"We’ll just get your vitals and some basic information before you see Dr. Lang."
The nurse explained after leading me into a
fairly small
room dominated by a number of pieces of
medical equipment
. She first directs me toward a scale and height measurement tool.
"Could you please take off your bags and set them aside? Phone or wallet too, please. Your shoes do look light, but remove them as well so we can get as close as possible."
I couldn’t see any strong reason not to listen to the professional’s
request
, so I placed everything down and slipped out of the pair of flats. The card remains in my pocket though, since I do not
have
a wallet.
"Now, if you could step on the scale?"
Standing on the platform while she adjusted the weights until they
balanced
was amusing. For some reason, I thought of myself as a
large bag of spice
being traded and valued in the market.
Or perhaps
livestock
, but that feels too
degrading
!
"One hundred and thirty-five pounds."
She noted this
aloud
while recording the number on a tablet. I have no idea if it is accurate or if the number has
changed
since I’ve arrived.
I have been
eating
quite a lot, for a human. Or
even
for Helene...
"And now height..."
"This is an interesting device. May I know what it is called?"
"Huh? Oh, the stadiometer. Is this your first time having one used?"
I nodded as she raised the bar over my head before moving where I was directed. Standing straight
without slouching
, it was lowered down
carefully
until it touched my crown.
"Five foot six. Beat me by an inch. So, how was it?"
More tapping on her tablet as she asks me - and I’m not sure what to say. I suppose it was
painless
, though I can imagine
a less careful person
banging it too hard.
"There was nothing really to it. A very practical invention."
> At least more accurate than bits of pre-knotted string. Squatting feels much more natural... Vrika... I’ve marked trees and done so many other things as a fox, but somehow this feels wrong! <
What seemed like an eternity of my bladder being stubborn and unwilling passed - but I reached the
indicated line
and carefully capped the cup. Then placed it in the spot that I was told to and washed my hands rather
thoroughly
.
"I am never speaking of this, if I can help it."
Nancy looks up from her tablet and
waves with a smile
when I return. The
cheery attitude
after what I just did feels a little wrong!