Go Talk to Karlee

At lunch time you return to the nurse’s office. You want to inform her about Brianna.

As before you’re greeted by an empty reception and the sound of a radio blaring out pop music. A shout and Karlee’s face appears through the open door. As soon as she sees you, she breaks into a big grin.

“Ah, John, what a pleasant surprise. How can I help you? More girls fainting in your presence?”

“No, no, I just wondered if you had any update on Brianna.”

Her smile grows broader, and she gestures for you to join her in her office. On her desk is a half-eaten dinner.

“You eat in here? Why don’t you join us in the dining hall?”

“Lunch breaks can be my busiest time. You’d be surprised how many of the girls can get injured during lunch.”

“Must be lonely.”

“Well, if you ever want to join me here, you’re always welcome.”

Tempting. Something to think about later. Now, though, you turn to telling Karlee about Brianna. She’s keen to hear that Brianna is doing well, and she’ll probably be back at school next week.

“If you see her, tell her don’t rush back. The break wasn’t too bad, but if she puts strain on it she’ll hamper her recovery.”

“I will. So what do you do when there isn’t an emergency?”

“Whatever I can. Listen to the radio. Sort through paperwork. Study. There’s always things to learn.”

You notice that her laptop is open, and she has a document on the screen.

“And what are you doing at the moment?”

She looks at her laptop, considers it for a moment before turning back to you. “I’m writing a proposal. I want to give an assembly on sexual health. I think it’s important. I raise it every year, and every year Dr Stricture shuts me down. She doesn’t want to hear about it. She tells me there’s no need, that these girls are good girls and wouldn’t dream of messing things up like that. I don’t believe her.”

“Maybe I can help?”

“How?”

“I don’t know. I just want to help.”

“Look, thanks for the offer, but this happens every year. I come up with new arguments. Dr Stricture shuts me down. And sometimes I think she has a point. When I was the age of these girls, all I could think about was boys. And I must admit, they were interested in me, or in these.” She reaches down and jiggles her wonderful breasts. “But here. The girls and boys do appear less interested. You grew up here, didn’t you? How many girlfriends did you have?”

You chuckle. “I must admit, when I was here, I was a bit, no, a lot, of a nerd. I didn’t really talk to girls. Didn’t know what to talk about. It wasn’t until I went to university that I got a girlfriend.”

“Really, a handsome man like you. I would say I’m surprised but just makes my point. Every person I know who grew up in this town, very unsexualised, I’d almost say repressed.”

“Guilty as charged.”

“That’s disappointing.” The way she looks at you with her hazel eyes as she says that makes your heart skip a beat.

“I guess I’ve just not met the right woman yet.” You feel compelled to say something else. Her eyes gather even more disappointment. “What I mean to say is,” you fumble on, “is that I might have met the right woman, I just need to get to know her better first.”

“Really, any clues who this woman is?”

“No, I think I’d better leave you in suspense.”

“I like suspense, as long as it doesn’t last too long.”

Any more flirting and your heart will explode, or you’ll wrap yourself so tightly in words you’ll lose yourself in them. You feel her watching you as you leave, and as soon as you leave you have to readjust yourself.