– My tummy… hurts! – she squeaked, clutching her side with her hand.
The bed was wet.
Nadya woke up her mother. They whispered excitedly over the crying child for a long time (maybe not for long, but when a child cries, the minute seems like an eternity) and finally decided to call an ambulance. While they were waiting for the doctors, Nadya carefully changed Varya into dry clothes – she had to put on Ganina’s old panties, which fortunately were lying around on the mezzanine.
The doctors arrived, woke up the others, examined Varya – it turned out there was something wrong with her kidneys – and took her and Nadya to the hospital.
* * *
They got into the ward only after an ultrasound and several more examinations, as well as disputes over documents for the child. Varya was given a painkilling injection, after which she had to literally be dragged in her arms. Four o'clock in the morning also had its effect. But there was no peace in the ward either: a man was arguing with a nurse about a boy huddled on a bed by the window:
– Is there really nothing that can be done? Where is the doctor on duty? And what's that?! – He stared angrily at Nadya with Varya in her arms. – Why aren’t the wards separate for boys and girls? What a disgrace?
The old, even ancient nurse explained phlegmatically:
– The doctor has already done everything he can. Your son will feel better soon. There are no free rooms, thank you that there are still beds. If you don’t like it, go to a paid one…
But the man only boiled even more from her admonitions. And when the nurse ran away, citing medical matters, he turned his anger on Nadya: she managed to ask him if she and her son had any extra panties. Varya wet herself again.
– No, this is simply outrageous! – the stranger growled. – Shame on you! You are a mother! Couldn't you take your panties with you to the hospital? “He noticed that the wet pants that Nadya pulled off Varya and hung on the iron headboard of the bed were also boy’s pants. – Oh, you are one of those crazy mothers who give birth to children one after another and immediately forget about the previous ones!
Nadya’s cheeks flushed with inappropriate shame and resentment, but she was afraid to argue with the angry man and simply remained silent. She covered Varya with a blanket and ran to the nurse, hoping that the angry dad would not attack the sleeping girl. The nurse only gave me clean bedding – she didn’t have any children’s clothes.