Post by Aurora Graves on Jan 7, 2018 14:23:37 GMT -5
Sunshine Valley Pediatrics
Las Vegas, NV
Thursday, January 04, 2018
Aurora sat in the waiting room, with Ysera sitting in her car seat in the chair beside her. Aurora’s eyes darted back and forth, growing wary of the other mothers as they stared at her.
What is with these bitches? They’re looking at me like they’ve never seen a woman with tattoos before....
She caught the gaze of one such mother, who glanced at the artwork on Aurora’s left forearm, only to quickly avert her gaze once she had realized she’d been caught. Aurora smirked, then lifted the blanket over the car seat to check on Ysera. The little tuft of black hair at the top of her head stuck up in the air like one of those little Troll dolls; Aurora did her best to smooth it down to the side. As she fussed over her little girl, Aurora didn’t notice the woman that had occupied the chair on the other side of Ysera’s car seat, nor did she notice her peeking in...
Woman’s Voice: Oh, she’s so precious! How old is she?
The woman’s high-pitched, mousy voice was the sort that had always grated on Aurora’s eardrums like a metal fork scraping against porcelain, but Aurora managed a graceful smile nonetheless.
Aurora: She’s 10 days old.
Woman: She was a Christmas baby? Oh, what a blessing!
Aurora cleared her throat as she tucked her hair behind her ear; anything to cover up the awkward feeling this woman was giving her.
Woman: So, when are you piercing her ears?
Aurora: Excuse me?
Woman: Her ears... when are you getting them pierced?
Aurora: When she’s old enough to ask for them, herself.
Woman: Oh...
Aurora: Why do you ask?
Woman: Oh, no real reason. I just hear so many mothers talking about taking their babies to the mall and getting it done while they’re too young to remember. I’m sure your mother did the same; one quick pop with the piercing gun, and you’re done!
Aurora: Actually, I was 10 years old, and I spent two years BEGGING for my mother to get it done. Granted, this was before I learned that a piercing gun is the WORST thing you can use....
Woman: Really? But you’ve got...
Aurora: Yeah, I know. I happen to be a professional piercer, and sometimes, learning a trade means practicing on yourself.
Aurora looked directly at the woman, watching as she sank back awkwardly in her seat. It was as if the woman wasn’t sure of how to feel about being put in her place. Trying to fight the satisfied smirk from forming on her face, Aurora resumed to gazing at her now-blinking daughter. Ysera’s dark eyes peered back at Aurora as her little mouth pursed, sending a few tiny saliva bubbles down the corner of her mouth.
Aurora: Don’t worry... Mommy’s going to wait until you’re big enough to decide for yourself. No sense in forcing anything, right?
Aurora reached into her diaper bag, pulling out a lavender burp rag to blot the little dribble trail before it reached the collar of Ysera’s mint-green onesie.
Nurse: Graves?
Aurora looked up toward the sound of the voice, spying a nurse in purple scrubs standing in the waiting room, a clipboard in her hands. She stood up, gripping the handle of Ysera’s car seat. Before she followed the nurse into the hallway, she paused, flashing one final glance at the woman beside her, who quickly turned to her own child, a little girl with alabaster skin and red hair, tied back in pigtails.
Aurora: Here we are!
With a smile, she carried Ysera – car seat and all – into the hallway, following the nurse into one of the exam rooms, where they were greeted by a picture of Cookie Monster painted on the wall, with the odd blotch of white clouds scattered around it.
I should really give them Damon’s number. He could have done a much better job on these murals... if you can call them murals, anyway.
Nurse: So, who do we have here...? Eese... Iss...
Aurora: Ysera. The Y is pronounced as in “yes,” just without the e.
Nurse: Oh... well, that’s different. May I ask where the name comes from? I don’t think I’ve seen it before.
Aurora: Let’s just say I prefer to pull from more... unconventional sources for names. So, let’s get her out of the car seat so that I can get some measurements, and then the doctor will be in to see you....
A few minutes later
Aurora sat in the chair, holding Ysera in her arms. A doctor stood nearby, writing something on the clipboard. She stood a bit shorter than Aurora, with shoulder-length brown hair, and her lab coat bore a badge with her picture and the name “Melissa Palermo.” Once she was finished writing, Dr. Palermo looked up from her clipboard and smiled.
Dr. Palermo: So, everything checks out. Ysera’s growing nicely... did you have any other questions for me?
Aurora paused for a moment as her brow furrowed. She looked down at Ysera and smiled as the little one grabbed hold of her finger.
Aurora: Actually, yeah, I did. How safe is it to travel by plane with a newborn?
Dr. Palermo looked at Aurora in mild disbelief, as if she was trying to dial it back so as not to sound too shocked.
Dr. Palermo: Plane? Are you sure you want to expose her to all of those germs so soon?
Aurora shook her head.
Aurora: Oh, it’s nothing like that. My manager has a private jet that we use when we travel for work, and I’m a little bothered about being away from her so soon. We even have my mother coming with us, so that Abuelita can have some bonding time, as well.
Hearing this brought a visible look of relief that washed over the doctor like a wave. She smiled slightly.
Dr. Palermo: Oh. Well, in that case, you should be fine. Just make sure you feed and burp her before you board.
Aurora nodded her head.
Aurora: Yeah, that’s exactly what my manager told me, speaking from experience, and all. She’s got three kids of her own, you see. Who am I kidding? Of course you know that! She’s the one that recommended you!
Dr. Palermo: Well in that case, you should definitely be in good hands.
Aurora: Thank you, Dr.
Dr. Palermo: All part of the job. Well, I guess I’ll see you when it’s time for little Ysera’s next checkup.
Aurora: Great!
Aurora: Come on, Yssie... let’s get you back in your car seat so that we can go home!
Dr. Palermo smiled as she walked out of the room, leaving Aurora and Ysera to get ready to leave. But no sooner did Aurora buckle Ysera into her car seat than she felt a rumbling coming from the little raven-haired infant. She scrunched up her face, but couldn’t help but chuckle.
Aurora: Oh, sure... wait until we’re just about to leave.
She reached into the diaper bag and pulled out a diaper and some wipes before moving to unbuckle the car seat.
