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l) Medical Matters (part 2 of
2)
The Jellybean Community Story 12
Medical Matters
(Part 2 of 2)
The Teenage Twins were the last appointment for the day.
Nurse Green escorted them through the door. Doctor White said,
"What can I do for you two? Is it 'flu, or tummy troubles
or...?"
His friendly bantering halted as one of the Twins burst
into uncontrollable sobs. Her sister tenderly stroked her hair and
whispered comforting words.
"What is it?" the Doctor was suddenly very
serious, sensing emotional upset and wanting to determine the cause.
"Come, sit down and tell me about it." One sat. One stood.
The One seated wiped her eyes and said tremulously,
"Oh, Doctor White, we don't know what to do or who can help us.
You know how the two of us go everywhere and do everything
together?"
The Doctor nodded. "Well, we went to this party two
months ago, oh, our parents knew about it. We don't know how it
happened, but we got separated, and I, I...", the speaker could
not go on.
"She left the party without me," the other
continued.
"And?" prompted the Doctor.
"And I think I'm pregnant," the words came out
in a rush. Then the tears started to flow again amid loud,
soul-wrenching shudders.
Doctor White made a brief note on a card and looked up.
"Tell me exactly what happened after you left the
party, please, there's no need to rush, we have all the time in the
bag."
The sobbing subsided and the Twin whispered, "I
went for a walk with this boy, down by the bottom of the bag."
The voice faltered, "We lay down in a corner together..."
Doctor White coughed and asked, "What makes you so
sure you are pregnant? Before you answer," he held up a huge
hand, "Tell me, do you know what a sexual relationship is?"
The Twins blushed furiously, "Of course we do,
Doctor!"
"All right, then, answer my first question."
"I haven't had a period for two whole months and I
KNOW that is a sure sign that a baby has been formed in here,"
she pointed to her stomach.
"We'll take a urine sample, young lady, and a blood
test. Here, let me take your blood pressure first, then hop behind
that screen and take off your clothes, you'll see a gown in there.
Put it on and lie down over there when you're ready." With his
thumb, he indicated a tightly made up couch.
"Will I stay or go?" asked a worried sister.
"You can stay, dear. Nurse Green will be in to
assist."
"Doctor, is she really pregnant?"
"We'll know after I've examined her and the tests
are carried out. Have either of you told your parents yet?"
"God, NO!" the outburst startled the medical
man.
He said softly, "If she is going to have a baby,
they will have to be told. Would you like me to talk to them if it
has to be done?"
"Oh, would you, Doctor White?" the plaintive
voice came from behind the screen.
Nurse Green came in and the doctor briefed her on his
intended internal and external examinations, and the proposed blood
and urine samples which would have to be taken and analysed
immediately.
"Is she?" The question could hardly be heard.
"Yes." This time, the other Twin burst into
tears.
"If you experience morning sickness, that is, vomiting
and nausea at any time through the coming weeks come in and I'll
prescribe something to ease it."
Silence surrounded the three. Doctor White offered,
"Would you like me to explain what happens?" There were no
verbal replies, just looks of gratitude.
"All right. Once every month, a tiny egg that is
not able to be seen by even a human eye, lets itself go from one of
your ovaries and makes its way down a tube we call the Fallopian
tube, until it reaches the womb. Now, if while it is travelling to the
womb it meets up with sperm which is put in its way by a male during
sexual intercourse, then that little egg becomes fertile. When that
happens, the egg multiplies from one cell to two, then to four, and
eight, sixteen, and it doubles with each division.
"You know maths, do you know what I'm saying
here?" Serious, quiet faces showed they did.
"After ten days, this embryo is like a ball full of
fluid, but it is just a few millimetres wide, and it attaches its
little self to the wall of the womb, growing all the while. Now, we
come to explain the placenta. This is a special part of the baby
through which it gets its needs from you, the Mother. It is like an
extra piece that is firmly binding the baby to the inside of your
womb. Its got blood vessels that go right through the walls of the
womb and this is the way your baby will get oxygen and food from your
very own system. The Umbilical Cord you hear talked about, is what
connects the baby to the placenta. Are you still understanding
me?" The Twins blinked their acknowledgment and the doctor
continued, addressing his teachings to the Pregnant One.
