Sara was excited to go back on Monday morning. She arrived early and again helped doctor with paperwork.
"Did you have a nice weekend," he asked.
"I worked two shifts at the hospital."
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's okay. I like to work. I will like it better when I am not just a nurse."
"Don't say just a nurse. Nurses are essential. My mum was a nurse and a midwife for forty years."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"I'll be talking about that a bit in my lecture tomorrow night."
Everyday she experienced more and was given more responsibility. On Tuesday she was with Dr. T. Turner for the first time. Dr. Gilligan was off.
When she walked into the lecture later that evening doctor called her over.
"I wanted to tell you that I will be doing my rounds first thing. If you want to meet at hospital, you can join me."
"Thank you. I'd like that."
"What were you talking about?" Lydia asked.
"Rounds in the morning."
"He is so cute. Too bad he's married," Lydia whispered.
"Lydia! That's unethical he is our instructor. He could get fired. You could get expelled."
"The older one is really nice, but he calls me Trixie."
"I know. He won't tell me his nickname for me."
"He said that Trixie was a smart, talented midwife, but also a lot of fun back in the day. He said she dressed like she was right out of Vogue. I wonder back in the day was?"
"Shh, he going to start," Sara whispered.
Dr. Turner explained the history of general practice. He went into depth about the early days of the National Health. He spoke of his father who worked in the East End from the mid forties until he retired in the seventies. He brought his old medical bag had gone with him to every call. He explained his schedule of always being on-call...surgery in the morning and evenings, house calls and clinic in between. Then he would be call out all night if needed. He spoke of the vaccines that changed medicine and the medicines that were miracles and the ones that weren't like thalidomide. He continued and it was obvious how much he cared about his father and general practice.
Sara listened with fascination. She thought of Lydia's comment about him being cute. She realized that he was in an unkempt, floppy hair way. He looked like his brother, but his hair color was lighter and his eyes were blue. Quite a blue she now noticed while his brother's were darker...brown or perhaps green.
When she left the surgery, he was still working. This was unusual, because most nights he left with his last patient. She imagined he was rushing home to his wife and wee ones. Perhaps on Tuesdays, he didn't go home before going to university. He looked as if he just took off his clinical coat and put on a jumper. At least this week's was less sorry looking.
At the end of the lecture she said, "That was very fascinating doctor. See you first thing in the morning."
In the morning, she was waiting for him when he arrived. He looked floppier than usual.
"Are you alright doctor?"
"Oh yes, I just had trouble getting out this morning," he answered, then he mumbled, "spilled milk."
"Well you're here now. Did you do rounds last week?" she asked.
"No, when we start with new students. My brother usually takes care of the hospital for the first week while we handle the surgery."
He only had a few patients to see. Most were admitted to other specialists. The last stop was a children's ward.
"Hello Lily. I brought a new friend. This is Miss. Macmillan," he said as he handed her the chart to look at. She saw the words she expected based on Lily's lack of hair…'malignant and brain.'
"Hello Miss. Macmillan."
"It is very nice to meet you, Lily. If it alright you can call me Sara."
"I like your voice Sara. It's pretty. Do like it Dr. T?"
Doctor leaned over and whispered in Lily's ear and her eyes went wide and she responded, "really!"
Sara said, "What?"
"It's a secret," he said as he winked at Lily.
When they left, Sara said, "What did you say to her?"
"It's a secret."
"The Doctors Turner have a lot of secrets. I still don't know what my nickname is."
"Oh you are right we do have a lot of secrets," he laughed, "Working together we really try to keep family life out of the surgery."
She liked the way he looked when he laughed. He also liked the way he charmed a very sick five year old.
She settled into a routine. She was the first one at the surgery when she didn't go on rounds and she left with the last doctor. No one seemed to stay too long after the last patient. She spent her evenings studying. When she need to rest her mind, she would watch the telly. Occasionally she would go out with a friend, but it was not something she could afford and she was so tired she preferred to just stay home. If Lydia was Trixie, the fun girl, she should be named after a hard working homebody.