Chapter 2:
Reggie
and Heathcliff entered the Lagos Tranquility General Hospital with their
parents. The owners had invited their father, Dr. Geoffrey Stought, to visit
the facility. He was a world famous physician who specialized in brain surgery.
He was going to perform a surgery on a patient here. The other doctors would
watch and learn how to do it.
Cordelia
was Geoffrey’s wife and the boys’ mother. She helped keep track of Geoffrey’s
schedule. In fact, she was like a professional manager for him. Additionally,
she helped keep the family in order and watched the boys while Geoffrey worked.
Although, she didn’t need to watch them much now that they were almost grown.
Reggie
was 18-years-old and a senior in high school. Heathcliff was 16 and a
sophomore.
The
Stought family was used to traveling across the globe. That was normal for
them. Geoffrey received so many invitations to share his expertise that they
spent more time away from the United States than they spent in it. And it had
been that way for as long as Reggie and Heathcliff could remember. Both boys
loved it.
Dr. Baron
Ugo greeted the Stoughts at the entrance of the hospital. The family recognized
him from the video calls their father had had with him. "Hello, Dr. and Mrs.
Stought," he said in English. English was the official language of Nigeria. He
shook both their hands as he smiled.
"And you
must be Reggie and Heathcliff," he said to the Stought brothers.
"Nice to
meet you, Dr. Ugo," Reggie said as he shook his hand. Heathcliff said the same
thing when Dr. Ugo shook his hand.
Then Dr.
Ugo began giving them the tour of the hospital. He told them how it started as he
also showed them all that was on the ground floor.
Lagos
Tranquility General Hospital was part of a Christian organization that set up
local medical facilities. Years ago, two Nigerian businessmen decided they
wanted a new hospital in Lagos. And so they formed a partnership with the
Christian organization. The Nigerian businessmen provided the money, and the
Christian organization guided them through how to start a hospital.
The
hospital had been open for less than five years. So everything was modern. Reggie
and Heathcliff looked around as Dr. Ugo continued leading them. The equipment
and furnishings looked like they were still new.
"Your
hospital looks amazing," Geoffrey said to Dr. Ugo. Dr. Ugo had just finished
showing the Stoughts the emergency room.
"Thank
you," he said. And then he looked at Reggie and Heathcliff. "I hope I’m not
boring you two."
"No,
sir," Heathcliff said. "We like visiting new places."
Dr. Ugo
chuckled. "So what will you be doing while your father works?"
"We’ve
already met the Gwanis and they are a lovely couple," Cordelia said. The Gwanis
were the family that was hosting the Stoughts. "We’ll be going back there after
the tour. And we plan to be out in Lagos a lot too."
"It is a
wonderful city," Dr. Ugo said. "Just make sure to get good tips from the
Gwanis. Ask them where to go and what to see. Don’t just go to the tourist
traps."
Cordelia
assured him that they would do so.
"The
Gwanis introduced us to a boy our age," Reggie added. "So Heathcliff and I look
forward to getting to know him. His name is Dan Awi."
"That
name sounds familiar," Dr. Ugo said. He thought about it for a moment. "Ah,
yes. Now I know. Dan’s uncle rents an apartment to one of our staff members. I
remember that staff member talking about it."
"And
what’s the staff member do here?" Heathcliff asked.
"He’s
one of our orderlies. His name is Rasheed Al-Tikriti," Dr. Ugo said. "He’s a
very friendly man. Everyone likes him!"