Clara leaned on one of the iron built benches in the park. It was a slow day with very few visitors at the park, but that was expected since it was a week day. Most children will be at school.
The park usually experience more activities during evenings on week days. Weekends were quite different, as park visitors start trooping in as early as 10:00am.
Since the day was slow, she had her lunch early enough. Her lunch had comprised of a simple sandwich made from two slices of wheat bread, some mayonnaise, vegetable, and a dash of jam. It was best to be energized and ready for the evening, this was because some kids stop at the park from school and stay there till their parents pick them up. So, she knew that since schools close by 2:00pm, the park will start buzzing with activities anytime between 2:30pm and 3:00pm.
At 2:53pm, the kids started trooping in, in numbers. Some were still in their school uniforms while others were not. Her attention got drawn to one of the kids that was on clutches. His guardian had brought him to the park and left him seated, all alone while she spent almost an hour on her phone, barking at whoever was at the end of the line. It was a havoc to the ears as she kept yelling and dishing out unrealistic threats to whomever she was speaking with, ignoring the boy.
The poor boy sat down on the bench looking miserable. He wanted to try out some of the games in the park but he sure needed help and guidance. So, Clara went to help. She seeked permission from the crazy yelling psychopath and she told her to go ahead. They tried over four different games before the boy's guardian ended her call. She walked over to them and took over from Clara, while raining unprintable words at the person she just ended the call with.
Clara stepped aside and allowed them some time together.
Barely three minutes later, the boy's guardian left him on the swing to answer another call, telling the boy not to move. Clara watched from her position as the poor boy sat there waiting for her. It felt like a never ending call and when he couldn't have it anymore, he started trying to come down. Immediately Clara rushed over and helped him down. "Are you okay?" She asked him.
"Yes, thank you so much ma'am." The boy said, politely.
"You're welcome. I'm Clara, what's your name?"
He looked around as if trying to make sure no one was watching. He turned to his guardian but she was yelling her lungs out on the phone. "I'm Ethan." He said in a small voice.
Clara nodded with a reassuring smile. "That's your mother?"
He shook his head. "She's my Nurse." He told her.
"Oh that's lovely...."
Ethan's guardian choose that moment to walk up to them. "I'm so sorry for disturbing you today. Please forgive me ma'am. I have an emergency at home and I need to sort things out before they get out of hand." The lady said to Clara.
"Oh that's fine. It's part of my job and I enjoy doing it. He's such a cute boy. You're his Nurse?" Clara asked.
"He told you that?" She asked turning to Ethan with a strict glare.
"Forgive me please. I made him tell me. He was actually reluctant to say."
"Oh rubbish, I'm not upset. You've helped look after him each time I have these annoying calls. I'm Alma." She said, extending her hand for a handshake.
"Clara." She replied taking Alma's hand. "Ethan's injury, is it a sprain, did it affect his ligaments?"
"What, I have no idea." Alma replied, looking clueless.
"Oh no, please forgive me for asking." Clara said immediately. "I thought that since you were his Nurse....."
"I would know all that? I don't Clara. I'm only responsible for keeping Ethan company, and taking care of his necessary needs. I don't even have a degree, how am I suppose to know all those medical jargons and about ligaments." Alma chuckled.
"You're not licensed?"
"Of course not. Aren't you in this town. There is an increasingly high demand for medical personnels at the moment. The hospitals are understaffed. That is why people spend countless hours before being are attended to whenever they visit the hospitals. The nearby states are offering better incentives and even the few medical workers we have at Bramhills are leaving to the neighbouring states. So, who in their right senses would want to employ a licensed Nurse to sit at home and babysit. It's not even possible." Said Alma.
"So, one doesn't need to be licensed?"
"No, not all. Just have the knowledge of how to use basic medical equipments like a pulse oximeter, a sphygmomanometer, glucometer, thermometer and the rest. Once you know these, you have more than enough knowledge. The rest are for the professionals." She said, laughing.
Intrigued, Clara mentally said a little prayer of gratitude. She recalled her last conversation with Ignas, asking her to leave her job. Now with the right information, she would have to start checking for families in need of a Nurse. That would be the first step. "Pardon me asking, do these families pay well, I mean will they pay better than what they pay us in the park?"
Alma let out a little laughter. She was shocked that Clara could make such a comparison. "How can you compare my salary to yours?" She asked. "You can't even compare the salary of a gardener in the capital to yours. Most families brag with how much they pay their workers. So, it's a world of the richest. However, I won't advise you to quit your job here in search of a job in a good family. Most of these families only employ people referred to them by friends or relatives. They can't possibly consider employing a park attendant, no offence."
"None taken." Clara said with a smile. "Thank you so much for your time." Alma nodded and turned to Ethan.