Flashbulb Memories by Kemp John

Author:Kemp, John
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JK Publishing
Published: 2015-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

I wait, restless, in the little café where we have arranged to meet, drinking lukewarm coffee and smoking like a distressed chimney.

At the appointed time, Nurse Grant appears in the doorway and beckons to me. I stub out my latest smoke in the full ashtray on the table.

‘Where are we going?’ I ask.

‘To my quarters,’ Nurse Grant says. ‘We share.’

‘You and Lucy?’

She nods.

I raise an eyebrow and mutter my thanks.

‘It’s not far,’ she says as she leads me away.

I follow Nurse Grant to a white stuccoed building: the nurses’ block which is set back in the rural grounds of the hospital.

Upon entering, we walk along a badly-lit corridor, ‘You shouldn’t really be here,’ she says. ‘I’ll sneak you in.’

‘Lucy?’ she calls out as she enters the room but there is no reply. Nurse Grant calls back to me. ‘Come in, Jack.’

I raise an eyebrow at the sparse and rather cramped accommodation; it is little more than a couple of beds, an appointed kitchenette and a washbasin in another corner.

‘It’s a good arrangement,’ she assures me, ‘I work days generally and Lucy works the night shift. She’ll probably be back in a moment. Do you want to wait a few minutes?’

Nurse Grant appears mindful of the passing time and of her impending return to the hospital.

‘Cup of tea? She offers and glances at her watch again. ‘I’ve got ten minutes.’

‘No thanks,’ I say, frustrated that Lucy isn’t here.

‘It’s nice to see you looking better,’ Nurse Grant says. ‘I’m pleased.’

‘How about you?’ I ask. ‘Are you doing all right?’

She forces a smile. ‘Not too bad’

Nurse Grant sits down on the edge of the bed, takes a packet of cigarettes from her handbag and offers me one. I raise my hand.

‘I’m trying to quit.’

‘Oh,’ she says, ‘How’s that going?’

‘Not very well.’

She gives an empathetic smile. ‘Me too.’

I then try to relax and attempt small-talk,

‘Why do you do it,’ I ask, ‘for such little gain?’

‘Nursing? I’m proud to do my bit. I’m proud of being a nurse at St Stephens. I want to help the wounded, and, like you, I’m patriotic too. So, there is plenty of gain, just by giving.’

I nod. ‘Of course. I think you are all amazing. I don’t know how you do it really.’

She shrugs modestly, crosses her legs and lights up. As she starts puffing on her cigarette, I keep my eyes anxiously peeled on the door.

‘I’m sure she’ll be back soon,’ she reassures me, now puffing on the cigarette as if smoking a cigar.

She catches my eye.

‘How is Harry?’ she asks.

‘Harry Barnes?’ I ask in disbelief.

She nods. ‘The one and the same.’

‘He’s okay, I think.’ I shrug. ‘Why?’

‘I went on a blind date with him once.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Mm-hmm… Lucy arranged it.’

‘Lucy did?’ I wonder how that was possible. ‘Lucy set you up on a date with Harry?’

‘Humph.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘Yes, she did.’

‘Well, what did you make of Harry? He is a bit shy after all,’ I joke.

‘He certainly wasn’t shy. In fact, he was quite forward.’ She laughs.

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