My Aunt Mabel Pt. 3

As the weeks flew by, Mabel and Mollie fell into the rhythm of the hospital chores.  They also became adept at medical lingo which had sounded like a foreign language when they had arrived.  The long awaited day finally came to actually assist in the surgery and
both girls were terrified.  "I'm so glad you are scheduled first," declared Mollie.  "Then you can tell me all the things you did wrong."

When her rotation day arrived, Mabel was so jittery she paced the floor in her tiny quarters waiting for her day to begin.  Once down in the surgery room, she stood out of the way waiting for her cue to move in and assist.  The doctor arrived already gowned, pulling on his surgical mask.  "Good Morning ladies and gentlemen, I am Dr. DuPont.  We will be doing a routine tonsellectomy today on a 16 year old male.  He has presented with swelling and redness in the area.  Temp. is normal.  If you are assisting I expect you to work in close and think one step ahead of me.  If you are here to observe, I don't expect to hear you or see you.  I will be available for questions once the patient goes to recovery."  The room was as silent as a tomb.  "No one wants to be on this one's bad side," Mabel mused.  The operation began suddenly and Mabel handed off instruments as if she had been doing it all her life.  When they were finishing up, Dr DuPont glanced her way, "Nice work, May. You have the makings of a fine nurse."  She felt her cheeks grow warm, "Thank you, Dr. DuPont, but my name isn't....."  Her words hung in the air, Dr. DuPont had flung off his mask and left the room.

Late in the evening, Mabel came downstairs to get  glass of milk.  Though she was exhausted, she found she was unable to sleep.  She was just about to return to her room when footsteps echoed on the kitchen tiles.  "Well look who's here.  It is our new number one nurse, Mae."
"Good evening, Dr. DuPont.  I was just getting a glass of milk before I retired for the evening." Mabel said.
"I'm glad to have found you here," said Dr. DuPont. " I was serious about what I said in the operating room today. You nurse patients like you were born to do it, Mae"
"Please, if you wouldn't mind, my name is Mabel." She said.  "You see I had a little sister, Mae  who died of tuberculosis last year.  It is part of the reason I wanted to become a nurse.  She was only twelve years old when she died.  It was hard on all of us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, it is one vicious disease." He said.  "I enjoy talking with you, what do you say we have lunch together Sunday?"
"0h, I couldn't," said Mabel. "Matron Agnes made it most clear that we must not fraternize. I am nervous being here  alone with you now"
Dr. DuPont let out a loud braying laugh.  "You mean Naggie Aggie?  I can get around her any day.  Besides, she doesn't have to know.  You girls all go to services at the Lutheran Church, am I right?  Well then on Sunday, hang back a little and when they turn left to go up the church path, you keep walking straight for two blocks.  I'll be waiting with a carriage.
Mabel was horrified.  "Dr DuPont, I couldn't possibly...
"Just think about it," he said, " don't let life pass you by, Mae."  On the way out the door he called back, "Belle."

For the rest of the week Mabel worried over the conversation she had had with the doctor.  To flagrantly break hospital rules would be out of the question.  Her parents had sacrificed so she could be here.  Her younger sister and confidante was also affected. .  Kitty had written her recently that she wouldn't be returning to school in the autumn.  Mother needed her home to help mind the new baby.  Mabel knew that Kitty wanted to be a teacher, now that might never happen.  If Mabel were back home, Kitty could finish her education.

Sunday arrived and the young nursing students glad to be out of nursing aprons, put on their Sunday best.  Mollie and Mabel usually walked together arm-in-arm the mile and a half to the church.  Today as Mabel was dressing, she heard moans from Mollie' s bed.  Her face was dreadfully swollen on one side and she was weeping uncontrollably.  The matron was summoned and she administered oil of cloves to Mollie' s raging toothache then wrapped up the swollen jaw in linens.  Matron shooed all the girls out the door lest they be late for service.  Mabel felt lonely without Mollie and worried about her friend.  She was trailing the other girls when they reached the twisty turn to the church.  As the girls ahead meandered left, Mabel straightened her shoulders and with racing heart, continued straight down the block.

