PLIGHTS OF A POOR CHEF

WELCOME INTO THE WORLD OF MISUSE

“She will not be able to take anything solid for now just get her something liquid.” Doctor Dublin said after Mark entered his office and asked.

“How long is she going to remain in that condition doctor? Mark asked in despair.

“We would do all we can to get her back on her feet again. Let's just hope and pray that she responds to treatments very fast. 

“How about the subsequent payments? How much is that going to cost us?

“What we did for her was just the Major surgery which means she would undergo two other minor surgerys and this would cost seven hundred dollars each.”

“Seven hundred dollars!” Mark exclaimed and added. Doctor that's too much. My father is dead. I'm still a student who just sold the only house my father left behind to pay for the first surgery. Where will I get the money to continue with the two other surgeries? Is there no other alternatives?”

“None boy. Except you don't want her to get back on her feet again or talk.” Doctor Dublin said without any sign of remorse in his voice.

“Ah!. Doctor. Mark said and placed his right-hand on his head. He removed it and placed his elbow on the table and held his head on his palm.

“Am sorry boy. You have to look for the money because we are going to arrange for her to have the second surgery in two weeks.”

“That's already close. Where do I get seven hundred dollars from? Mark asked, directing the question to no one in particular. 

“I need to go attend to a patient in one of the wards now. remember, don't get her any solid food. She can only take liquid for now.  Doctor Dublin and and picked up his setscope from where he hung it by the wall. He walked out of the office, leaving Mark there who was engulfed with pondering. 

Where was he going to get the money? He thought. After putting their house on distress sale for five thousand dollars even when he knew it was worth ten times the amount, he knew the real estate agent which  Johson had connected him to had taken advantage of his emergency situation to buy the house for such an amount. What he had left from the money after paying for the first  surgery was just less than the amount the doctor had requested for the subsequent treatments.  He had wanted to use the money to rent a little apartment that they could manage, thinking about the subsequent payments. Would be affordable and he could pay for it after working for some hours at the restaurant. 

Exhausted by all that was happening around him, Mark dragged himself up from the chair where he sat down and ambled out of the office. When he got to the entrance door of the hospital facility, he pushed the door with his right hand and shoved his left hand into his pocket. He called Johnson.

Johson was the only friend which he had and which he could confide in. They had been together since they were in their first year in the university. Johnson however had just been borrowing one of the courses from his department but he was not studying psychology as his major course as Mark was. His relationships with Johnson had gotten tighter and closer since the day he won the contest as the best chef in the school hostel while they were in their second. This made Johnson move closer to him so he could learn how to cook from Mark. They eventually began living in the same apartment off campus when they were in their third year. 

The Johsons phone was ringing but he didn't pick up. Mark tried it the second time, it was ringing but Johson still did not pick. He shoved the phone back into his pocket. 

He walked back to the same restaurant where he had give an interview to look for something liquid that he could buy for his mum to eat. When he got there he met the boss who had interviewed him almost two hours ago. He was standing with some of the staff and was instructing them. 

When he saw Mark he called him to come. Mark Went to him. Mr Jeffery, his new boss, was an aged man with white beards which covered his hand and his facial face.

The first time Mark entered his office, he could tell from the look of his face that he was a very stringent man with a no-nonsense disposition.

Mr Jeffery introduced him to some of the workers and asked him what he had returned to do.

“I came to get something for my sick mum in the hospital buildings away from here.” Mark responded. 

“Ok.You can go, but ensure you resume early. Ok?”  Mr Jeffery said and tapped him gently by the shoulder.

Mark went to the waiter at the front desk and placed his order for liquid foods and beverages as the doctor had suggested. He paid and turned back to leave. He had almost gotten to the glass door of the restaurant when one of the restaurant attendants walked by him and quickly whispered.” welcome to the world of misuse.” He said and smiled sarcastically then walked on ahead, with a tray in his hand.

Mark Stopped and turned back at him, he had already gotten close to the door of the kitchen. That was the same place he had been interviewed that morning.

Not knowing what that restaurant attendant said, he turned back and walked on while at the same time trying to

Puzzle together what the attendant just said.

Mark returned to the hospital and went straight to the doctor's office to show him what he had gotten for his mum. He did this to be careful not to give her what would harm her body or would make her uncomfortable.

After the doctor Dublin looked and examined the food which he had brought he picked out the ones that had sugar and pepper in them saying it was not good for her health now, then he handed the rest to Mark who headed straight to his mum's ward. 

As he walked upstairs he was trying to figure out how his mum would be able to eat since she could not yet open her mouth fully.