Ch 6
How Flora Became a Nurse (part 2)
Stan: Okay, so I got the idea on how you became a nurse, now how did you meet Dr. Loin?
Flora: Well it's funny; I actually met him by accident.
Stan: What'd you mean?
Flora: Well…
Flashback:
Flora woke up the next morning and saw her mom still standing by the cage.
Young Flora: Aren't you working today mother?
Flora's Mom: I am, but I can't go without my helper, now can I?
Flora's eyes lit up, as she gave her biggest smiled.
Young Flora: You mean?
Flora's Mom: Yes Flora, your father and I talked it over, and we deiced that it would be best if I spend some time with you and teach you the ways of being a nurse.
Flora cried with tears of joy as she hugged her mother tightly.
Young Flora: Thank you mom, I promised I'll be the best nurse ever!
Flora's Mom hugged her back, crying tears of joy too.
Flora's Mom: I know you will.
She let go of Flora, as she continue to talk.
Flora's Mom: But I have two things I want you to promise me.
Young Flora: What's that?
Flora's Mom: One, stay close to me and don't get lost, and two, listen to anything I say about taking care of animals, I don't want you getting hurt or anything, promised?
Young Flora: I promised.
Flora's Mom: Okay let's go.
So she opened up the cage, and showed Flora around the shop. She made sure she showed each and every pet, and what she needs to do to take care of them when they're sick. Flora took some notes and followed her mom around the shop, she was interest on all the pets the shop has.
She showed her how to treat patients who are kind.
Flora's Mom: Hello Danny, have you been eating your teats like I said?
Danny: Woof! (Yep)!
Flora's Mom: That's good; now open your mouth, so I can take your temperature.
He opened out his mouth, and she looked at the temperature.
Flora's Mom: 98.6, not bad.
And she wrote it down on her clipboard, as Flora watched and took notes.
Flora's Mom: Oh where are my manners, Danny I want you to meet my daughter Flora, I'm helping her so she can become a nurse and take care of you too.
Flora was bit scared.
Young Flora: Hello?
Danny put how his paw, Flora was confuse, but her mother smiled.
Flora's Mom: He wants you to shake is paw, it's his way saying he wants to be your friend.
Flora shake Danny's paw, as he barked happily, which made Flora smiled a bit.
Flora's Mom: Well we got to go now, keep up the good work and I'll see you tomorrow.
Young Flora: Bye Danny!
Danny: Woof! (Bye)!
Flora's mom showed Flora some more pets, like hamsters, bunnies, fishes, and now she was showing her how to deal with the most troublesome patients ever, cats.
Flora's Mom: Okay, let's get this over with.
Young Flora: Mommy, do we really have to take care of cats, they scare me.
Flora's Mom: I'm afraid so, you have to take care of all kinds of pets, no matter how scary or troublesome they are, even cats. There's even one cat that so troublesome, that she really tries my patience's, but I don't let her get the best of me. Do you want to sit this one out?
Young Flora: No way, if my mom as to do it, then so to I.
Flora's Mom: Alright, but I warn she's a mean one, come on let's go.
As Flora's mom was checking on the cats, there was one that looked at her and Flora.
Cat (Thinking): A new comer eh, I'll have fun and order her about.
Cat: Hey fat woman, get your lazy butt here and feed me!
Flora's Mom: Yes Eva, right away.
Eva: And while you're at scratch by back, and make sure you scratch it good this time!
Flora's Mom: Yes Eva.
Eva: And who is this worthless runt?
Flora's Mom: That's my daughter you're talking to, and she trading to become a nurse.
Eva: I nurse? HA! The only that rodent is good for is staying in her cage like a good hamster, in fact you should have stay in your cage too, you no good of taking of us. You and your daughter are smelly, stinky, and a bunch of good for nothings.
Flora's Mom was about to snap at her, till someone else spoke up.
Cat: Oh honestly dear sister, must you always be so rude to our guests?
Eva: Pah, I know what I'm doing, our dad says that all hamsters are a bunch of good for nothings, and should be gone forever.
