Memoirs of an Ice-Cream Lady (Part 26)
By Emily Ho
Editor’s Note: The author runs an ice-cream parlor on Hong Kong’s Lamma Island. When time allows, she draws caricatures and writes. The following are semi-autobiographical anecdotes blending fact and fiction.
File Opened
“Why do you have such a quick temperament?” Emily’s friends often ask her this.
“It’s because my Mom spent just 15 minutes on my delivery while my Dad ate Wanton noodles,” Emily explains in total belief. Maybe that’s a perfect answer, or just an excuse.
Once Emily decides to do something, she wants to start immediately or leave it forever. But she definitely tried to procrastinate on one thing – having surgery on her left knee. Actually, she first injured the knee (but not seriously) years ago in a gym. Then she used many treatments -- Western medicine, Chinese herbs, acupuncture and moxibustion -- just to avoid the need for surgery. If Hong Kong had voodoo doctors, she might have consulted them too.
So when Emily re-injured her knee and a doctor recommended an operation, Emily doubted if she could delay again. She might need to face reality.
“Alright, doctor, but when?” she asked.
“Let’s see the schedule.” The doctor looked at a monitor. “The earliest available date is August 1. Does that sound okay?”
“Yes…, that’s…fine.” Emily replied, frowning as she worried more about lost income at her shop in the peak ice-cream season than about her own leg.
“Here’s the appointment for your operation. Don’t forget to pick up your medical file at the reception desk.” The doctor printed a schedule from his computer and handed it to Emily.
Once the medical file had opened, Emily started a new “series” of incidents. The future held another accident and tragedy years later, plus a very brief “romance”, all involving the same hospital.
Twilight Zone
In a state of semi-consciousness, Emily heard low noises, but didn’t understand what people said. She saw them walk around her, but couldn’t see clearly what they did. Everything looked white -- the ceiling, lights, walls and people’s clothes. Could this be heaven? Emily wondered. Was she surrounded by angels?
Feeling very cold, Emily thought of complaining, but didn’t want to sound dumb. Within a few seconds, she fell asleep. There she lay, breathing calmly, with a plastic cap on her head and a green gown around her body.
Stretched out on the hard operating table, Emily resembled a lifeless object. The surgeons started to work on her knee. A huge, round light shone down. Medical students watched quietly, taking notes from afar.
“It’s time to get up, Miss Ho,” a doctor said when the operation had ended.
“T-h-a-n-k-y-o-u, b-u-t-w-h-o-a-r-e-y-o-u?” Emily replied, without realizing what had happened or who had spoken.
“I am your major surgeon,” said the doctor.
Business As Usual
“One scoop of chocolate, please,” a gentleman said, placing an order at Emily’s counter.
“Here you are.” Emily held the cone with one hand and a crutch with the other. She’d been discharged from the hospital a day earlier.
In the shop, the customers saw a young lady wearing a white apron and with a bandaged knee shuttling around on one good leg with ice cream and drinks in her one available hand. As she limped, the metallic crutch made a “tut, tut” sound on the floor.
That typically busy summer Sunday felt so different to Emily. Never happy to reveal discomfort or sorrow, she smiled widely at the customers but gritted her teeth against the pain in her leg.
Coming Soon:
Heated History Talk Rocks Boat (more Memoirs of an Ice-Cream Lady)
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