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Vignettes — #14
Nerida & Martha
Nerida pulls into the driveway and extricates Osmond in his capsule from the back seat. At the front door she puts down the capsule and the heavy bag of baby essentials and hunts for her keys in her shoulder bag. “Why didn’t I just hold on to them?” She is about to fit a key into the lock, when the door opens.
“Hello, Darling. I heard you drive up.” Martha picks up the bag and the capsule.
Nerida takes the capsule from her. “Let me, Mum. It’s heavy.”
“I’m not decrepit, yet.”
“You look worn out, though.”
“Yes, it’s been a gruelling week.” They go inside. “The kettle’s just boiled. Tea? I’m having coffee.”
“Yes, that’d be good. Dandelion please.” She makes for the lounge room when Osmond starts whimpering. When Martha brings the two cups in, Osmond is happily on the breast.
Nerida looks up. “How was the enquiry?”
“I think the Spanish Inquisition would have been easier. I could have confessed and been given absolution.”
“So, what did they decide?”
“That I need to stick to what’s acceptable to the majority of doctors and stop giving my patients options that are akin to witchcraft, in their eyes. I’m lucky they didn’t drag me out and burn me…
