“Why would he want to come down here and work?” China picked up her drink and took a sip.
When Robin joined them China gathered her leftover microwavable lunch. She had to be on duty while Robin ate.
Jean called from the door, “China, Dr. Jenkins needs you in exam two. We have a boy with an open wound.”
“On my way,” she responded. “This may be where I get to see what he can do,” China remarked to Doris as she hurried away.
China entered the exam room to find Dr. Jenkins with a lanky boy of about eleven years old sitting on the table and a mom perched on a chair with a troubled expression on her face.
“China, I’m going to need saline, a pan and a suture kit,” he said, without looking up from his patient.
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
He glanced up and gave her a quizzical look. A sharp tightness shot through her chest honed from childhood. What had she said wrong?
China left to gather the supplies. Returning, she found that Dr. Jenkins had turned the boy around so that he could place the pan on the pull-out footrest. There he would be able to pour the saline over the wound so it would run into the pan. China set the supplies on a small metal surgical stand that was stored in one corner then pulled it out to within easy reach of the doctor.
She opened the bottle of saline and handed it to him. He began to pour the liquid over the wound. When the boy winced Dr. Jenkins said, “I’m not from around here so tell me about this skimboarding you were doing.”
The kid relaxed noticeably.
“It’s done with a thin oval board. You throw it down and jump on it and ride it along the surf coming in on the beach.”
“That sounds like fun. Are you any good?”
By this time Dr. Jenkins was preparing the local anesthesia to deaden the wound and the boy was taking no notice. The doctor had skills.
“Pretty good.”
China had never learned to do anything like skimboarding, surfing or the usual water sports common for someone who lived near the water. Her father had become more controlling after her brother had left home at sixteen when given the ultimatum to straighten up or get out. China had learned early in life to do as she was told or she, too, might not have a place to live.
After her brother had left her father hadn’t wanted China or her sister hanging out with the crowd down at the beach or doing much that wasn’t under his watchful eye. Her mom, devastated by losing one child, had left most of the parenting to China’s father. He’d had to know where they were at all times. “Might get into trouble. Too many drugs and alcohol. That’s where your brother got into trouble,” he’d say. China soon found that it was easier to just go along with what her father had wanted, to do whatever had kept the peace.
For Kelsey it had been much harder. As soon as she’d finished high school she’d been out of the house. Sadly, China didn’t hear from her outside an occasional card or phone call. She missed Kelsey and wished they had a better relationship. Kelsey’s hadn’t spoken to their parents in years, which meant that her parents, especially her mom, clung to China.
“Do any tricks?” Dr. Jenkins asked, drawing China’s attention back to what was happening in the room.
“I can turn around,” the boy told Dr. Jenkins proudly.
“Wow. Do you think I’m too old to learn?” The doctor placed the needle at the edge of the boy’s laceration.
“Naw, heck anyone can do it,” the boy said, squaring his shoulders in pride.
“You think you could teach me?” Dr. Jenkins made the first stitch and the boy didn’t even flinch.
“Sure.”
“What do I need to know or buy?”
“It’s no big deal. All you need is a board. You can get those anywhere around here.”
“Do I need a special size?”
Was he really going to try skimboarding? That was for kids.
With a grin the boy said, “As far as I know, they only come in one size.”
“Any certain weight I need to get?”
The boy gave him a perplexed look. “Not that I know of.”
Dr. Jenkins tied off the last of the nine neat stitches he had placed in the boy’s leg.
China had to give him kudos for a quick, perfect suturing job and keeping the patient calm. He had a wonderful way with the boy. She’d seen none do better. Actually, he was the best she’d seen.
Dr. Jenkins pushed the stool back and stood. “Would you teach me?”
He sounded serious.
“Sure, why not?”
“Great. I’m going to let Nurse China bandage you up. I want you to come in one week from now to have the stitches out. Then we’ll make a date for you to show me how to skimboard.”
“Okay,” the boy said, with a huge grin.
He spoke to the mom. “Just see that it remains dry and clean. No swimming or skimboarding until the stitches are removed.”
China began opening the sterile bandage package.
From behind her Dr. Jenkins said, “Let’s not use that one. It needs a four-by-four.”
That tightness in her chest was back. Was this doctor going to be hard to please? “I’ll get one right away.” She left and returned with the required gauze.
Dr. Jenkins stuck out his hand. The boy hesitated a moment and then took it. The doctor smiled. “See you next week. I’m going to hunt for a board today. I’m already looking forward to the lesson.”
Who was this guy? He sounded like he’d moved here for the recreation instead of a job. He had an excellent bedside manner but would she be able to work with him?
Leaving the clinic for the day, China still had grocery shopping to contend with before she could go home. She hated it, hated it. The word wasn’t too strong. She made a point to be in and out as quick as possible. Some people didn’t like to clean bathrooms but shopping for food was her issue.
She maneuvered the buggy with the knocking wheels at a brisk pace through the aisles, snatching what she needed from the shelves. She tended to buy the same things so she didn’t worry about studying the prices or nutritional value. It had been a long day, starting with the trip to the donut shop, and she just wanted to go home, maybe do some gardening.
With everything on her list except the trail mix she favored, she pushed the buggy through the produce department. She reached out to pick up the plastic bag of nuts, chocolate candy and oats.
“So, not after donuts this time, I see.”
She looked up to find Dr. Jenkins grinning at her. She wanted to groan. Was he going to be around every corner she turned?
He moved his nearly full cart along beside hers. “I guess food is our common denominator.”
“I don’t think it’s so surprising that we meet here since we’ve only shopped at the two busiest places in town.”
“Still testy over this morning? Are you prickly to everyone when shopping for food or is it just me?”
His grin fed her annoyance. “Hey, I’m not prickly.” She pushed her cart forward. He followed. “I just don’t enjoy grocery shopping.”
“You know, if I was a psychiatrist I might find some hidden meaning in that statement.”
She was afraid he just might. The job of shopping and cooking had fallen on her at far too young an age. She hadn’t complained. If she’d wanted to eat then she’d needed to fix it. Now every time she entered the grocery store it brought back unhappy memories. That’s why she made a point to do most of her buying once a month. She picked up the small items she might need at a convenience store at other times.
China winced when he peered over into her basket, “Not much of a cook, are you?”
She glanced at all the prepared food piled there. “No. In fact, I hate it.”
“I love to cook. Our cook, Ruth, taught me all I k
now. At least now that I’ve moved here I’ll have time to enjoy cooking a meal.”
Our cook. They’d certainly come from two different worlds. She’d been the family cook. If you could call theirs a family.
More from intimidation than need, China picked up a few apples and put them in a small clear bag. She tied it off and placed them in her buggy. Payton had managed to make her feel at fault twice in the same day. Once over calling him an idiot and now over her eating habits.