A Daughter’s Choice

‘Spoilsport,’ someone muttered resentfully but the party atmosphere had gone.

‘I’d better go,’ I said, glancing at Sergeant Harley. ‘I’m on duty soon and I dare not be late.’

‘Come and visit me soon. We might have a drink or something. I owe you a night out, Nurse Cole.’

‘I’m not a nurse yet. Just a volunteer.’ I smiled at him. ‘It was good fun. I’m glad we won. And I shall come to see you when I can.’

I hurried away to my room to change and tidy myself. My hair had worked loose from the tight roll I usually wore for duty and my face was flushed. It wasn’t surprising that Matron had looked so disapproving. My appearance wasn’t up to the standards she expected from her staff.

As I made my way back towards the main building I saw Dr O’Rourke coming towards me and my heart began to thump with excitement.

‘Back to work and sanity now, Kathy?’

‘Yes, Doctor. It was fun but I’m on duty soon.’

‘It cheers the patients up,’ he said. ‘Even those who can’t get to watch like to bet on the outcome. You’re the first probationer to win.’

‘Only because you told me how.’

‘Oh no, it was courage and determination,’ he replied easily. ‘But we might go for a drink to celebrate one evening when we’re both free?’ His suggestion surprised me so much that I didn’t answer immediately. ‘Talk about old times, what’s happening in the lanes …?’

‘Oh … Yes, thank you.’ I blushed and my knees went oddly weak. ‘Yes, I should like that. I’m free on Wednesday or Friday evening this week.’

‘I’m free on Wednesday so we’ll make it then. Pick you up outside the Dower House at seven. OK?’

‘Yes, lovely.’ My mouth was dry with excitement. ‘I’d better go …’

‘Yes. Go on then, and don’t worry so much, Kathy. Matron doesn’t bite.’

‘She might,’ I said, remembering her expression. ‘Bye now.’

After we had parted I had to hurry. There were still five minutes before I was due on my ward but Sister expected us to be early and would look pointedly at her watch if we were a second over our time. I was hardly going to make it. Fearing a reprimand, I began to run.

‘What are you doing? Running in corridors is strictly forbidden!’

I stopped and swung round guiltily at the sound of Matron’s voice, waiting in trepidation for her approach. Now I was in for it!

‘I’m sorry, Matron. I was delayed and didn’t want to be late.’

Her brow furrowed. ‘Rules are there for a purpose, Miss Cole. You could endanger a patient by careless behaviour. Always take your time and think what you are doing. Remember that in future.’

‘Yes, Matron. I am very sorry.’

‘Very well. I shall not punish you this time, but do not let success go to your head, Miss Cole. You are here to work and everything else comes second to that duty – do you understand?’

‘Yes, Matron.’

‘Go along now or you will be late.’

I turned and began to walk at a sedate pace towards the ward, feeling her eyes boring into my back. She must think I was a harum-scarum girl with little or no sense.

‘And congratulations on winning, Miss Cole.’

I heard her voice as I turned the corner but did not dare to look back. Had she really said those words or was I dreaming?

Sister Norton glanced up from her desk as I entered the ward. She glanced at her watch and frowned but said nothing about the fact that I was three minutes late.

‘The patient in number five requested a bedpan some minutes ago. Make sure that he is comfortable. Miss Cole.’

‘Yes, Sister.’

I hurried off to do her bidding, knowing that I had a black mark against me. Matron had warned me and I would need to work extra hard to scrub out any idea that I had let my success in the race go to my head.

‘You’re the first VAD ever to win,’ Ally said to me the next morning at breakfast. ‘Apparently most get bogged down in the gravel – especially those who haven’t entered before. Nurse Peters is blaming her chair. She says it was just bad luck that she got stuck, and that you had help, but that’s sour grapes.’

‘She was OK to me. Anyway, I was told to be careful in the gravel so I did have help of a kind.’

‘Who told you – Dr O’Rourke?’ Ally raised her brows at me. ‘You’ll have Eleanor Ross breathing fire down your neck. She thinks he’s her property because he took her out one night.’

‘He’s asked me out for a drink on Wednesday.’

‘You’re joking?’ Ally stared at me and then chuckled. ‘That really will upset Miss Hoity-Toity.’

‘I don’t see why. It’s just a drink to talk about people we both know. I told you he used to live in Farthing Lane.’

‘I thought he went off to a fancy school when you were just a kid?’

‘Yes, he did – but he visits his sister now and then. I didn’t think he would remember me. I was surprised when he wished me luck before the race.’

‘Well, well …’ Ally looked mischievous. ‘You’re a dark horse, Kathy Cole.’

‘It’s just a drink,’ I giggled as she looked disbelieving. ‘But yes, I do like him – quite a lot.’

‘You watch it, Kathy! Men who look as good as Dr O’Rourke aren’t to be trusted. Besides, what about Billy Ryan? I thought he’d asked you to marry him?’

‘Yes, he did – but I didn’t say I would.’

‘You didn’t say you wouldn’t either.’

‘No …’ I shook my head at her. ‘It’s just a drink, Ally. Dr O’Rourke isn’t interested in me that way. He’s just being friendly, that’s all.’

‘We’ll see.’ She grinned wickedly. ‘You be careful, Kathy, that’s all I’m saying.’

‘Well, if I had any idea of grandeur this morning’s duty will knock it out of me. I’m scrubbing floors.’

‘Poor you,’ Ally said. ‘I’ve got seven hours on the ward and lectures all afternoon.’

We both attended lectures, which were more absorbing than we’d imagined as they dealt with the practical side of nursing rather than theory. We were shown how to read thermometers and had our first go at taking each other’s pulse. We were also given detailed instructions in recognizing signs of serious distress in patients.