The downside of YOUTH.

Yes probably i look completely JUVENILE and strange enough it alwiz happens in the government bodies, to be specific, hospitals. if it was a compliment, i wouldn't mind, but it had been super embarrassing for the nurses to ask how old am i all the time. The first time i was mistaken for a 14 year old was by the dr @ NUH but was rectified when the doctor exclaimed that my file is too thick for a 14 yr old. The second time was @ TTSH, when the doc exclaimed why a 14 yr old need to WORK. my goodness sake. either the hospitals doesnt have any 1981s in them or their computers had been hacked by someone who hated 1981 this number. either that he hated pple my age.

BUT today's youth day experience was BAD. REAL B-A-D. so much for being young.

The letter came for me to review my case medically within 2 weeks of the date sent. I looked at it and realised i only have 4 days to go. As it was sent to the school, i bet something or someone held it up somewhere and it was almost non-existent till last friday. as instructed i called the hospital where we have our checks, and surprisingly the lady whom im supposed to make an apptmt with said: "you don't need to make any apptmt, just WALK-IN."

"but im suppose to book for an apptmt b4 the 4th July... "
"... u don't need to..."
"if that's the case, can i go tomorrow (saturday)?"
"sorry but we don't give priority to your case on saturdays."
"ok. then i shall WALK-IN on monday then."
"sure."
the line went dead.

so that was friday.

and Youth day came. i should rightfully have a holiday and not land myself in this.
early in the morning i pulled myself up and squeezed with the other commuters to bugis. pretty gd, reached in half an hour and there was just a short queue @ the health-check counter.

i showed letter, explained why i was there, and filled up a single blue form, got a queue number and i was instructed to sit down and wait for my "priority" turn. everything was smooth.

9904 was my number.
immediately 9901 blinked on the door with a doctor's name.
5 minutes passed.
no one came out, but my eyes were fixed on that blinking plate.
suddenly, i saw 9904 blinked on the other door, with no name on the door.
well, same to me it seems, so i went knocking and in i go, with no idea what was in stall for me.

before i actually greeted the dr as i alwiz do, she went: "aiyo. what is this?! it is so vague... u need to give more details... u need to be more honest with your condition... u need ....." (non-stop scoldings...)

i tried to stop this mad woman whom im suppose to call her doctor and whom im supposed to have my case reviewed with, by trying to explain my medical history. Before i even start...she snapped at me for not being honest again... if i had a anger meter then, the mercury would have burst and splurted on her face and best if it can gush down her throat to make her dumb forever. As i can't take it any longer, i shouted loudly @ her: "can u let me finish?!" ANGRILY.

she finally stopped.

"as i was saying..."
"you must be honest with me...yada yada yada..."
SHE IS A NUTCASE! INSANE! WATEVER!
I GIVE UP and shouted @ her again: "IM FINE BUT FOR GOODNESS SAKE LET ME FINISH EXPLAINING."

she paused.
"u know, i'm just trying to be nice to tell u this. which im not supposed to tell. THEY are suppose to tell u."
"tell me what?"
"that you can get out of this medical review. if not u will go on and on forever every 2 yrs."
"well, if that's what procedures need, let it be?"
"no! THEY are suppose to tell u!"
"WHO ARE THEY?!"
"THEY...(hushing) are ur bosses."
"which is the ministry..."
"shhh..."
"what the fff... whatever."
"so u need to be honest with me about ur condition."
"I SAID I'M FINE?! I'M PAINLESS and I'M NOT GOING TO DIE TOMORROW."

she pushed her glasses and continue...
"so young lady, i didnt mean anything to offend but im just trying to help."
"OH WELL. THANK U VERY MUCH, but I DONT SEE THE HELP @ ALL. I WAS SENT THIS LETTER N WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT ANYTHING. WHY AM I ACCUSED OF NOT BEING HONEST?!"
"relax.... come let's see... how old are u? 14?!(i almost fell off the chair)Since you are still in ur teens...i just meant well. i didn't want u to be so foolish..."
"HELLO... i'm born in 1981. which means im 25. T-W-E-N-T-Y F-I-V-E? quarter-century OLD? and to add on, im employed? by the ministry?"
"shh..."
(eyeballs almost fell off, get me out of this madhouse.)

so i remained silent.

"so young lady, i'll put u in review in one year's time. u need to get ur doctor to be honest about ur condition."
"WHAT? my doctor had alwiz been HONEST with me."
"yeah, but u need documents."
"FINE. i will get my doctor to give a letter soon. can u get me the earliest review date? say in 2 week's time?" (i was determined to get out soon enough)
"no young lady, the earliest is 1 yr's time."
"then what's UR POINT."
"my point is im sorry. u will have to come in a year's time again."
"(silent curses and swears that u wouldnt want to hear)"

"so whats ur diagnosis?"
i told her the big bombastic word.
"hmmm that's rare for ur age. a 14 year old teenager."
WHAT THE HELL. IM GETTING OUT OF THIS MADHOUSE.
"i think im fine and if there's nothing else, i need to go."
"ok. give it to the counter.(shoves the blue form into my hand) but wait...(snatched it back again),never mind, i think they have my stamp(shoves it back into my hand)"
WHATEVER. LET ME GET OUT.

FINALLY. FRESH AIR.
i even need to sit down a while before going back to the counter.
The lady at the counter went: "so which room did u go into?"
i turned to look @ the room number, it was 4, but i cant be bothered and said:"the room with no doc's name."
"oh..." expressionless.
"may i ask what's the name of this doctor that i've seen?"
"Dr.XXX"
"she's weird. damn weird."
and guess what. the counter lady was giggling when i said that.
MAD MAD MAD!
DID I STEP INTO THE WRONG PLACE?
OR DOES ITS MAIN BRANCH HAPPENED TO BE IN HOUGANG?

whatever.
i need to get out of the madhouse.

anyway. happy youth day.
from a mistakened 25 year old.