Mum’s Nursing Debate

‘How is this helpful again?’ I frowned, flipping open the pamphlet for the hundredth time.

‘How is it not?’ Sabrina asked excitedly.

‘Well, it’s expensive… isn’t it?’

‘Not massively,’ she shook her head. ‘I think you’ll be surprised.’

‘Why isn’t that in the brochure?’

‘The price?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I don’t know,’ she shrugged. ‘I’m interested in this community nursing provider servicing Adelaide patients because of their pamphlet-designing skills.’

‘Well,’ I sighed, tossing it onto the kitchen counter. ‘I’m just not convinced.’

‘Right,’ she said quickly, rushing over to slide into the stool next to mine. ‘What are you worried about?’

‘Community nursing?’ I screwed up my face. ‘What does that even mean?’

‘It’s just like, nursing outside of hospitals and stuff,’ she said. ‘Don’t focus on the terminology, focus on how much help it’ll give her.’

‘She’s gonna hate this,’ I said with a sigh. ‘As soon as we bring up the word “nurse”, that’s it, we’re out of the will.’

‘Since when do you care about the will?’ Sabrina joked.

‘I’m telling you, that creepy painting at the back of her closet is worth something, there’s no way my sister is getting it.’

‘Right,’ she rolled her eyes, grinning. ‘Noted. Now back to this—’

‘What’s the NDIS?’ I interrupted her.

‘What?’

‘I kept seeing it on the brochure,’ I said, reaching out to grab it again. ‘Says that they’re a reputable NDIS provider over and over again.’

‘Just means they can help people on the NDIS,’ Sabrina explained. ‘Have you not heard of the NDIS?’

‘I don’t follow politics,’ I shrugged.

‘That’s not actually a character trait,’ she rolled her eyes. ‘Anyway, it’s the government program to make sure disabled people can get all the help they need.’

‘Ooh boy,’ I chuckled. ‘You want to throw the word “nurse” and “disabled” into one conversation with my mother? What you’ve just outlined is the cause of your death.’

‘She’s not that irrational,’ Sabrina protested.

Nursing Confession Concerns

My brother burst into my room, pressing himself against the door and panting deeply.

‘You know, you’re allowed to knock,’ I said dryly from my desk.

He ignored me, pressing his ear to the door and listening intently. I heard heavy footsteps on the landing that paused, briefly, and then disappeared down the stairs.

‘Phew,’ he whispered, sinking to the ground. ‘That was a close one.’

‘Was it?’ I frowned. ‘I didn’t realise you were being hunted by a snow leopard.’

‘Close enough,’ he shot back. ‘Dad just asked me what I’m gonna do for a career after school.’

‘Just tell him,’ I rolled my eyes. ‘He’s already taken his anger out on me, anyway.’

‘Ohhhh, I think he has more,’ Josh shook his head.

‘Look,’ I gave up on my homework, closing my textbook and spinning around. ‘You have to tell him sometime. It may as well be now.’

‘I guess,’ he frowned. ‘What do I say?’

‘Tell him your dream,’ I implored. ‘Tell him you want to work with the most trusted company operating in community nursing. Adelaide only has a few of them. He can’t get mad if you get into the best place in the state.’

‘See, I’ve literally already seen him get mad at that,’ he pointed at me.

‘Me?’ I said. ‘Somehow, I think you’ll be spared most of his wrath.’

‘Why’s that?’ he seemed puzzled.

‘Well,’ I shrugged. ‘You are the golden child, after all.’

He snorted, then frowned. ‘Wait, you’re serious.’

‘Yep,’ I nodded. ‘Deadly.’

‘But that’s ridiculous.’

‘Is it?’ I asked. ‘Do you remember how many rewards you were given for your positive behaviour? Support when you needed it? Your cake was even bigger than mine, the last four years in a row.’

‘That can’t be true,’ he rolled his eyes.

I wheeled my chair backwards and pulled up a folder on my computer, showing him images of the two birthday cakes.

‘So, uh… you just had this sitting there, ready to go?’

‘Sure did,’ I nodded. ‘Now buck up, golden boy, and go tell your dad you want to be a community nurse.’