A Spark of Heavenly Fire by Kathleen Knowles

Author:Kathleen Knowles
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781626392694
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2014-11-17T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

In the month and a half since Beth began her medical training, her anxiety about not being good enough ebbed, and she regained some of her old poise and confidence. She made no friends except for Scott, to whom she’d become close. Mr. Hardesty gave the class the choice of switching partners, but Beth had no qualms about staying with Scott. He was quite unlike the other young men, who either ignored her or treated her with a sort of faintly uncomfortable jocularity. Esther’s predictions had come true:

They won’t know how to behave with a woman in their midst. So be compassionate. If you can avoid outright hostility, that is the best outcome.

Scott was different. He continued to treat her with elaborate courtesy, but other than that, his attitude was perfectly friendly, untinged by contempt or veiled attraction. She was in no mood to attempt to figure out why this was so; she was just grateful. The other students sometimes would glance at her, then whisper or giggle, behaving exactly like the young nurses back during her nurse’s training when they were embarrassed. When she pointed this out to Scott, he guffawed, causing her to laugh almost uncontrollably as well. For the most part, she only cared for the good opinions of her professors, which she seemed to have.

They were about to embark on their most ambitious and complex dissection: the cadaver. Beth and Scott discussed this prospect and formed their plans.

Scott said, “We must make this a logical process from start to finish. There will be a great deal to memorize. We must ensure all the drawings and all the notes are organized so we can review them properly.”

“I agree. We can make a code for all the drawings and have all the notes coded as well.”

Scott drummed his pencil on the bench. “I’m nervous. I don’t want to faint or anything of that nature.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Beth was surprised at such an admission from him. She’d heard the other students joking and boasting about their eagerness to begin cadaver work. It was likely to cover up their unease.

The big day finally arrived, and as they filed into the anatomy lab, they found a room full of tables holding draped forms replacing their low benches and chairs. They would be standing for this part of the instruction. The sweet, pungent odor of formaldehyde filled the room. Each table had a tray underneath to catch drips and pails to hold various body parts.

“Gentlemen, today begins two months of cadaver dissection and study. I trust you’ve chosen your study partners well, for they will be your key to success. Put on your aprons and gloves and pull the covers back and roll them at your cadaver’s feet. We’ll begin with an overview.”

Scott glanced at Beth and then grasped the cover near the cadaver’s head and rolled it toward the feet. With the cover removed, the odor of preservative became almost unbearable, and it made Beth gag. Scott paled but grinned confidently at Beth.

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