Cherry Blossom Front: Audrey

Audrey Franklin felt the blush that was creeping up her neck and quickened her pace, hoping to reach the end of the hallway and turn the corner without being spotted. The hallway stretched for another twenty feet in front of her before turning a corner and continuing to the large French-style doors that opened into the main courtyard. Blast this, she thought, trying to compose herself. Dr. Hansen was just a man, like any other, and she had better convince herself of that because she would be working beside him every day for at least the next few months.

“Ah, Nurse Franklin!”

Audrey turned around and smiled at the doctor who had called her name, hoping that Dr. Hansen had not heard the exclamation from his office a few feet further down the hall. She fought down the urge to bolt for the courtyard.

“Oh, dear! You look flushed! Is everything alright?”

“Oh, yes, yes, oh, yes I’m fine,” Audrey stammered, and felt a wave of warmth roll over her as blood rushed to her face. “It’s only the sun,” she continued, catching her breath. “My skin, you know it’s so fair, and it’s not used to the sun yet. This happens every spring.”

The doctor who had called out to her was named Teddy Shears. He was thirty-four and balding and, ironically, resembled a teddy bear in both expression and shape. He was one of Audrey’s favorite doctors at the Protestant Missionary Hospital of Nanking. Now his jovial face took on a look of concern.

“Well then, I believe you should avoid the sun more, young lady, until your skin can adjust.” He looked back toward his office, out of which he had stepped to call after Audrey. “Say, you wouldn’t mind running over to the cafeteria and grabbing me a hamburger, would you? I’m backed up on charts and just can’t leave.” He looked at her imploringly and Audrey smiled, grateful to be sent on an errand that involved walking to the opposite end of the sprawling grounds.

“Of course I don’t mind, Dr. Shears. The regular? Chili, mustard, and pickles?” She kept her voice low.

“Sounds great, Audrey.” Dr. Shears smiled and disappeared into his office. Audrey turned to go.

“Oh, and Audrey?”

Audrey turned back around.

“If the fries are crispy today, would you bring me some of those, too?”

“What if they’re not crispy?”

Dr. Shears paused. “Oh heck, get them anyways!”

He laughed and Audrey laughed with him and then she turned again for the corner and her escape.

“One for me, as well, Audrey?” The voice floated out of an office further down the hall and Audrey knew from the lilting rhythm of the sentence and the peculiar accent that it belonged to Dr. Hansen.