Read Online Face by Benjamin Zephaniah - Free Book Online Page B

beginning to understand why she only ever spoke of two role models in her life. The only role models she had were her mother and father who had both come to England penniless. They had taught themselves to speak English and made sure that she received the best education possible.
    One morning Nurse Ling explained to Martin that the time had come for him to have his first bath.
    â€˜It will hurt a little the first time, but that’s why me and Nurse Davis are here.’
    Martin hid his nervousness. ‘OK, where do we do it?’
    â€˜Right here,’ Nurse Ling replied. ‘You won’t even have to leave your bed.’
    The nurses left the room and returned twenty minutes later manoeuvring a trolley into the room. The trolley had various bottles and towels on the bottom shelf but on the top shelf and most noticeable was alarge silver bowl and a large silver jug. Nurse Ling began to pour from the jug into the bowl whilst Nurse Davis told Martin what was happening.
    â€˜In the bowl there is lukewarm water and Nurse Ling is adding a saline solution to it. Saline helps to reduce the risk of infection. What we are going to do next is to wet these towels and gently pad them on to your skin. It will sting a little at first but you will soon get used to it.’
    â€˜Don’t worry,’ Nurse Ling interjected, ‘it sounds worse than it is.’
    â€˜Yes, she’s right,’ Nurse Davis continued. ‘Just lie back and think of West Ham and it will be over before you get to half-time.’
    Martin eased his pyjamas off. He was then instructed to lie on his back so that he could see the first applications of the towels and not be fearful or taken by surprise. Martin felt highly embarrassed by this – he hated being naked in front of the nurses, but his most overwhelming emotion was one of helplessness. He hated not doing things for himself and he hated lying back and waiting for something to happen to him. He definitely couldn’t think of West Ham.
    Nurse Ling dipped the small towels into the bowl, squeezed off the excess liquid and dabbed Martin’s skin lightly. She dipped each towel only once and dabbed with the greatest care. Martin felt a mild burning sensation when the towel first touched hisskin but then it cooled quickly. After being cleaned from his toes right up to his neck, Martin turned over to lie face down. Nurse Davis placed a sterilised towel on the pillow and gently eased Martin’s face on to it. Then his back received the same careful treatment. When the whole of his body was done, Nurse Ling gave the same treatment to his face. But now she was most careful. Every touch was gentle, so gentle that Martin hardly felt a thing. Just a light tingly sensation that came after the applications. The whole process took half an hour.
    When the nurses had left and Martin was in his pyjamas again and back in bed, he began once more to reflect on his situation. The bathing wasn’t as painful as he had thought it would be, but his body did feel as if it had undergone a change. He turned his head to the left as far as it would go, and then to the right. He bent his head down as far as it would go and then up and back as far as it would go. He put his left hand in front of his face and slowly made a fist. As his finger tips pushed against his palm, it felt as if the tender skin would crack. Although he didn’t have the strength to form a firm fist, he was pleased that he could at least now make a weak one. He then repeated the action with his right hand.
    There was a knock on the door. Martin quickly put his hands down. No one had knocked on the door before. His first thought was that the police had comefor the real questioning. He said nothing. The door handle turned slowly and to his surprise Natalie’s face appeared at the edge of the door. ‘Hello, can we come in?’ She seemed nervous.
    â€˜Yeah, come in. Who’s we?’
    Natalie entered, followed by