This week Pegman takes us to Baltimore, Maryland. Feel free to visit the library at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University Or cruise around Baltimore and find your own street view or photo sphere for inspiration.
Your mission is to write up to 150 words inspired by this week’s location. Once your piece is polished, share it with fellow contributors using the link up below.
After entertaining guests for a week and another week to recover from all the festivities, I’m ready to revisit Pegman. Thanks so much to Karen and Josh for co-hosting this group of globetrotting writers.
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 150
I would call this an excerpt from my most recent novel AS ONE MUST, ONE CAN. However it’s actually a tweaked scene boiled down from over 600 words to a 150 word stand-alone. At any rate, a great challenge and a pleasant visit to two favorite characters. Not exactly about Maryland, but a tenuous connection. 😉
THE GENDER TRAP
The woman skimmed a gloved hand along the top of the medicine cabinet and peered at the rows of bottles. “I assume you sterilize. I insist everything should be as clean as humanly possible.” Straightening, she extended the same hand. “I’m here to answer your ad.”
Florin’s tongue stuck to his teeth. “So sorry, my dear, I’ve hired a nurse.”
She withdrew her hand. “I am Eleanor Whitaker Turnbull, MD. Have you already hired a physician as well?”
Florin mopped his perspiring brow. “No I haven’t. But such an attractive—I thought—”
Her sorrel gaze pierced him. “I know exactly what you thought, Doctor. You’re a man after all.” She took a framed diploma from her carpet bag. ”I graduated from the New York Medical College for Women, class of 1892. Suma Cum Laude. I served my internship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?”
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Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Great story about the gender bias back then. Sure glad it doesn’t happen now…..oh wait. Never mind. Anyway, good job of editing this down. It tells a story of many potentials in so few words. However, I do love the complete story in the Novel.
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Dear Jan,
At least we’ve made some progress…yes? This a favorite scene of mine from AOMOC–one that stood through several edits…from the first draft to the last. I love me some Eleanor. 😉 Thanks, m’luv.
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Excellent story, Rochelle. I can hear her icy tone. I had a great aunt like this, Sarah Herring Sorin. She was one of the first women to try a case before the Supreme Court in 1906. The terrible thing is that after more than a century we are still in the same place, more or less. Sigh.
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Dear Josh,
This scene in my book takes place in 1908. If Eleanor had been a real person she might have met your great aunt. 😉 Incidentally, my father was delivered in 1914 by a woman doctor. When they assigned a female rabbi to officiate at his funeral she asked if I had a problem with her being a woman. I said it was only fitting. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s wonderful.
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I looked up Eleanor Whitaker Turnbull but couldn’t find anything substantial. Given your talents for crafting historical fiction, I thought she would be a factual character.
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Dear James,
Eleanor is very real to me. 😁 However, in this instance, historical refers to the time it takes place. The fact that she rang true is a high compliment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
How true to life! Even today, although they no longer say it, they think it. Like James, I thought Eleanor would be factual, and I was going to look her up!
Excellent writing.
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Dear Penny,
I’m just grinning from ear to ear. 😀 Eleanor was a lot of fun to write. She’s a headstrong, intelligent woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to demand it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It rang true to me too! I was taken with her story completely. That is some serious editing to whittle a story from 600 to 150 words.
Great to see you on Pegman this week!
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Dear Karen,
As soon as I saw John Hopkins in the prompt, I was all about editing this chapter. I enjoyed the challenge of making it fly solo. 😉 And I’m even happier to know that Eleanor rang true. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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having not read the 600 word version – my thoughts are on this tightly woven piece and the whole thing stirs up a lot about early med says (when sterilization was still not assumed) and then the inclusion of this as “humanly possible” really anchors the whole piece – such a humanity fiction because gender topics go deep
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Dear Yvette,
The scene takes place in 1908. According to articles I found and watching scenes from The Knick (deemed as highly accurate by critics). They were learning to sterilize but still did surgery sans gloves or masks. Thank you for your kind and affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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thanks for even more history tidbits
🙂
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Dear Rochelle,
Well, I DID read the 600-word story and am amazed that you managed to still make this come through in 150. No, what am I saying? Why am I amazed? Of course you did. You are a master of this genre. I loved her in the book, and I love her now… no messing with this woman!
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Of course you know I’m a firm believer in the merits of flash fiction as an exercise in word conservation. It’s amazing how much you can say with less. Of course, this is still one of my favorite chapters in AOMOC. Although I wouldn’t change it, with all it’s little nuances, it was fun to see if I could distill it without losing the integrity of the story. There, my reply is nearly as long as my story. Good morning. More coffee, please.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Department of Word Conversation. It has a nice ring to it. And I know who to nominate as head of it. 😊Confimation should be smooth sailing.
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Conservation!😊
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Thank you for those kind words, whether conserved or conversed, Andrea. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another telling tale. Struggling to add something that someone hasn’t already said, Rochelle. How nice it is to have friends commenting so buoyantly on your stories while holding back their pen on others’.
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Dear Kelvin,
I’m glad you appreciated my story. As to the rest of your comment, how should I respond?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love the voice of Eleanor Whitaker Turnbull – magnificent, pioneering, compelling. You create a gripping scene between her and the luckless Florin. A lot of story into so few words Rochelle.
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Dear Francine,
Truly, Florin doesn’t stand a chance of winning here…or could be he’ll be the winner after all. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s amazing….I can’t wait to read the next book (and last SHOFAR?) in the Hava series!!
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Aw, thank you, Gila. So happy to see you here. Actually there will be another book in the Havah series. A Stone for the Journey. A book of short stories and illustrations by Yours Truly. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle/Rukhel
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Oh! Yes! I love Eleanor’s spunk and self-assurance! Well done.
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Dear Lish,
She is a favorite of mine in the third book. Of course she and Havah make a connection. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Greatly enjoyed this slice of historical fiction.
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Dear Neel,
I’m glad you enjoyed and took the time to say so. It means a lot. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are most welcome. It’s always a pleasure to read your stories, Rochelle.
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Excellent. Women like her, confident and strong, can bring the change. Thanks for bringing this character alive.
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Dear Indira,
The world needs women like Eleanor. While she is fiction, there have been many Eleanors, haven’t there? And we are glad. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There are indeed, dear and we are proud of them.
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How exciting.😊
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Thank you, Ade-Oluwa
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