Jump ahead. Ob/Gyn with Dr. DeLoria Cutler

Nurse Bates sends you all to your regular assignments, so you're back alongside Jennifer in Pathology, and Dot is with Kelly taking patient samples for laboratory tests, and Olivia and Margarita are headed back to Ob/Gyn under Dr. DeLoria Cutler, the same person who walked in on Brenda and Betty and you.

In a few days a few things are clear.

The program is still going.

You're still on the same planned rotation.

Brenda Box is on leave.

Nurse Bates and Dr. Cutler are splitting Brenda's trainee program job duties. The fundraiser's office with the fancy leather sofa is temporarily the office for Nurse Bates and Dr. Cutler as trainee coordinators.

Your next rotation is Ob/Gyn under Dr. DeLoria Cutler.

She calls you to the trainee program office by yourself -- the same office she walked in on the three of you -- and chats about your time at the program, and your interview with Miss Charity that earned you the invitation. You answer everything she asks, simply and directly.

"I remember the machine had a name plate that said FOLSOM ELECTRIC COMPANY", you tell Dr. Cutler, when she asks you about Miss Charity's electrical stimulation machine. "There were two wires coming out. One went to a round pad with gel like a big EKG electrode. The other wire first had a wand with a metal tip. Then Miss Charity changed it out for a wire with a metal vaginal plug."

Dr. Cutler nods along. "Very interesting, Anna," she says. "What was the name again?" She notes it down.

She asks you about your background and interest in obstetrics and gynecology.

You explain your interest to Dr. Cutler. "I first got interested because of myself. All the changes I had with puberty were very strange. Especially my sexual drive became very strong, very quickly. And so when I asked questions, most of the books start out with all the facts of life and the anatomy. I was amazed at how complicated everything was. I read a lot about hormones and hormone cycles. I knew a little bit already because I am small, you see. My parents had me tested for growth hormone but I am normal, just small. And when I was reading about the anatomy and physiology of female sexuality and reproduction, I learned how there are many basic things that are important to health which we are not good, socially, at making sure we are taking care of for everybody."

Dr. Cutler laughs. "The other students say that they hardly hear two sentences at a time from you, Anna," she says. "But that's practically an essay."

You shrug. "You ask good questions, Doctor," you say.

Dr. Cutler nods. "Let's try another question," she says. She leans forward on her elbows over Brenda's desk. "How would you explain to your patient, a laywoman, let's say, not someone medically educated. Let's say she is planning to get pregnant and asks about fertility and infertility."

You and Dr. Cutler have a busy back-and-forth about the medical causes, the signs you might look for, and the best ways to talk about it with a patient who is planning a pregnancy.

"I'm impressed with your understanding, Anna," Dr. Cutler says. "This is a good time for you to be on your training rotation with obstetrics and gynecology."

"Why is that, Doctor?" you ask. "Are you working on something special about fertility?"