For the next several weeks Mabel grew quiet and aloof from the other girls.  Mollie felt this most keenly and missed the friendship severely.  The luncheon dates continued on Sundays with Dr. DuPont.  She realized she was falling in love with him, but was uncertain about his feelings.  He often remarked on her beauty and nursing skills, but had yet to declare himself.  Mabel became a bundle of nerves.  She hated that she had hurt her friend, Mollie, but was terrified she would let something slip if she had conversations like the old times.  It had become more difficult to come up with plausible reasons for missing church services.  If only she could keep it all together until the completion of her classes.  Surely by then the good doctor would have made his intentions known.  Also, she would no longer be a student and bound by silly rules.  If she could just hold it together for a few more weeks.  Then she received a notice from Matron Agnes to come to the office immediately.

"

One year later, Chicago

May Belle looked longing into the shop window.  Lace gloves, fancy hats and attractive footwear all the latest fashion were on display.  With a sigh she began to turn away for the long trek home when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

    "Why, it's little Mable Sweetser!" Said the older woman.  "Who would have thought I would find you here in Chicago!  As I live and breathe."

     "Mrs.Walsh," said a surprised May Belle.  "I haven't seen you since..."  May Belle stopped,blushing.

   "Since graduation, dear.  Then you and the doctor disappeared for parts unknown,"  said Mrs. Walsh.  "You know your parents are very worried, they tell me they haven't heard a word from you in the past year.  Dr Walsh must do some seminars here at the hospital and he noted Dr Duponts name on the roster.  I decided to come along and see if I could find you.  Thanks to Divine Providence, I have!"

     "It's been so good to see you, Mrs. Walsh,but I  really must get home," May Belle said nervously.

     "Nonsense," said Mrs. Walsh looping her arm through May Belle' s."Now that I've found you, I'm not letting you go that easily.  Besides, I have something from your mother."

      "Mother?"  May Belle' s eyes filled with tears.

      Mrs. Walsh, due to her many years as a doctor's wife, understandtood the way  human foibles might rule a young girl's heart.   "Let's get you a nice cup of tea.  Our house is very close.

      Once had been served and May Belle had relaxed a little, she began to tell her story.  " Matron Agnes was very angry that I had been keeping company with Dr DuPont.  She wanted me to pack my bags and leave at once.  I was terrified, not just because of all the hard work that would be wasted, my dreams shattered.  The most awful thing would be how disappointed my family would be.  I begged her to let me finish.  I'm afraid I lead her to believe that I would soon be married."

        "And are you married?" asked Mrs. Walsh.  May Belle hid her face in her hands and shook her head.

         "He made promises, I thought he loved me, "she sobbed," but he wouldn't allow me to work or even leave the house.  That's why I must get back, if he finds me gone, he Will get into a rage.

        "And has he ever struck you?" Asked Mrs. Walsh.  May Belle nodded and sobbed louder.  "Child, you belong home with your parents." Mrs.Walsh said gently.

         "But don't you see?  Word would get out, I would disgrace my whole family.  Marysville is a very small place.  It's better if I never see them again." May Belle sighed, exhausted.

         Mrs Walsh said, "And do you wish to stay with Dr DuPont, then?"

          "Oh no!" Said May Belle, "I wish I had never met him.  But now that I have become a soiled woman there are no other choices open to me."

          " Don't be so quick to give up all hope."  Said Mrs. Walsh. "I'm going to keep you with me tonight.  You have exhausted yourself with crying.  Tomorrow things will look different.  Then we'll talk.

     The next day Dr and Mrs. Walsh sat down with May Belle and offered her a chance to turn her life around.  Dr. Walsh was opening a clinic out west in San Francisco, California.  He was in need of a good nurse, and they would like Her to go with them.  "What do you think, child, "asked Mrs. Walsh. "Would you be ready to start over in the wild and wooly West?"

      Tears filled May Belle' s eyes. "First, I can never thank you wonderful people enough for giving me hope.  Second, I'm reclaiming the name my mother gave me.  I want to be called Mable from now on.  And third, San Francisco, here we come!"