Inktales

Out of Africa

The rain is heavily pouring. Those angry drops smashing onto every surface outside making such a racket, I can barely hold a thought in my mind. I'm just about to call it a day, when a cup of steaming tea is presented to me. "don't be so grumpy, Inkman." Clodia flashes her wonderful smile with me. The shine on her lip ring makes it look brighter. "This kind of weather makes me feel grateful." She takes a swift sniff of air and walks away.

I know why she said that. Clodia is one of those beautiful soul people. She's a surgical nurse and occasionally she joins the 'Flying Doctors of America' missions. Those journeys take her to third world or war zone countries where she comes face to face with some horrific situations and tries to bring some good to the world.
I remember the first time she walked into my life and under my needle, all those years ago.

It was a rainy day like today, when she brightened the room walking through my glass door. She didn't schedule an appointment, and the rain caused many cancellations, so I had plenty of time to hear her story. She just got back from her first AMFD mission and wanted a memento from that experience.

 She talked for two hours, telling me all about her two weeks in Africa. She was devastated from the poor condition in the far villages and was very proud of the medical help she provided, but there was one thing she said that truly spiked my creativity: "Man can create destructive and also constructive things, but nature only creates more nature and that’s always beautiful." So, I created the beauty of natural Africa for her, and she's been my friend ever since.