Young Flora: Now you listen here, my mom is the most kindest, sweetest mom you'll ever meet, I'm surprise she has patience's for someone like you. I made be little, but I when you mess with my mom, you mess with me too!
Eva: Mhh, good for you, I suppose you want a medal or something, she probably wants you killed or something; why else would she bring you do a dangers place like this? She probably doesn't even love you; she should have made you stay in your cage, like a good mother would.
Young Flora (Crying): That's not true, my mother loves me very much, and I just want to be like her; how can you say such cruel words to me!
Cat: Sister stopped it, look what you've done to her!
Eva: I don't care, it's true.
Flora's Mom was upset with her, and so was her sister.
Flora's Mom: All right that's it, I can handle you hurting me, but you do not make my daughter cry like that!
Eva: But think about it, why would you send your daughter out here, you must really hate her that much.
She had enough and slapped her so hard across the face. Her sister laughed.
Cat: You've asked for it!
Then she nuzzled up to Flora to make her feel better.
Cat: There, there, my sister as stopped her rudeness, I'm terribly sorry for how she treated you.
Young Flora: Thanks, what's your name?
Luna: I'm Luna, please to meet you, and I'm sorry too Ms. Uhh.
Flora's Mom: Call me Gage.
Luna: Gage, that's a pretty name.
Gage: Thanks, and you should tell your sister to be nice, or else I might stop giving her treats.
Luna: I try, but she thinks that all hamsters are bad, she gets that from our father, but I know that there are some good hamsters out there.
Young Flora: Well if you believe there are some good hamsters, then I think there are more good cats like you.
Luna: Thank you and I hope you become a good nurse like your mom some day.
Young Flora: Thanks.
Flora's Mom: Well we've got to go now, thanks for cheering up my daughter.
Luna: Your welcome and good luck.
They left the place, and they were finishing up for the night.
Flora's Mom: I'm sorry Flora.
Young Flora: For what?
Flora's Mom: For how badly Eva treated you, I should have told you about her before we've started.
Young Flora: Is alright Mom, you said it yourself, you have to take care of all the people, no matter how rude they are to you, I'll get used it. I'm not giving up, because of one rude cat.
Flora's Mom: You're a good girl Flora, and I know you'll become a great nurse someday, and thanks for sticking up for me.
Young Flora: Hey that's what friends and families do right, and I thank you for doing the same for me, I love you mommy.
Flora's Mom: I love you too dear, come on let's go home.
As the days went by Flora's Mom taught her daughter more and more on how to be a nurse, and was soon starting to become good like her mom, but she still had a lot to learn.
Flora's Mom: Well done Flora, now the cats should have enough to eat for the night.
Young Flora: Thanks mom, I feel more and more like a nurse, every time I do something useful.
Mom's Flora: That's great dear; oh dear look at the time, be better go before the clerk closes up for the night.
Everything seemed to be perfect, until that one day when it happened.
One Day, Flora's Mom was sick in bed, so Flora took over as nurse for her, as her Dad stayed and took care of her.
She was finishing checking up on the dogs before she went to check on the other pets.
Young Flora: Alright James Wolf, you and Dog Walker are in fine order. (BTW Props if you get the reference)
She turned around to check on the cats when she heard a familiar voice.
Man: What are you doing out of your cage?!
She turned around on found the Clerk standing in front of her, now she was scared, and started to run, the Clerk chased after her.
Clerk: Get back here!
Young Flora: Oh dear I'm in big trouble now I got to find a place to hide before he… WHOA!
She was running so fast that she didn't see the ball on the floor, and she fell and broke her paw, she try to stand up, but she couldn't, and Clerk caught up to her, and picked her up. He looked cross.
Clerk: You see, you've should have stayed in your cage! What were you thinking running around in the shop like that?! I've got a good mind to lock you in your cage forever!
Flora was very sad, she had let her mom down, and she let herself down. Then the clerk notice something on the floor, it was Flora's clipboard.
Clerk: What's this?
He picked it up and read it then he looked at Flora.
Clerk: Were you taking care of my pets?
Flora looked at him, and he saw she was about to cry. He now felt sorry for Flora, and patted her on the head, and smiled.
