19
The Shot by Sabine Vatel Marjorie
how
noticed
first
away from her
shirt
chest so
some
hot
was
it
room. She pulled her
in the
would flow on
air
her.
was
It
t-
noisy, too.
The scolding and reassuring voices of parents, the wailing and laughter of children, and the chreech of metal chairs being pulled on the lineoleum blended with the buzz
in
her ears. She touched her ears.
They were
hot.
She
held on to Manmi's hand, careful not to touch the strangers surrounding them.
They approached one of the tables behind which a nurse was sitting. She gave them a quick smile while lifting her hand toward a chair. Manmi sat down and Marjorie stood beside her. Marjorie glanced at the lady holding the baby. The lady sat next to the table nearby. There was another nurse and she was holding a syringe. Baby didn't seem to notice. It had fat cheeks and
looked cross-eyed. Marjorie wondered
if it
smiled. Marjorie told herself that whatever
was
a giri or a boy.
was,
it
was very
it
It
suddenly
silly.
Its
smile
widened and Marjorie grinned. It
made
the lady holding
looked pierced
at
chirping sounds and pulled it
her then
its
was
its
at its
white skin, a
frowned, turned red
mother and
dumb
Manmi
mother's hair. Marjorie figured
its
the nurse pinched
nurse again.
at the
smile lingered on
in the face
"Marjorie?"
When
mother.
and jerked
its
its
body.
its
When
pudgy
And
lips.
it
shoulder,
Baby
the needle
All at once,
cried and cried.
it .
.
impatiently shook Marjorie's shoulder. Manmi's
voice softened. "What's the matter?" she asked.
"Nothing," Marjorie
Manmi
looked
at
"Nothing, Manmi."
lied.
her for a long time and had to turn
nurse was asking something. "Her
"Marjorie Lea Merime,"
"Four
Manmi
feet eight inches, eighty
read the paper before her.
who
name.
full
."
.
away because
the
she asked again.
said.
pounds.
Manmi nodded and
.
."
the nurse continued as she
shot glances toward Marjorie
stood straight and tried to look brave.
Baby was laughing again. In Baby in her arms get up and
lady with
the
Marjorie turned her head. It was a Marjorie could turn away, their eyes met.
place.
like the
sky sometimes when
lots
saw the was taking their
eyes, Marjorie else
who looked her age. Before And locked. The giri had grey eyes
giri
to rain hard. She was skinny and kind was skinnier and short like Marjorie. She of honey colored hair on top. Her hair was gathit's
of lanky like Domi. Except the
had a square face with
about
comer of her Someone
leave.
giri
