly there – no pushing, just breathe," and she assists the woman again, guiding her through each contraction as they hit.
That one moment of fear and running away is long forgotten. This was her destiny; she was Trixie Franklin, your Nurse and Midwife calling!