Clerk: Look, I appreciate that you were taking care of my pets, but that's my job, and this place is much too big for you to take care of all the pets on your own. Come on; let me fix your paw.
So he placed her on his desk, got the first aid kit, and bandaged her paw around. Flora still looked unhappy, what would her parents say, and how will she take care of the pets now?
Clerk: Here you'll need to build your strength up.
He handed her some sunflower seeds, but she was still too sad to eat. The Clerk petted her to make her feel better.
Clerk: Don't worry I'm not mad at you anymore, but like I said this place is much too big for you to take care of all the pets, and if something were to happened to you, I'll lose my job, I'm sorry, but it as to be this way.
Flora looked at him, it was clear that he wasn't mad at her anymore, so she smiled a bit, but she still felt she'd let everyone down. The Clerk picked her up and took her to her cage.
Flora's Dad (Thinking): Oh no, were in trouble now.
Flora's Mom (Thinking): Oh my god Flora!
He opened up the cage and Flora when back to her dad and cried on his shoulders.
Young Flora: I'm sorry dad he found out!
He hugged and conferment her, then he looked at the clerk, as he began to speak.
Clerk: Don't worry, I'm not going to locked you guys up for good, I found Flora's clipboard and I'd understand what she was trying to do, so I'll let you guys off with a warning, but no more getting out of your cages now. If something were to happened to you guys, I'd be out of a job, and I don't want that okay? Here Flora, you can have your clipboard back.
Then he looked over to Flora's Mom.
Clerk: I say, what's wrong with you?
He opened up the cage, and looked at her, she'd looked as plain as a white snow.
Clerk: Hmm, I better call a vet. You don't look so good.
So he called up a vet, and in 20mins a yellow bus came by.
Clerk: Thank you for coming Dr. Uh.
Dr. Loin: Call me Dr. Loin, now where is the sick hamster?
Clerk: Follow me and I'll so you where she is.
Flora looked over her mother; her mother could see her daughter was stilled worried.
Flora's Mother: It's alright dear.
Young Flora: No it's not if I hadn't been caught I wouldn't have cost you your job, and now I'll never be a great nurse ham like you.
She placed her paw on her mother's, and a small tear came into her eye.
Flora's Mom: Don't worry dear we'll think of something, I'm not giving up just yet.
Just then they saw Dr. Loin coming in, as the clerk opened the cage, and showed him the hamster, he exam her carefully.
Clerk: Well?
Dr. Loin: Well it's not too serious and I can take care of her, but I have too many other pets to take care of, that it'll take me a long time to take care of her.
Clerk: Well that's bad, because the inspector will be here in a month.
Dr. Loin: Well I do have an assistant, but he can't do it alone, unless I have another assistant, I'm afraid I can't get her ready on time.
Flora was worry, she wants to see her mother well, and she didn't want to see the Clerk and the shop close down. Then she had an idea. She tugged Dr. Loin's coat.
Dr. Loin: Well hello, what do you want?
She handed him her clipboard, he read it carefully then he turned to the clerk.
Dr. Loin: Does she take of your pets?
Clerk: Use to, I told her this shop is much too big for her to take care of.
Dr. Loin: Really, well my place is not that big, but it has a lot of pets; wait a minute, are you saying to want to come with me, and help your mom?
Flora shook her head. Dr. Loin spoke to the Clerk.
Dr. Loin: Would it be alright if she comes with me do help her mom?
Clerk: Well I don't know.
Dr. Loin: Well I think this hamster really wants to try, look at that determination in her eye; she might help her get better before the inspector comes.
Clerk: Well alright, but she's only there for helping, deal?
Dr. Loin: Deal.
So Dr. Loin showed Flora and her mothers the place.
Dr. Loin: Well this where you two will be staying for a bit, I know it's a bit messy, but like I said I have to take care of so many pets that I don't have time to clean, but make yourself at home, and I'll see what I can do, to make her mom feel better.
Flora looked around, he was right, it was messy; suddenly she found a monkey.
Young Flora: Hello.
The Monkey smiled and placed his hand out, and they shook.
