Brimming with excitement and a boundless joy, I examined patients and jotted down prescriptions until around noon when I heard our custodian Kerim, who was born with microcephaly, say:

“Ok, ok, it’s noon now … The doctor is going to have lunch … That’s it for now, come back in the afternoon …”

A few old women protested but with a little pushing and shoving Kerim hurried the remaining patients out of the room.

When he came into my room a little later to put more coal in the stove he had a grin on his face with an expression that said, “and how was that? Handled that pretty well, didn’t I?”

My head was swirling with questions: What was a start report? Where does it go and what do I need to do? I decided to approach Şermin hanım, who had been at the hospital for 13 years, pretending to be entirely indifferent about the matter:

“Şermin Hanım, Ertan Bey mentioned a ‘Start Report’ that has to be submitted to the Kaymakamlik, is that right?”

Looking me straight in the eye, it seemed a moment she had been waiting for had come and, emphasizing every word, she said:

“Yes, doctor, it is very important. And if Ertan Bey has already talked to you that means he has already prepared the report! You need collect the report and submit it to the kaymakam.”

To give the impression I had understood everything straightaway, I said “alright then” and left it at that. A little later I noticed Şermin going into the office next to hers. It belonged to the environmental health technician Abuzer. They came back together. Flashing a row of large, stained teeth, Abuzer said:

“Praise God, doctor Bey, you’ve seen sixty patients before noon. Before we had Çetin Bey from Bursa. He managed a hundred fifty-sixty a day without batting an eyelid. But it looks like you’re going to overtake him.” There was a brief pause before he went on:

“Doctor, you should have Kerim Bey send the remaining patients home and bring over that start report. Otherwise you’ll be late and there will be problems later on.”

“Oh no, how could we let that happen?” I said with a shudder. “I’ll go and get the report from Ertan Bey, alright?”

“Yes, yes Ertan Bey has already finished it,” they all chimed together.

“You get it from him and take it over to the kaymakam, submit it there with a signature.”

So I left without seeing the remaining patients.