"Your pregnancy, if it is normal, that is, without
any complications, will last forty weeks, minus these past months, of
course, when you first conceived. It could be either a little longer
or maybe even a little less." He paused then went on, "The
baby will grow quickly inside you, but will slow down when it is near
time to be born. At two months of pregnancy, it would be 25
millimetres long, and its nose, ears, fingers and toes would be able
to be made out if we could see it now. Most of the organs like heart,
lungs, and so on, will form in the next month and by the time you are
three months, a 9 centimetre long replica of you is present."
There was silence while Doctor White drew breath.
"When you're four months, JuniorBean will be 18
centimetres long and we can then tell whether it will be a girl or a
boy Jellybean. By twenty four weeks, Junior will be 32 centimetres
long. He, oh, forgive me if that sounds sexist," the doctor's
attempt at humour went unnoticed, "would be at very high risk if
born before reaching thirty two weeks."
Hoping he had answered some of their unasked questions,
the doctor stood up saying, "Don't forget now, if you feel sick
at any time, come to me and I'll help all I can."
As goodnights were said and the Twins walked towards the
door, the Disabled One ponderously placed his form in front of them.
He did not miss the tear-stained faces, and with intuition, knew
somehow what the trouble was. He reached into a side pocket and drew
out a small well-thumbed page and pressed it into the hands of the
Pregnant One saying softly, "God Bless."
Under a street lamp outside, the Two prised apart the
paper and peered at the tiny print. Words they read together were:
"To Every Thing there is a Season, and a Time to
every purpose under the heaven;
A Time to be Born, and a Time to Die;
A Time to Plant, and a Time to Pluck Up that which is
planted;
A Time to Kill, and a Time to Heal;
A Time to Break Down, and a Time to Build Up;
A Time to Weep, and a Time to Laugh;
A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance;
A Time to Cast Away stones, and a Time to Gather stones
together;
A Time to Embrace, and a Time to Refrain from Embracing;
A Time to Get, and a Time to Lose ...
A Time to Keep, and a Time to Cast Away ...
A Time to Rend, and a Time to Sew ...
A Time to Keep Silence, and a Time to Speak ~
A Time to Love, and a Time to Hate ~
A Time of War, and a Time of Peace." Ecclesiastes
Chapter Three.
Inside the surgery, the Disabled One placed an old chess
board between himself and his opponent. With his good hand, he
started setting up the pieces, saying, "Time to Relax, my
Friend."
"Overtime!" the word was emphatically
emphasised.
Later, One by One, the remaining Jellybeans were taken
out of the bag and as finally, Doctor White, Nurse Bea Green and the
Disabled One left, the surgery was closed, permanently.
THE END of
PART TWO - MEDICAL MATTERS.
These Two Parts of "The Jellybean Community in
Medical Matters" have been the Final in the Series.
Again, the gentle reminder that, in each story, when
read on air in the "Flora On Friday" Radio Programme in the
past, was a little word:
"Imagine that you are in a bag full of jellybeans.
That you are a part of the Colourful Jellybean Community". That
your relatives, neighbours and friends are all real.
There is, for instance the very wise and gentle Bishop
Purple. And to represent the Law of the Packet, there is the vital
and friendly Constable Mauve. Then meet the White Family along with
the Greenies who are very aware of the nature of things. The Oranges
also play a tasty part in their fruity roles.
And, we must not forget the Teenage Twins, joined, but
with very separate ideas of what Life is all about in their packet.
The Disabled One also exists in each bag and because he or she is a
little different, this Sweet Bean has a place in all our hearts.
And there are also the Japanese Gentleman and the Big
Black Ones endeared by many.
And the Pinkies who at times are most delicious in their
opinions. The Reds are there too, and can be very emotive at times,
both sincere and silly when the mood takes them.
So, with today's cast assembled and ready to entertain
us, we hope you will enjoy and perhaps learn, from these Two Parts of
the Final in the Series of "The Jellybean Community"
Adventures in their respective Packets.
And, can we add our usual reminder that these stories
are NOT just for the young, but for ALL who are young at heart and
enjoy the Taste of Life and Savour the Living.
"The Jellybean Community" for now, say a Most
Delectable Farewell to All who have read or heard on Radio about
their Living Tales.
'The Jellybean Community' has been written and read by
Flora Smith."
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