Day 15.

Friday, finally. That means two days to forget work. Let’s make today great.

15 is the natural number following 14 and preceding 16. (seriously, did you know that? 19)

15 minutes of fame (still waiting for my fifteen minutes of fame. It needs to be something really special. Not sure what yet.)

There are 15 minutes in a quarter hour. (It takes me a quarter hour to get from my place to my parents. My mother tells me this every time she calls to see why I have not visited her and dad.)

Let’s make it through today because tomorrow we get to sleep in. Yes! I love sleeping in. Except when my mum turns up unannounced and then spends the morning lecturing me on living alone and not looking after myself. What is she expecting, I’m twenty-four? I can take care of myself.

Friday did not begin well.

From the moment Dr Max arrived, the nurses were in a dither about his foul behaviour. Never sure what might trigger Dr Max, it was always worst if he arrived to work in a bad mood. Chris juggled gripes from the nurses and did his best to keep Martha from getting involved. By the time it reached lunch, exhaustion overwhelmed Chris. With barely the energy to leave to get lunch, Chris found himself hunched over the staff room table, head in his arms.

The door opened and Chris made no attempt to glance up.

“Here you go, love.”

Chris raised his head to find Martha had placed a glass of water and two white tablets beside him.

“Thought you might be needing this.”

Chris sat back in the chair.

“Thank you. It doesn’t generally get to me but today….” Chris took the tablets and swallowed them with the water.

“You need to learn to back away and tell people to manage their own business.”

“I know. But who else is there for them to complain to?”

“Plenty of people and don’t think everyone needs to rely on you all the time.”

Martha pointed a finger at Chris, her face stern as she walked back out the door.

Chris let out a sigh. Martha was right but Chris understood the power to have everyone rely on him. That was something Chris wasn’t ever going to give up.

At the end of the day, Martha sent Chris home a few minutes early and with his head still mildly aching, Chris did so. It wasn’t until he almost reached home that he realised he hadn’t seen Dr Marshall at day. It was then his headache grew slightly worse. It was not a good start to the weekend.

Day 12.

Wow! Don’t the day’s fly. Forget 14 and 13. Let’s go straight onto 12. It’s like magic. Watch me pull a 12 out of my hat. Hey presto, 14 and 13 - gone. Hope you had a good weekend. I did. Slept in. Always a win in my books.

There are 12 star signs and 12 Chinese zodiac signs. (I am a Scorpio born in the year of the Dragon.)

Twelve men have walked on the Earth’s moon. (No women – yet.)

In ten-pin bowling, 12 is the number of strikes needed for a perfect game. (I’ve never played a perfect game but I’m very good. Perhaps we could play a game sometime. It’s been awhile since I’ve had someone new to beat. 19)

It’s the beginning of a new week but 12 more days and you’re free.

Twelve more days and Chris would never see Dr Marshall again. But that was the least of Chris’s problems. Chris spent the entire day smiling and trying to save everyone from going at each other's throats. Dr Max was using his sharp tongue to cut everyone down, Martha was in a bad mood and Chris found himself steadying the boat once more. Minus the headache this time, Chris managed to keep the peace long enough to avoid any accidental killings.

With the day almost over, Chris looked forward to going home. The day had been long and when Dr Marshall appeared late in the afternoon, he made Chris’s day.

“My God, tell me the day is almost over.” Dr Marshall leaned on the top of the counter above Chris and looked down at him. When Chris looked up from his computer, he gave Dr Marshall a tired smile and a big sigh.

“Well, I’ve never been referred to as God before but if you insist then I must tell you – yes the day is almost over.”

Dr Marshall let out a soft chuckle and Chris melted.

“Thank you my mighty God. We should organise to do something with everyone one night. Things have been so intense the last few weeks it would be good to get out and relax.”

Chris fell in love with Dr Marshall a little more if that were even possible. “I totally agree with you. It would be great to get out and have some fun. Did you have anything in mind?” The two of us, my place, Chris silently thought.

