A day in the life.

Potato waffles and baked beans for breakfast. A touch of salt and vinegar and I have a real treat on my hands., A slightly unusual breakfast, some might say, but then again, sometimes unusual is better than usual. Hmmmm ... Delicious! Four minutes later, no more waffles. It's as though they have disappeared. Born out of the freezer, they spent their short lives in my toaster. Both of them. I wonder if they chatted, I wonder if that's the way they had planned their life. Salt and vinegar had rained upon them. And then that was it: my molars came crashing down, and it was the end: they had died. My stomach gives a quick rumble ... Maybe they're not dead after all ... It's not what you look at that matters, say wise people, it's what you see. In any case, my shift starts at 8 am, and it's already a quarter to. I'd better get going. First patient this morning doesn't even have a name: 'Baby Harold' it says on my screen. Only a week since it switched from 'that other world', to ours. Proud mum and dad can't decide which of them should hold him: 'Just been a bit snuffly, doc', says dad. And yes, they're first time parents. 'I know it's nothing really, but I just wanted to get him checked out'. My list is starting to build up, better call in the next one. Six-year-old Tim, crying as soon as he sees me. I think it's the way I do my hair: 'Don't worry, little man', I reassure. Although, of course, I fail to reassure. He's having none of this reassurance nonsense. Dad had taken me to the dentist ... floods of tears. At least I had held out until the dentist had taken out his tools. Pashtun men don't cry, and a Pashtun man's son will himself become a man as soon as he is out of nappies. Father was not impressed. I call in the next one. * * * * * Fourteen-year-old Ahmed. His nose is hurting. Had a fight, he says. Not broken, but still painful: 'I beat him up though'. Hmm … tough guy. 'I think ENT should have a look at this, it's a little too painful for my liking' 'Is it gonna be ok, doc'? Ahmed's scared. It's not what you look at that matters, say wise people, …