Dr. Loin: Ha yes, that's my assistant, Pepe.
Flora was surprise.
Young Flora: You're the assistant?
He nodded, Flora was amazed at him.
Dr. Loin: Flora could you bring my thermometer please? I want to see what your mom's temperature is.
Young Flora (Thinking): Where is it?
She looked around but she couldn't find it, because all his other stuff was in the way. So Pepe found it and handed to her.
Young Flora: Thanks.
She handed to Dr. Loin.
Dr. Loin: Thanks.
He took her temperature, and look over it.
Dr. Loin: 102degreesF, I see; well it looks your mother just as a fever, luckily we're coming near to a drug store, I'll just pick some ingredients, and your mother should feel better.
He stopped at the store, and went in for a bit. Flora wasn't satisfied with the place she has to sleep in.
Young Flora: Pepe? Do you guys have a mop and a bucket around here?
He nodded and pointed to it.
Young Flora: Feel like cleaning up the place?
He nodded again in an agreement.
Young Flora: Okay, we'll do it tonight when Dr. Loin a sleep.
Dr. Loin came back, and spend half of the day making the medicine for Flora's mom, while checking on the other pets as well. Flora watched him carefully, as well as feeding the other pets as well. It was night time, and Dr. Loin was ready to go to sleep.
Dr. Loin: Well Flora, I'm going get some shut eyes, but you can sleep with your mom in one of the cages, I'll put you next to Pepe, you two seem to get along just fine.
He patted Flora, and left for the night.
Young Flora: Okay Pepe, you ready?
Pepe nodded and they went to clean the place. Flora worked very hard scrubbing and sweeping the place from top to bottom, she was her best not to disturb both her mom, and the pets. She even organized Dr. Loin's tools and made sure each pets were groom, feed, and cleaned, she had never worked so hard in her life, and she love doing this.
Young Flora (Thinking): This is fun, why didn't I do this sooner?
Soon the place was clean, and Flora was happy and tired, Pepe handed her some water.
Young Flora: Thanks just wait till Dr. Loin sees this, he'll be so happy.
The next morning Dr. Loin came into his bus, as his eyes were wide when he saw the place.
Dr. Loin: My word look at the place, it's so clean, so organized, and so great! Pepe did you do all this?
He shook his head, and pointed to Flora.
Dr. Loin: Flora, you did this?
She nodded; she was worry on what he might say, what if he didn't like it. He picked her up, and took some treats out of his pocket and gave some to her.
Dr. Loin: Well go on, you deserve some, you've done a great job with the place, it's so clean, there's lots of space now, and everything is so organized. Your mom is luckily to have a fine and caring daughter like you.
His last few words made Flora's eye lit up, no one has ever said such kind words to her before. So she took some and ate away, as her mom look and smiled.
Flora's Mom (Thinking): Yes I am.
So Dr. Loin spend most of his day making the medicine for Flora's Mom, while Flora checked on the pets, and fed each and every one of them, and Pepe groomed each of the pets too. Flora was having the time of her life.
Young Flora (Thinking): This is so cool; I get to take care of my mom and the pets, Dr. Loin is super nice and cool, and Pepe is very sweet too, I want to live here!
Then she thought of something.
Young Flora (Thinking): But what about my parents, what would they think, I mean my mom might like it, and my dad would be happy for me, cause I'm living my dream, but who will take care of my parents now, and what would happened to the shop if I'm not there? I mean I want to stay here, but I don't know.
She sigh she hated making decisions like this. Just then Dr. Loin came up to her.
Dr. Loin: I have the medicine right here, would you give this to your mother please, make sure she drinks all of it, and she should be feeling better tomorrow.
Flora nodded and went to her mother's cage. Her mother saw she looked sad.
Flora's Mom: What's wrong dear; you're making me feel better aren't you happy about that?
Young Flora: I am, you're going to come home, and save the shop, but…
She didn't know what to say.
Flora's Mom: You want to stay here, is that right?
She looked at her mother, she was going to cry, but her mother hugged her.
Young Flora: I don't know what do mom, I mean I love it here, but I love you and dad too; who's going to take care of you guys while I'm gone?!
