The Boring Question

(A screening booth at the donor center on Trinity Road. A world map is taped to the desk, under plastic.)

Nicola: Right, Ibrahim. Last section and then you're done. Have you ever been outside the country?

Ibrahim: Have I ever. Peru. Two years ago, in October, for three weeks.

Nicola: Peru. Lovely. Which part?

Ibrahim: Cusco first, then down to the coast. It's the far side of the world. A whole different continent.

Nicola: Mm-hm. Two years ago, so that's outside the window. What about the last twelve months?

Ibrahim: Nothing like Peru.

Nicola: It doesn't have to be like Peru. Any trip at all counts. Even one night.

Ibrahim: Then no. Work's been mad since the spring.

Nicola: And you haven't crossed the border for a weekend? Nothing short?

Ibrahim: Only the lake, but that's not travel. That's an hour and a half in the car.

Nicola: Which lake, sorry?

Ibrahim: Over the border, the big one with all the campsites. My sister's got a caravan there.

Nicola: When?

Ibrahim: Three weeks ago. Four, maybe. Why?

Nicola: Show me on the map.

(Ibrahim puts one finger on a lake just across the line, a thumb's width from home.)

Nicola: That's the region I've been asking about. There's a mosquito virus round those lakes in the summer. It's nothing serious for you, but we ask people to wait twenty-eight days before they give blood.

Ibrahim: Twenty-eight days. For a caravan.

Nicola: For a caravan.

Ibrahim: And Peru's fine.

Nicola: Peru's history. Your sister's lake is three weeks old.

Ibrahim: I crossed an ocean and you want the campsite.

Nicola: I want the campsite. Come back the week after next and I'll confirm the appointment now, if you like. First-timers always expect it to be the far countries.

Ibrahim: And it's the near ones.

Nicola: It's nearly always the near ones. Same map, boring half.

Ibrahim: Go on, book me in. And put Peru on the form anyway.

Nicola: Ibrahim, Peru's on there twice. You told me at the door.