King's College
Chapter 6 - Being Literal
Chris Parsons' and Ellingham's dissecting session the next day was a silent and impersonal affair. To Chris it seemed like he spent his time retracting skin and muscle while Ellingham deftly located the nerves and blood vessels which were required for the next day's presentation. Being a bit intimidated by this big bloke with the baby face, he just went along with it, doing what he was told. At one point during their work a beautiful, buxom fellow student entered the lab, saying hello before heading to her dissecting table across the room.
"Wow….she is really NICE," Chris commented to Ellingham. "I wouldn't mind a bit of THAT."
Ellingham looked up for a split second. "How do you know she's nice if you don't even know her?"
Chris was incredulous. "I meant that she was "nice" in an aesthetic way, mate. Just a common colloquialism, as in, she is easy on the eyes, a pleasure to look at, something to fantasize about touching or having. You certainly live in a literal world, don't you?"
"And what do you want a bit of? Some food or something? Your conversation makes no sense," Ellingham remarked in response to the last statement.
"A nutcase," thought Chris…"bet the poor sod has never kissed a girl…."
Chris Parsons was never going to be in the Chippendales. Even at 19 he was a bit dumpy and verging on going bald. However, his saving grace was that he was incredibly intelligent, kind and friendly to a fault. Because of this, he had never had a shortage of female companionship. Not that he was a Casanova, but there was always a girl who found him sweet and amusing. He had his share of fun.
Ellingham, on the other hand, had a very different experience.
They finished their dissection at half 4. With their cadaver properly wrapped and soaked they closed up the table and got ready to leave. Chris would have invited him for a pint but Ellingham's terse and taciturn manner left him on the cutting edge of anger. He was certainly annoyed in any case.
"Look, Ellingham," Chris exclaimed. "In the future I would appreciate if you ASKED me when I wanted to work on the dissection. None of this "I'll be there at two" crap. It's an honor and a priceless learning experience doing this and I don't want you to think that you're in charge and you can just tell me what to do, so let's agree on a time in the future, understand?"
"Sorry, yes, I'm sorry," said Ellingham, a little flustered and searching for words.
"Didn't mean to upset you, mate," Chris answered watching his classmate washing his hands nervously. "See you in the morning then...ta."
Chris hoped he hadn't upset Ellingham too much. He never wanted to hurt anyone else...it really was not in his nature.
Martin returned to his apartment in Moonraker Point confused and crestfallen. During his time at medical school he had really tried to rein in his most particular talent...annoying other people. He never meant to be unpleasant or confrontational, but it seemed that was the usual result when other individuals were involved.
His mother was probably right. "Martin, you are most probably the most annoying being on the face of the Earth. Not only are you unattractive, but you are needy, fussy and have no backbone to speak of. I am sick to death of headmasters complaining to me about your bed wetting and your uncanny ability to start trouble wherever you go. How you ever came from your father and me I haven't a clue...must be one of nature's nasty tricks."
He finished his Spartan dinner and settled in to read and study as many pages of information as he could, then he would go to sleep.