Flora's Mom: There, there I understand. Honey didn't you always say you wanted to be like me and become a nurse?
Young Flora: Yeah.
Flora's Mom: Do you still want to be a nurse?
Young Flora: Of course.
Flora's Mom: Then I think you should stay here.
Flora was a bit shocked, but her mother continued.
Flora's Mom: Honey you're becoming a grown hamster and you have the right to do whatever you want to do. We're not always going to be here to take care of you. Beside looked what you've done to Dr. Loin's office, and look how proud you've made him. It's clear he needs you, more then we need you. You've proven that you can take care of yourself, and you can do whatever you want to do. You're not a kid anymore, and just looking at you makes me proud to be your mother and your father would be happy for you too. We will be sad yes, but we'll be glad, because you're going to live your dream, but it's up to you.
Flora took her words, and started to think, she was right she wasn't little anymore, and Dr. Loin did needed her.
Young Flora: I'll think about.
Flora's Mom: Remember dear, you do what you think it's right, and we'll support you all the way.
Young Flora: Alright, here Dr. Loin told me to make sure you drink all of this; it'll make you feel better.
Flora's Mom: Thanks dear.
As Flora left, her mother sighed.
Flora's Mom (Thinking): I know you'll do the right thing, I understand how you feel.
A few days later Flora's Mom felt better, and Dr. Loin was ready to take them home. Flora was still thinking on if she wants to stay here, or go home. They reached the shop has Dr. Loin, Flora and her mom made their way to the shop.
Clerk: Well done you've got here just in time, we still got a week left before the inspector gets here.
Dr. Loin: Don't thank me, thank your pet Flora, she was very helpful.
Clerk: Well done Flora, here have some sun flower seeds as a reward for your hard work.
Flora ate them, her mother could see she was still thinking.
Clerk: Well let's get you back to your cage now.
He picked up Flora's mom, and Flora, but Flora got out of his hand and ran back to Dr. Loin.
Clerk: Flora!
She hid in his pocket.
Clerk: Come now Flora, I know you like Dr. Loin but he has work to do, and so do we, so come on now.
He tried to grab her, but she held on to Dr. Loin's pocket, till he fell and hurt his back.
Dr. Loin: Are you alright?
Clerk: Yes; Flora what's got into you, don't you want to come home?
She didn't answered she looked at Dr. Loin, Dr. Loin watch he saw she looked happy.
Dr. Loin: You know I could always use some extra help around the place, would like to stay with me for now on?
She shocked her head, as her mother and father watched.
Flora's Dad: Honey what's going on?
Flora's Mom: She living her dream dear.
Clerk: Are you sure, I mean you are a busy doctor; do you think you'll have time to look after her?
Dr. Loin: Well she does to a good job around the place, and she take of my animals in no problem, so yeah I will have time to take care of her, please let me buy her, I think this is what she really wants.
Clerk: Alright; come with me and we'll draw out some paper works.
As they left, Flora looked out for her parents and waved.
Young Flora (Thinking): Bye mom, bye dad, thanks for everything.
Flora's Dad: I can't believe it, our daughter is growing up.
Flora's Mom: I know, she'll make a great nurse, and make us proud.
End Flashback:
Flora: And so that's the story.
Stan: That was a great story, thanks for sharing it with me.
Flora: You're welcome.
Stan: Do you ever miss your parents?
Flora: Yeah I do, but I know they're thinking about me, and I know how proud I've made them, but I wish I could see them again, just this once.
Stan: I'm sure you will.
Just then Dr. Loin came back from the store.
Dr. Loin: Hello Stan, hello Flora; how was your guys' day?
They just gave him a smile.
Dr. Loin: Well Stan you can head home now, sorry there wasn't much work for you to do, but I'm sure we'll be busy tomorrow, so go and get some rest.
Stan: Well I'd better go, thanks for telling me the story.
Flora: No problem, see you tomorrow.
They hugged.
Stan: See ya.
Stan left for the day, feeling quite good; he did felt sorry for Flora, but was happy for her all the same.
