THE FALSE TRUTH pt2

Judith has been a nurse for eight years, she had started as a cleaner, then she had been moved after three months to the dispensary, where she quickly learnt about pharmacology, she was doing so well that the doctor, an aged man that had studied as an obstetrician, had decided to train her as a nurse. He had allowed her to inject patients the first six months of the training; it had not been easy for Judith, a bubbly, plump kind hearted girl of twenty-two, who hated hurting people’s feelings. Eventually she got the hang of it and was swiftly moved to fixing of IVs and carrying out minor examinations. It was no surprise to anyone when the old doctor finally promoted her to Head nurse and married her. When he was not in the hospital, she covered for him. When the young girl was rushed to their hospital that afternoon, she had taken one look at her and known what the diagnosis was. When she had called her husband for examination, he had pronounced the same diagnosis. Because she was bleeding profusely, she had suggested that they either turn them away or contact the police. After several pleadings from the young aboki man who seemed to be the culprit, that also brought the unconscious girl, they had finally agreed to call their friend Ete, who was a police sergeant and put the girl under close observation.

It was almost nine forty-five before a harried woman rushed through the hospital dirty glass doors to ask about her daughter’s condition. Judith examined her through large innocent looking eyes, she was rake thin, her grey colored skirt suit—though well tailored—was two sizes too big for her, permed hair that got to her shoulders, parted on the side, eyes that were closely set and red rimmed, she had been crying obviously, a thin runny nose and her thin lips were chapped and slightly bleeding, she must have been biting them throughout on her way to the hospital.

“Madam, calm down, she is stabilized now” she said soothingly, pitying the woman, being a mother of a five year old daughter herself, the mothers were always the last to know, she thought shaking her head as the poor woman started to cry, “whhhat is wrong with her?” she managed to get out between sobs, “em, the doctor is with a patient, but he will soon be through” Judith said evasively, quickly getting up to go fetch her husband. Ada started pacing, wondering what they had for dinner the night before and whether or not she was looking ill in anyway but she couldn’t remember, a frustrated sob escaped from her as the old doctor made his ponderous way towards her. She stopped pacing and wiped the tears from her eyes angrily, she hated to be so weak.

“Madam” the doctor said in a calm baritone and steered her away from the reception towards his office, she followed silently as he squeezed her wet palm and murmured platitudes to her. She calmed down considerably as she was ushered into a large, colorfully decorated office. He offered her an armchair and sat on the one close to it, looking at her keenly, he noticed she was strained and undernourished, “your daughter will be just fine, we had to transfuse when we saw that she was in dire need of blood” he mumbled patting her hand as he rang for housekeeping, “but you on the other hand need some food in your system, we will get you an orange drink and maybe some snacks” he told the orderly that showed up, looking at her as he spoke, she nodded and managed a dry-lipped, close-mouthed smile.

He sighed, it was always so difficult when handling relatives, no matter how many times he had done it, “we will wait a little for the orderly and the food while I finish my evening examination of your daughter and another patient, just stay here till I return” he said and got up before she could protest.

Ada sat there numb, cold and wondering how she had failed so woefully as a mother.

It must be the prawns, she thought again as she finally remembered yesterday’s dinner, I thought they didn’t look fresh yet I used them for the coconut rice, she berated herself, what else could it be that will make her faint? 

The door opened again quietly and the orderly handed her a paper plate of meat-pie and a plastic bottle of fanta, she took it and nodded to him. As he retreated, she took a small bite of the pie and found it warm and moist. She took another bite, this time bigger and chewed slowly, she took a gulp of the fanta and another big bite of the pie, it was quite tasty she thought as her mind wandered towards work, she still had three reports to write and the employees’ data base to update, she sighed and placed the half-eaten snack on the worn stool beside her and drank all the fanta, then looking around, she noticed that the office was slightly dusty, she frowned. Why would the doctor’s office be dusty except for the reason that he didn’t use it all the time. She got up abruptly and headed for the door, something bad has happened she thought in panic as she yanked the door open and found the doctor standing in front of her, he smiled and ushered her back in.

“She’s stabilized and resting, I had to sedate her when we couldn’t hold her down for the IV” he paused and frowned, “she was quite beside herself with grief and remorse, she said you would kill her if you found out”

Ada blinked uncomprehendingly, why would she be remorseful for eating bad prawns,

“I don’t understand doctor, I made the dinner” she said to the doctor who merely nodded and offered her the seat she just vacated, “you think her illness has to do with food poisoning?” he inquired quietly as he sat down heavily, “yes, is it something else?” she asked as the cold finger of fear gripped her again, oh God, please let it not be anything worse, she prayed as the doctor cleared his throat, “em, yes it is” he said and stared into space, “does your daughter have a boyfriend?” he asked suddenly, Ada threw her head back and laughed heartily, boyfriend? she thought, she had problems getting her daughter to mingle with other people, she was a chronic bookworm that was why she started counseling in church, she was too antisocial, “no, doctor, she doesn’t have a boyfriend, she barely even have female friends much less boys” she replied with a wan smile, the doctor wrung his hands and hung his head in deep thought, he found this particular case difficult to handle, maybe because he saw that she was already overwrought and overworked, “well, your daughter was three months pregnant and trying to abort it, she took some strong, local contraceptives and would have bled to death if your gateman hadn’t rushed her to the hospital” he said bluntly, the truth couldn’t be sweetened he thought as he saw astonishment, then confusion on her thin features, “I am here for Aisha Ivory Isa-Mohammed doctor” she explained, they probably had more than one female teenager here. The doctor sighed and nodded his head, “I’m talking about her” he paused and flipped her chart open he had entered with open, “age fifteen, weight forty kilograms, blood group B-positive, with a healed fractured wound on her right arm, five stitches on that injury” he looked at her in askance, “yes she fell from her sleigh when she was ten, I was in the kitchen preparing the eggnog for the church Christmas brunch in Wichita” she replied automatically defensive, eyes wide with shock, “pregnant?” she whispered almost in awe. To Be Continued...