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

help as well?” pleaded Anne.
    â€œStop worrying about not doing anything. Just enjoy it, you lucky thing!”
    Anne pretended to fold, anger mounting at this wasted morning. She began concocting conversations in her head. ‘I am learning a lot in Casualty, Matron. They could do with some training on how to train student nurses.’ Anne glanced at the clock. Time wasn’t moving. ‘I can’t bear six weeks of this. Even if they did need my help, I am useless here. It’s like giving somebody who is scared of cats a job as a lion trainer. I could even do harm, and if I agree to that without voicing the truth then I am as bad as Matron. Maybe Jane is right. Matron has made a mistake, and I should tell her. It’s the principle of the thing. How can wrongs be righted if we are all cowards?’
    â€œWhat on earth are you doing?” A nurse looked at her hands, unfolding and refolding the bandages.
    â€œI’m sorry. I’m new here, and I’m not sure what I should be doing.”
    â€œSo you’re standing there wasting time while we rush about over-worked? My God, the people training to be nurses these days! Have you heard of opening your eyes and trying to be useful?”
    â€œExcuse me…”
    â€œI don’t have time to listen to your excuses. See that long line of women with babies? They are here to circumcise their boys. Look after them.”
    For a minute Anne couldn’t breathe. Anger beat so strong she felt as though she was going to be sick. The injustice. She fought down the urge to cry, taking deep breaths. The huge line of women and babies were waiting. She approached the first woman, smiling with trepidation.
    â€œHow much longer do we have to wait?” the woman asked in a petulant voice.
    â€œNot much longer now.” Anne wanted to scream ‘I have no idea. Nothing is explained in this dreadful ward, everything is confusion and turmoil. Far from adding to my experience, it’s an exercise in bloody futility.’
    â€œHow much longer?” whined a chorus of voices. “Tell us what’s going on!”
    Anne turned and walked straight to Matron’s office. She knocked on the open door, the peremptory knock of someone who has justice on her side.
    Matron looked up. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
    â€œI am, but nobody at Casualty seems to know what I should be doing. It is the most badly run, disorganized department I have ever worked in. They sent me to look after a line of women waiting to circumcise their babies, without any explanation of what I might do for them. They are…” Anne’s flow of anxious talk faltered under the disapproving eyes of Matron.
    â€œGet back to work. How dare you leave in the middle of the day?”
    â€œYou don’t understand…”
    â€œI beg your pardon. You are a student nurse, you are there to learn. The fact that you don’t know how to look after waiting patients just proves how much you have to learn. Return to work immediately or this will be your last day of training.”
    â€œWhat?” Anne couldn’t believe it. Matron had told her she was bright!
    â€œYou heard me,” said Matron, and shut the door in Anne’s face.
    Tears erupted. Anne clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle the sobs and ran out the door of the hospital down to the river. She lay on the bank and cried until her stomach hurt, imagining Matron finding her and feeling remorse. Begging her forgiveness. Then she imagined Sam gathering her up, horrified at her pain and swearing vengeance.
    Then anger came. Anne scrambled to her feet and began to march along the river defiantly.
    â€˜So she can chuck me out like that after years of excellent work, can she? One rotten morning, one small disagreement, and my dedication and qualities are thrown away. It’s unbelievable — she shouldn’t be Matron. If I can’t speak out when I see