I knew the effect of touching the swelling caused by the mysterious wasp sting had aroused Dr Gordon so intensely that she began to behave completely out of character. After visiting Doctor Emily Gordon for a consultation, then seducing her in the consulting room while her husband was waiting for her to finish work, I thought of Sister Veronica, the most uptight person I had ever met.
Sister V, a nun was completely dedicated to her work as a school nurse, but I knew her in her capacity as a gifted sports injury diagnostician, an interest she was studying in her own time. She frequently found herself in demand at her friends' events, tending to sprains and impact injuries. Otherwise, the most unlikely person I could think of who might be aroused by anything.
I thought it would be interesting to find out. I called her and asked if she could check out my inflamed skin to see if she thought it needed any treatment or if there was any product she knew that could help the healing.
We arranged to meet after her school commitments in her office, so I showered and motorcycled to her office, arriving a few minutes early.
I reminded myself not to expect anything in case the surprisingly arousing effect of touching my skin might have lessened, or even disappeared. I would act on the assumption that the effect would not be present at all.
She invited me to take a seat and asked, 'Why are you here Davis?'
I answered, 'Probably because I'm being such a sook Sister Veronica. I was stung by a wasp as I rode past a wasp nest on Tuesday, and I'm hoping the itchiness might have reduced by now, but I still want to touch it all the time. It's infuriating but I can't reach it.'
'Show me,' she said.
I lifted my shirt and tried to point to it and she said, 'It looks a bit inflamed, but the bite itself seems to have healed. How does it feel?'
'It feels tingly and I want to touch it all the time. Is it swollen or smooth? Should I apply something to it?'
She continued looking at me and I was waiting. I tried to work out what her reluctance was. She hesitated. As a school nurse, she clearly did not want to touch me, although she would have the usual scratched knee or elbow to bandage, that kids inevitably get at recreation in the school environment. I expect attending to children is different to that of an adult male. There is always a gender tension where touch is concerned.
But as a nurse, I thought she would have needed to deal with that early in her training or she would have found herself to be completely unsuitable for that profession. Maybe there was some other reluctance she was dealing with.
I tried to reach behind but it was too high to extend my fingers to reach it.
I tried again to get her to touch me, and I asked, 'Is it hot or cool to your touch Sister Veronica?'
I used her title to keep this consultation on a strictly professional basis to try and put her at ease.
She ran her fingers over it, then her whole hand over the area once again as Doctor Gordon had done.
'It seems to be inflamed, but it is cool and smooth to my touch. Are you having any tingling sensations, Davis?'
'Only the slightest buzz Sister. It was stronger at the time I was stung, but now it just feels pleasant to my touch. I can't reach close to it without pushing my arm with my other one,' I told her demonstrating. 'Do I need any medication or something to put on it?'
She quickly moved away, closed her eyes slowly shaking her head. Reaching out, she placed both her hands on her work desk to steady herself.
'Goodness, I feel like I might faint. Can you call. . . .'
I moved quickly to grasp her arm to steady her on her feet.
'Are you OK Sister Veronica? What can I do?'
I felt her go limp and she swooned slightly but remained conscious. I prevented her from falling and lowered her gently to the floor.