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The Borrower

We have a new bunch of elective students. From the States. They all look terribly young. They are following close at my heel as I wander onto the ward. They try to follow me into the toilet but halt when I tell them to “stay”.

We start the ward round. Sister is on excellent form. She sizes up the students.

“So – where are you from?” she demands, pulling up her sleeves exposing her formidable forearms as if she was about to punch the answers out of them. They shuffle back involuntarily and admit to being American.

“Ahh – America. I wish to go to America,” she says dreamily. She studies the students. Her gaze settles on one – a girl of about 4 foot tall who is presumably some kind of child genius. Or a long forgotten trans-Atlantic cousin of the Borrowers. Her eyes widen.

“Hauw Dr!” she says to me. She grabs the girl. “Look at this one – you must check her hormones. She has not had puberty. Her endocrine system is defective!” The poor girl colours and tries to look even smaller were it possible.

Comments

Anonymous said…
So I'm not the only one that Sister pounced on! :) Your "Breast Donation" blog was quite accurate, except she also accused me of looking 12 years old ("Look at this one! She is 24, but you cannot believe it; she is so small!"), and, after parading me around the wards and introducing me this way to others, she also grabbed at my chest, not just her own! :)
This is Bethany, btw. We are back in Durban by now and it is our last week in Africa. Your blog is fascinating, and it makes me realize I miss you guys already! (I'm pleased to have been mentioned in your popular blog lol.) Please also say hi to Mmabatho and Casper for me. Best wishes!
~Bethany Eastman
FireEyes.16@juno.com
27 November 2007 at 09:56
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