Part Two

 

During a slightly slow point in the day, Harmony examined her emotions. She wasn’t sure exactly haw she felt; it was a mix of excitement, nervousness and…self-consciousness. In the last few hours, Harmony had been shown the E.R. itself, had been given a locker, had been fit for a lab coat (“It will come in a few days,” Kerry had promised), and had been drug around and introduced to the entire staff. Right about now, Harmony’s mind was clouded with names, locations and such things. They had made sure she was happy and well welcomed, but then she had been thrown into the “ranks.” This was actually just a series of minor emergencies. Not that Harmony minded that, it was just how people acted around her. She was aware that she had some type of accent, probably a very odd mix of British and Italian. But it was some sort of treatment that left her feeling very self-conscious. Almost like people were staring at her. She had also noticed that Chicago was very different from Nairobi. Not that she hadn’t expected it to be, but it was difficult to explain. It had also just occurred to her that she had really only practiced medicine in foreign countries. Sure, she was certified in the United States, she had taken the American medical test the summer after she had graduated from the University of Rome. But American problems were a bit different than African problems. Harmony was an expert at tropical diseases, but in Chicago she severely doubted if this knowledge would come in handy. Unless the guy who had just vomited all over her had malaria, although this was highly unlikely. Even thought Chicago was very warm this fall. Now, she was looking for a pair of scrubs so she could go back to work.

 

“Damnit, what are these American sizes in British sizes,” she muttered to herself.

 

“Do you need help?” asked a kind voice with a European accent.

 

Harmony turned around. “Doctor Kovac right? I’m horrible with names.” She hoped she wasn’t blushing too much, having cussed in the presence of the handsome doctor.

 

“You’re right. What seems to be the problem?”

 

“I’ve lived in foreign countries for nine years. I can’t remember the American sizes,” Harmony explained quickly.

 

“What are you? Size that is.”

 

“Large in British.”

 

“Okay, a medium will probably fit you. They’re over there. Luka pointed at a mound of scrubs,

 

“Thanks,” Harmony said with sincerity. She smiled as Luka left.

 

------------------------

 

Harmony sighed, running her hands through her hair. She was waiting for the El to arrive. The day had been long, and – though they were comfortable – she longed to get out of the scrubs. She was also a bit hungry, because she had been really dumb and skipped lunch. Lovely way to start work, she thought.

 

“Enjoy your first day?”

 

Harmony recognized the voice this time. “Hello Doctor Kovac. Enjoy? Well, only if one enjoys getting passed around like a letter and getting vomited all over. Don’t get me wrong, I like the facilities and all but…”

 

“But you felt Kerry was a little over zealous.”

 

Harmony nodded. “Exactly.”

 

“Yeah, I was kinda passed around when I came to County too. It’s just how Kerry works. She wants you to bee comfortable, but she overdoes it sometimes.”

 

“I can understand that. How long have you been here?”

 

“In Chicago, a little under a year.”

 

“You’re from Croatia right? Or is it Yugoslavia?”

 

“Croatia. How’d you tell?”

 

Harmony smiled. I lived in Rome for four years, and I had a professor who was Croatian.

 

Luka nodded in understanding. The train pulled up. “Are you taking this train too?” he asked.

 

“Yup. I live just outside the business district.”

 

“I live at the Hyatt Regency,” Luka said.

 

“The Hyatt! I stayed there for a few days before I moved to my house,” Harmony exclaimed.

 

“What was your room number?”

 

“1313.”

 

“Ironic. I’m at 1214. I can’t believe we never bumped into each other.”

 

“Actually, I’m not surprised. Between my friends Mike and Selena, I was taken all over this lovely city,” Harmony explained.

 

The train slowed to a stop and some more people boarded, Selena among them.

 

“Hey Selena! Over here!” Harmony yelled.

 

Selena walked over. “I was just coming over to see you!”

 

“Selena, this is another doctor who works with me, Luka Kovac. Doctor Kovac, this is Selena McCormick, my best friend,” Harmony said.

 

The three conversed together for a while, until the train arrived at its next stop.

 

“My stop. Nice to meet you Miss McCormick. Goodnight Doctor Morris. I’ll se you tomorrow,” Luka said.

 

“Goodnight Doctor Kovac,” Harmony replied, smiling softly.

 

Selena scooted into Luka’s vacated seat. “Damn is he hot! Hot as hell!”

 

Harmony glared at Selena. “Could you have been a bit louder? I don’t think the conductor heard you,” she said sarcastically.

 

“Sorry. How come you address each other by doctor so-and-so?”

 

“Gee, maybe ‘cause we’ve only known each other for less than a day.”

 

“Yeah, well did you see how he was looking at you? That wasn’t the look of someone who knows someone only one day.”

 

“How could I notice how he was looking at me when I was worried about weather you would offend him or not by staring at him?”

 

“Un hn. You just keep telling yourself that doll.”

 

“Doll?”

 

“Iz vhat I saz!”

 

Harmony started laughing hysterically.

 

“It’s not that funny.”

 

“Yeah it is!”

 

“Anyway, how was your day?”

 

Harmony sighed. “Long, semi-boring. The highlight was getting thrown up on by some guy.”

 

“You know, I don’t know why you went into emergency medicine.”

 

“I liked it. I don’t know why you went into artistry. I mean you only receive recognition after you’re dead!”

 

“Not so! I sold a painting today.” Selena said angrily.

 

“Well, since you’re here, do you want to stay for dinner? I was thinking of trying a new receipt I got in Kenya,” Harmony asked.

 

“Okay, as long as there’s no goat meat in it.”

 

“Where would I get goat meat in Chicago.”

 

“I don’t know. You E.R. doctors have very strange sources.”