Read Online Turn Us Again by Charlotte Mendel - Free Book Online Page A

Why?”
    Compliments weren’t usually forthcoming from Matron, so it was pleasant to hear that she thought her bright. Anne’s natural warmth overcame her irritation, and she leaned forward in her chair.
    â€œI know I have to do a bit of everything while I’m in training, but I don’t like the atmosphere in the operating room. It’s so stressful, and I can’t get used to watching the doctor cutting people open.”
    â€œYou must get used to it. How will you succeed as a nurse in the real world if you shudder at a bit of blood?
    â€œI have no objection to blood or feces or saliva or any of it. I just don’t like seeing people cut open. And that’s just the scheduled operations. The emergencies are worse. This won’t affect my career because I plan to specialize as a midwife.”
    â€œIn six weeks time you will be a qualified RN, and you can choose whatever path you feel is right for you. However, right now you’re in training and you must be able to cope with any situation. I am switching you to Casualty tomorrow.”
    Anne spoke with barely contained passion. “Why must I do something I hate for the last six weeks of training — something that will be useless to me afterwards?”
    â€œNothing is useless. Not the math or history you learned at school, though you may not use it today, nor the knowledge that you will acquire in Casualty. This meeting is over.”
    â€œI beg you to reconsider.”
    â€œThat’s enough, Nurse Anne,” Matron said in a warning voice.
    Anne rushed to her room in a passion of anger and threw herself beside Louise, who was lying on her bed reading a book. “I’ve been put in Casualty,” Anne sobbed.
    There was a brief silence; Anne remembered the red jumper.
    Louise sighed and put down the book.
    â€œThat won’t be so bad. You’ve only got a few weeks left. Maybe you won’t have to deal with anything too unpleasant.”
    Anne sat up and hugged Louise, delirious with joy that she was speaking to her again.
    â€œI’m sorry about your jumper. You can borrow my clothes whenever you like.”
    â€œIt’s OK. I washed it and it doesn’t look so bad.” Louise smiled at her, this impulsive friend with her violent feelings of happiness and despair, her capacity for deviousness.
    Nobody took her under their wing in Casualty. Anne hung about all morning, hating the feeling of incompetence. Whenever anybody asked her to do something, she would jump to do it, then stand around again. Everybody else seemed busy. Finally she spotted a nurse folding some bandages; a nice, stationary job that she could help with. As she approached, recognition brought relief. Nurse Jane also frequented Dorothy’s.
    â€œAre you folding bandages? Can I help?”
    â€œHello Smithie. I don’t need any help, thanks.”
    â€œJust let me bloody help,” Anne hissed, picking up a bandage. “I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing.”
    â€œWell, you haven’t been here long. Just keep your eyes and ears open and you’ll learn.”
    â€œThere’s nothing I need to learn from here. I just feel uncomfortable. I’ll be training for midwifery in a few weeks. Matron is ruining the end of my training for no reason. Just … because she can.”
    â€œThat’s a shame. Matron is a right bitch, and once she’s got it in for you…”
    Anne shot a look at Jane. She sometimes had the feeling that the other nurses tried to rile her up to see how she would react. “I don’t think she has it in for me. As a matter of fact she gave me some compliments.”
    â€œOh, just like her, buttering you up with one hand and stabbing you in the back with the other. I know you have guts, Smithie, why don’t you refuse to work here?”
    A doctor appeared and motioned for Jane to follow him.
    â€œThe bandages are all folded. Can’t he use my