“Actually, I was thinking about bowling.” He gave Chris a grin and Chris stared at him suspecting the good doctor may know Chris was behind the notes.

“Bowling is fun.” Chris replied and looked back down at his computer although he slid his hands onto his lap and wiped his clammy palms against his pants.

“I was speaking to Cindy this afternoon, and she tells me you are the person to beat.”

Cindy. A little of Chris’s hopes dropped at the mention of Cindy. Tall and leggy, Cindy was a young and very pretty nurse who spoke more shamelessly about Dr Marshall then Chris. She always gave Chris a run for his money when they went bowling and now Chris realised Dr Marshall considered it might be Cindy giving him the notes. What did Chris expect? Dr Marshall and Cindy would make an adorable couple. Barf!

“I don’t know about that, Cindy is good also, but no one has yet to beat me.”

“Then should I be the first.”

Chris looked up into Dr Marshall’s eyes and asked, “Are you good at bowling.”

Without missing a beat Dr Marshall replied, “Never played before in my life.”

Chris couldn’t help himself as he burst out laughing.

“I’m sorry,” he told Dr Marshall for his outburst.

Dr Marshall gave Chris a big smile and replied, “Don’t be. It was nice to hear your laughter today. It’s amazing how much it can make a difference.”

Chris blushed as Martha returned to the desk and growled at Dr Marshall for wasting Chris’s time. Dr Marshall gave Chris a nod and left. Chris secretly smiled to himself and continued to work wondering for the first time, was Dr Marshall flirting with him.

Day 11.

Every time I look at the clock it’s 11:11. (This does actually happen to me. I suspect my mind is now programmed to glance at the clock at 11:11.)

The 11th moon of Jupiter is Himalia. (I’m grateful we have one moon. I never did well in tests as a child trying to remember the names of all the planets. I could never remember if Earth came before Mars or the other way around. Earth comes first. 19)

Matt Smith is the eleventh doctor in the sci-fi series Doctor Who. (David Tennent is my favourite doctor and now we have a female doctor - Woo Hoo)

The eleventh hour means the last possible moment to take care of something and often implies a situation of urgent danger or emergency. (My life sometimes feels like I’m living the eleventh hour all day)

Let's have a good day today.

“Chris darling, could you get the phone for me?” Martha asked as she walked around the reception desk to assist the elderly gentleman she was admitting into surgery.

Chris raised his hand to press the small button on his wireless headset.

“Good morning Memorial Surgical Clinic, Chris speaking, how may I help you.”

The woman on the other end of the call asked, “I was asked to call back Dr Collins.”

“Who may I say is calling?”

“Terri Walker.”

“Please hold Terri and I’ll put you through.” Chris put the call on hold and called Dr Collins's office.

“Dr Collins.” The doctor answered.

“Dr Collins, I have Terri Walker on the phone for you.”

“Thank you Chris, please put her through.”

Chris transferred the call and then glanced at the people now gathered at the counter waiting for assistance. Chris gave them a big smile and asked, “Who was next.”

The day saw a steady stream of patients and Chris missed morning tea and had an early lunch. On his return, Chris was pleased to see the waiting room empty.

“You look beat, darling, are you all right” Martha asked Chris as he sat down with a huff.

“I’m alright. You want to have your break now.”

“Yeah, I will. Dr Marshall was here before. He was talking about going bowling this Friday night, I told him you would be interested in going.”

Chris blushed and replied. “Thank you, Martha,” Chris looked around and then leaned over to Martha and whispered, “And did you tell him I loved him as well.”

“What,” Martha exclaimed loudly then lowered her voice to reply, “Since when have you been in love with Dr Marshall? I thought you were only infatuated by him.”

Chris rolled his eyes and returned to his computer. “It doesn’t matter. He’ll be gone soon.”

Martha huffed, patted Chris on his back and went to lunch.