Gremlin In Scrubs

Young little gremlins

Won’t come to your room,

‘cause they’ve not yet learned

To control where they zoom.

But when little gremlins

Become gremlin teens,

All the teachers from Gremland

Know just what this means.

They’re ready for mischief,

And must learn the rules,

For choosing and using

Their best mischief tools.

But this time is confusing,

For each gremlin teen,

When their paws can move faster,

Than they’ve ever seen.

They get wild and restless,

Boisterous and brave,

And their instinct kicks in,

‘Til it’s hard to behave.

But they’re still scared of humans,

And all human ways,

So they must keep their urges

For mischief at bay,

‘Til they learn about humans,

And what humans do,

To deserve wads of gum

On their slipper or shoe.

So if you’re quite scared

Of the things gremlins do,

Remember these creatures

Are more scared

of…

YOU!

* It occurs to me that the relationship between medical students and patients is somewhat similar to that between mischief-making gremlins and humans. In both cases, the mischief-maker (or med student) is more scared of the helpless human subject than the other way around– fresh medical students in the hospital tread lightly, caught in a constant push and pull between wanting to single-handedly take over the procedure and wanting to remain on the sidelines to avoid any potential part in a catastrophe. Being chastised by the more senior members of their profession is to be avoided at all times. That is the story of Gremaline’s struggle as a talented mischief maker–in sneak-skirts or in scrubs, the same conflicts ensue.