Chapter 6:
How could I be hungry again? I checked my match, hardly 3:15. Good that I had hesitated between two sandwiches this morning and finally bought both. This one wasn't bad either, cheese and tomatoes in an Italian kind of bread. The dressing was heaven. I had to buy that again. I was walking toward Admission. Frank wasn't there and Jerry seemed quite busy. The girls were busy too, giggling and whispering. I drew closer hoping to be able to hear what they were talking about.
-"Tall and dark. Well as far as I am concerned he gets full points." Neela wrote something down. "Who doesn't agree?"
-"I certainly agree." Chuny added.
-"Shouldn't he get minus points because he is already taken?" Inez wondered.
-"Nah. On the contrary, he is even sweeter. Well honestly isn't he just perfect since..."
-"Since the wicked witch of the west got pregnant?" I completed with a big smile. "I guess you're again talking about the new guy? But isn't he blond? I wonder..." Neela had a deer-caught-in-the-headlight look and the other girls looked a little embarrassed. "Oh maybe, you were discussing someone else... Hmm who would that be?"
-"So okay we were talking about Luka! We are updating the Monthly Hottest Guy at Cook County. Every single center here does that. We have to rate each male doctor, nurse or staff working here. Then our list goes to the other services and we get theirs. At the end of the month, a final decision is made on the Top 3." She didn't blush as much anymore, but apparently still felt uncomfortable, I could tell.
-"Why have I never heard of that? I've been working here for years and it's the first time I ever heard about a Top 3." I felt a little hurt that I hadn't been included in this whole thing.
-"It's pretty new, Abby! This new nurse from OB, Cassie, had the idea. They were doing that in her previous hospital. She asked about 2 months ago, if we'd like to join and do something similar." I pouted.
-"That still doesn't explain why I'm not part of it."
-"You have to admit that it's kind of silly. With the baby on its way, we didn't think that you'd want to take part." Chuny tried to reassure me. I looked at them and couldn't help thinking about another far more logical reason.
-"Yeah, sure. It's more that you didn't want me around when you were rating Luka."
-"Hmm... No...Definitely not!"
-"Sure. So now that I know, can I see your rating and ranking?" Neela was hesitant, Haleh nodded and finally the list was in front of me. No big surprise, Luka was number one, Ray followed and Morris was last.
-"Aren't you a bit harsh with Morris, I mean Frank before him?" I thought about it a second. "Okay, you're right." I looked back at the list. "Sorry to say that, but aren't you a little bit biased in your notations? Pratt has better pecs than Luka. And I think Ray has a nicer butt."
-"You can't be serious?" Chuny asked.
-"You are biased. You get too much Luka hotness to see day in, day out. You don't recognize its superiority anymore." Inez seemed completely outraged by my remarks. My eyebrows hit the roof. Second time today that I heard something like that from her. Should I get worried? She certainly moved faster and didn't look like a beached whale... Nah Luka liked beached whales. What were we talking about again? I looked at the chart. Yeah right, rating the guys here.
-"Well I just tried to say that..." What did I try to say? In my head very naughty images were playing in Cinemascope. I shook my head, this wasn't helping.
-"So you don't agree?"
-"On what?" I mumbled.
-"On Luka deserving top marks!" The girls were laughing. Apparently my dreamy look was leaving little mystery about my thoughts.
-"Oh! I didn't say that I didn't agree. But honestly Pratt has a nice body too."
-"Yes he has, but he is bulkier. I like them taller, leaner." Yeah sure Chuny, I already knew that.
-"And Ray is very good-looking too." Well you had to be honest.
-"He is still too boyish, if you want my opinion." Okay Neela, I could see your point.
-"I'm just trying to bring a little perspective here." They all shook there heads, definitely not believing me. I guessed my daydreaming episode had been too telling. "Can't I voice my opinion?"
-"Sure. You're perfectly entitled to have your opinion. And we so totally believe you. Just write down your own rating and will add it to ours. We'll get then the final notation for this month." I hesitated a second before adding my evaluation and handing the chart back to Neela. She checked what I had written.
-"Very well. No big surprise, the ranking hasn't changed." Well they also looked good, but I kinda...
-"Abby, I have a patient for you. A pregnant woman who fell in the stairs is on her way in. So far no pain, but you can never know. ETA about 2 minutes max. The medics rush her in as we talk." Frank interrupted our second daydreaming round. Finally a real case. Not that I felt very comfortable about it. It hit too close home. Rubbing my belly as to reassure myself that at least this baby was safe, I walked toward the ambulance bay.