Adelaide
It’s not even midday and the sun’s got a fair bit of heat in it already. Carefully, I pour myself a glass of water. I curse under my breath when I spill a drop.
Water is precious. There’s not enough of it, and I’m annoyed for having been careless. It might seem silly, but every drop counts.
Water sustains life. Without water, we have none. I’ve come to appreciate just how precious water is. Part of me can’t believe how I used to waste it. Yet, so many people around the world go on doing it.
Yesterday, one of the village elders told me the well is nearly empty.
Rain—we had some, but we’re in desperate need of more.
If we don’t get more of it, the village well will run dry, and then our village, as well as others in the area will suffer greatly.
Not only are we, humans, dependent on water, but the animals are, too.
Without them, there won’t be any meat. No meat and minimal crops mean starvation.
I sigh.
“Morning, Doctor.”
I spin on my heels, and find myself nose-to-nose with Ford.
“So deep in thought already?”
Because he’s standing so close, I’m finding it difficult to think straight.
“Water,” I mumble and hold my glass out to him.
“No, thanks,” he says and shakes his head.
Taken aback, I look at him.
“I wasn’t offering,” I explain, taking a step back. I need to put some distance between us. When he stands so close to me, his scent overpowers everything. “Water is what’s occupying my mind. I’m thinking about our water problem.”
His brow furrows.
“But it rained the other day. It can’t all be gone already…is it?”
As I take a sip from my glass, I shake my head.
“That was like a tiny drop in a huge ocean.”
“Really?”
I can’t work out if Ford is playing with me, or if he’s serious.
On the one hand, he makes himself seem pretty worldly, but on the other, he seems anything but it.
“Duh,” I try to sound not too frustrated. “It’s summer, and we all depend on one well. One decent shower of rain is not going to fix our problems. Water is a big one for many of us here.”
He nods his head. Again, he leaves me wondering.
“The thing is,” I look at him, “there’s a rivulet nearby, and water could be diverted from there…”
“But?” he interrupts, and I watch him fill a small glass with water from the plastic container in my makeshift kitchen.
“But the village simply doesn’t have the manpower to do it. In case you haven’t noticed, there are mainly women, young boys and the elderly here. What we lack is a good supply of able-bodied, hardworking young men.”
I deliberately look him up and down.
It should be his idea to help, not mine. The last thing I want to do is turn into one of those controlling women who tells everyone and anyone what to do, and when to do it.
In fact, it would be totally better if I didn’t even have to go down the path of suggesting he might help.
“I’m told there are pipes ready to go. All we lack is the know-how and manpower.”
There you go, I’ve just basically handed the idea to him on a silver platter.
Things are desperate enough for me to get out there and help dig, but if I do that, who’ll look after the patients?
At some point, I’ve learned that you can’t do everything yourself. You have to delegate.
I’m trying to get Ford to do a job we desperately need done without appearing as if I’m telling him to do it.
“And you think I’d be a good candidate for trench digging and pipe laying?”
From the tone of his voice, I’m not sure what his true reaction is.
I suppose I should be grateful his response is a little more than the usual grunt. I mean, I can actually understand him.
With a sigh, I head out the door.
“Well, our village isn’t going to be the only one that would benefit. Some of the neighboring villages would, too. It’s a good, long-term solution.”
I walk out of the hut and wait.
“And who do you propose will dig with me?”
Slowly, I turn around.
“I haven’t proposed anything. I’m merely telling you where things are.”
Now he laughs.
“Come on, Adelaide. No need to play the innocent maiden in all this. I know when I’m being pushed into something.”
I shake my head.
“Excuse me, oh great protector of mine, but I beg to differ. I’m not pushing you into anything. I’m merely telling you about one of the many problems of this village and adjoining ones face.”
More laughter.
Okay, so maybe I am trying to push him into something.
“Some of the younger boys here might be able to help. I mean, if they receive a bit of guidance, they should be good enough helpers for anyone with enough get-up-and-go to dig a trench or two.”
“You’re very good, young lady. Very good. You had this all planned out already, hadn’t you?”
“I’m offended,” I bite back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I had nothing planned out. Anyway, you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. Unlike me, you took no oath. So if you want to hang out here with your big weapons, be my guest. You don’t have to do anything.”
It’s probably high time I start to do my rounds. Before I can walk off though, Ford stops me.
“No need to get all worked up about it. I’m happy to help out. Give me some direction. Where do I find these village boys and the pipes? And most importantly, where do I find digging materials?” Ford says with an inquiring look.
“I mean, I’m starting to understand how the village works. May as well put some of my time to good use, bearing in mind that you think I’m totally wasting time here. If I can do some good, my manliness will return,” he says, now smiling.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about there,” I mumble.
We then proceed to the local school.
It’s small, and one of the neighboring village’s teachers comes over three times a week to run combined classes.
We enter, and I ask her to pick five strong boys. They should be able to take orders and help dig a trench. She asks them to stand up and shake our hands.
“Nice strong handshakes,” Ford mumbles. “They should make good trench diggers. When can they start?”
I’m surprised to see Ford take the lead.
Obviously, he was no longer content in being on the bench and felt the need to exert his authority.
Thankfully, I don’t care.
With the five boys in tow, we leave the school and head to the area where the pipes are stored.
“You work today?” someone calls out to me.
“Go ahead, I’ve got this,” Ford mutters, and I stop reluctantly.
By the time I’ve finished with my patient and come out of the small mud dwelling, I see a large gathering of locals at the perimeter of the village.
I stride over to check it out.
I hope nothing’s happened to Ford, or one of those young boys he took with him.
If they got into an accident, it will all be my fault.
After all, I suggested—maybe persuaded—Ford to do this.
As I approach, I feel my heart beat hard and fast in my chest.
“Look,” one of the older women points something out to me in the distance.
My eyes strain to focus on the object. I realize it’s a man.
And to my utter relief, the man is not injured. He’s standing.
Well actually, digging.
“Good muscles,” one of the other women calls out to me.
“Good body,” echoes another.
“Good breeding,” says a third.
Despite my best attempts to ignore the comments, I’m sure my cheeks are reddening.
At the same time, I let my eyes feast on Ford’s body.
It’s worthy of being sculpted. He looks almost like a Greek god in his shorts and with his bare upper body.
Bent over a shovel, muscles flexed and sweat pouring down, he’s the picture of manliness.
Wow.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen muscles like this on any living thing before. Not even the muscle man in my anatomy book is as interesting and sexy as Ford.
Without saying anything, I just watch.
I hope I don’t have drool falling, as I can’t take my eyes off him.
When a strange sound escapes my lips, I bite my tongue.
Where is my restraint?
“He very good looking,” the chitchat around me gathers intensity.
Again, I choose to stay silent.
“He your suitor?”
This one I’m almost tempted to rebuke. It would be easy.
No. You’re wrong. I’m merely the person he’s here to protect. He’s no suitor of mine.
But those words won’t cross my lips. Instead, I stay silent.
At the same time though, I can’t seem to take my eyes off him.
If it wasn’t the middle of the day and there were no people arounde, I swear I’d jump his bones right here, right now.