The Cake Lady, Maria

Maria was a cheery soul, always smiling and ready to help. Over her many years at St. Angela’s, she had seen much, but, as is typical of the invisible little people of any organisation, she said nothing.

Her husband, Juan, was a driver of the hospital’s shuttle bus that took people from St. Angela’s to the Hill and back again. All day and every day, to an fro, Juan listened in silence to the constant chatter in the bus, taking it all in, as unguarded comments, opinions and plots spilled out as if he wasn’t there. But he was there.

From time to time, Maria and Juan joined their friends from the porters and drivers pool, the cleaners and receptionists, and the telephone “girls” and ward clerks, for get-togethers. Over much food and merriment, they celebrated as a community of little people their many cultures. All of them were proud of the service they gave to the hospital, its staff and its patients.  Continue reading →