Camp Nurse Read Online Free PDF Page A

of peeing in the forest, climbing trees, and hanging out with his new pal, Wheels, the camp driver, who took him for rides around camp on his BMX bike.
    Why couldn’t I just relax, enjoy it like everyone else?
    By the third day, the flow of traffic in the infirmary had not slowed and the nights were still full of interruptions. By day the campers came; at night, it was the counsellors. At the end of each day I was exhausted but I learned that there was no point going to bed before midnight because I would only get woken up. One night, for some strange reason (sisterly bonding?), there was a run of gynecological problems. Long after midnight, a counsellor woke me up about a menstrual problem.
    “I’m losing all my blood,” she wailed. “It’s extreme.”
    “How long has this been going on?”
    “Weeks and weeks,” she moaned.
    “Is it worse tonight? Why did you decide to come to me now, so late at night?”
    “I was walking past and saw your light was on.”
    I had taken to leaving a little light on in the hallway to help me as I fumbled around for my flashlight and jeans when I got woken up. I made a note to self to remember to turn it off. I handed her pads and tampons and promised to book her an appointment with a doctor tomorrow. “It’s not easy being a girl,” I commiserated.
    Shortly after that girl left, another one came to the door with a “quick question” about itchiness and burning, “down there.”
Doesn’t anyone ever sleep at this place?
I offered to obtain the treatment for a possible yeast infection the next day.
    “Okay, but if I take it, how soon after can I, you know, be with my boyfriend?”
    “The over-the-counter treatment takes three nights. After that, you should be okay.”
    “We can’t wait that long!” She burst into tears.
    “Goodbye!” I showed her the door.
    I would never talk to a hospital patient like this, but here, it seemed the way to go.
    I dozed off, but around four in the morning, I woke up and turned on the light.
Something is not right
, I thought. Just then, Wheels carried Micaela into the infirmary. She was crying and scared. Wheels’s tough-guy image and usual bluster were gone. He was gentle, holding her close and stroking her hair.
    “I hate camp,” Micaela said. “I am sooooo homesick. I want to go home.”
    “Is there anything you like about camp?” I asked.
    “I only like hanging out with you in the infirmary.”
    “You seem happy during the day. You have lots of friends.”
    “It’s an act. I’m faking it all the time.”
    She sat up, now wide awake. “Do you want to play chess?” she asked Wheels, putting her arm around his shoulder.
    “Listen, Micaela, it’s late. Can we discuss this in the morning?”
    She nodded. I put her to bed in the infirmary, just down the hall, and she seemed pleased with that.
    The late nights, the broken sleep, and my daytime worries were getting to me, and there were still two and a half weeks to go. I cornered Mike after breakfast the next day. “We need to talk,” I said.
    “Are you having a hard time, Nurse Tilda? You look like you could use a hug.”
    I dodged him and continued. “There are a few problems that need your immediate attention.”
    “Lay it on me, sister,” he said, patting my back.
    I gave him my top-ten list of what needed to be done to make the camp safer.
    “Whoa!” Mike said, holding up his hands. “You’re stressing out for nothing. You know what, Nurse Tilda? These are awesome suggestions. Maybe you should come to a staff meeting. We don’t usually allow parental involvement because we’re self-governing, but we might make an exception in your case. I’ll run it by the others, put it to a vote, and if they’re okay with it, you can join us tomorrow, after breakfast. Sound like a plan?” He put his arm around me. “Hang in there, Nurse Tilda.”
    What choice did I have?
    From time to time, I checked on my kids, but there really was no need. At least
they
were enjoying