Nursing in the Family (My Wife and the Seamstress) by George

The sister led the girls on yet another crazy roller coaster-ride. They went in and out of buildings, along strange paths with imposing gigantic walls to both sides, which felt as if they would fall in on you any moment. Beth was quite disorientated. She hadn’t a clue where she was. The command of silence was terrible. It left you with your thoughts. Beth replayed the medical in her mind, then when she was as low as she could get decided that she would know more think about it. Eventually sister disappeared down a set of outside steps, the hole which they made was surrounded by a green painted metal fence. The solid wood green door at the bottom required sister to pull with all her might to pull it open. The moist heat burst out nearly knocking the first few of the party over. Sister disappeared into the gloom, which was beyond the door, then after a squeak bright light burst from the opening. The noise of machinery filled the air. One by one they traipsed into the laundry room. Sister seemed not bothered by the heat and steam and quite casually made her way through the laundry to a brightly lit area, which was much quieter and much less steamy. This was the seamstress’s room.

“Line up here ladies” sister said. The girls all took up position on the long wall. The three seamstresses approached carrying bundles of white material. These were deposited on the large table in front of the girls. Each seamstress’ picked a piece of white material and snapped it opened. It was a white nurses uniform dress. They each approached the girls and started to look for bodies, which looked as though they would fit the garments. “Get your things off ladies, we most insure they fit correctly” said sister. It seemed pointless to argue having some time shortly before being quite naked. Sophie and Beth who were at the end reluctantly slowly removed their tops and skirts to be stood in stockings, panties and bra. Eventually they and one other girl at the other end of the line were the last to be offered a dress. They slipped into them. The seamstresses started with them, tucking and pinning various parts of the dresses. Eventually all had been tucked and pinned. Next they started on measurements, ensuring the sealves were the correct length. Then they checked to see if the hem was the required two inches above the knee to allow ‘freedom of movement” as sister said.

They were then issued a nurse’s hat and a flat pack of hats. Sister demonstrated on the Scottish girl how to fold them, snap them together, and pin them. They were then issued four aprons, two thinner ones for the summer and two for the winter. Beth says after a few washes you couldn’t really tell them apart. A belt was issued, then a set of uniform instructions, basically how to wear it, how to look after it, what else you could wear with it, and the instructions for how to use the laundry and seamstress services. It also gave information on how to loan sewing equipment to make repairs to personal items. Their dresses would be ready the next day, sister informed them that they would need to bring with them their uniform shoes, and ‘apparel’ because after lunch time tomorrow they would be required to be dressed in uniform from 8 o’clock until 5 o’clock in or out of school Monday to Friday. The girls’ found themselves stripped again to underwear and sister said they could now go for a late lunch in the dinning room.

The girls walked in silence to the dinning room. The other group had not arrived yet. The girls served themselves lunch from the sideboards and sat in silence to eat. Sister had gone to see what was keeping the other girls. “God, you must have been so embarrassed?” one of the two girls who’d been dressing whilst Beth and Sophie where being examined said. Beth then realized that at some point her and the other girl had, had to leave the changing room and walk right past them. Beth hadn’t noticed either of them go. “Yes. It was a bit,” Beth said. “Did you get the young one then” the Scottish girl said. “Yes,” said Beth “and Sophie” indicating Sophie who sat opposite them. “He was a little pervert,” the taller slightly older student said. “They all are dear,” another girl said. “What doctors or men” and other said and chattering now broke out. “What about that auxiliary, she was really giving you two and good going over with her eyes,” the girl who’d inquired said. “Oh. I’m Sandy, Sandy Roberts,” the girl said offering her hand across the table. This was to be Beth’s other close friend during training. “She was probably a lesbian?” the Scottish girl said. Some girls broke out into laughter. “And sister too, she really seems to like us to strip off” another girl said. “Well, I’ve heard that over half the nurses in here are lesbian” another girl said. Beth noticed, that Sophie was looking a little uncomfortable at this conversation. She looked around and noticed another girl was also looking sheepish. Then another girl asked if anyone had ever done it with another woman and all hell broke lose, laughter, and vulgarity. Which was silenced as the large oak door was pushed open and sister led the other half of the intake in. Having not had much time to recover from the ordeal of the medical some of the girls were very quiet and looked a little distressed.

The rest of the afternoon was spent on lectures, medical terminology and introduction to anatomy and physiology. It was a relief to be released from school at three-thirty instead of four-thirty and be allowed off site to get basic provisions. The hospital provided breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, but the girls tended to provide for themselves for supper, and breakfast and occasional tea if they’d had a big lunch. They had to have permission on weekdays to be off site between 8 o’clock and 5 o’clock which was unfortunately when shops where open, so mainly they shopped on Sunday for the week but had to be careful about what they bought having no official fridge and only a two ring stove and no oven or grill. The blood fridge in male surgical had its usage; there was also a fridge in the porter’s lodge and a grill. Use of which cost a kiss and a cuddle or a little more depending on who wanted to use what.

That night after tea the unit mother called on Beth. Beth mentioned the behaviour of the doctor and nurses. The mother gave Beth a cuddle and said, “He’s a bastard dear. Hates women because his mother left him and is pig of a father, he’s the wind bag of a consultant that will take you for your surgical knowledge talks”. “He was very cruel, I thought,” said Beth. “He’s even worse with female patients we try our best to protect them but that can get you in hot water, he’s our quack. It’s him you go to if you’re unwell”. Beth didn’t like that idea much. The mother then asked if the others on the unit were friendly and making her feel at home. They chattered for a while and the mother left.

She went to the lounge and Victoria and Pamela were there, Kate was on a late shift. Victoria asked about her day and Beth said about the medical. Pamela had had the young doctor to. Victoria had had a run in with him as well when she’d strained her back lifting a patient. Victoria said they tried to avoid him and only went sick when “Sweetie” was on, the girls’ affectionate name for the older doctor who apparently would always give them a sweet. Victoria then said a most interesting thing. “We’ll it won’t be the last time you get your kit off”. Beth looked puzzled at her but Victoria would say no more that night.