Having become an unintentional expert on human shoulders, Zarlo’s newfound mission took him deeper into Melbourne. His tentacles eagerly tapped away on a smartphone, searching for the best shoulder injury specialist near the Melbourne CBD. His destination? The office of Dr Ella Matthews, famed for her expertise in the intricate world of shoulder ailments.
Donning a flamboyant scarf (because he felt it made him appear more “Earthly”), Zarlo entered Dr Matthews’ clinic. The waiting room was filled with humans, their arms in various braces and slings. He tried not to stare, but curiosity got the better of him.
Once face-to-face with Dr Matthews, Zarlo, in a burst of enthusiasm, asked, “What’s the most common Earthling shoulder malfunction you encounter?” Dr. Matthews, adjusting her glasses and eyeing Zarlo’s distinct lack of shoulders, replied, “Well, one common issue we see is damage to the rotator cuff, requiring a rotator cuff repair.”
“Rotator cuff?” Zarlo exclaimed, trying to find a comparable feature amongst his wriggly Pleekonese anatomy. “It sounds like a tool used to repair spaceship engines!”
Dr Matthews smiled, taking the opportunity to educate this peculiar visitor. “The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. They can get damaged due to injuries or wear and tear. When that happens, we perform surgery to fix it.”
Zarlo scribbled notes furiously, often drawing diagrams that looked more like alien machinery than anatomy. “Fascinating!” he declared. “You Earthlings may be fragile, but your ability to fix and mend is nothing short of miraculous!”
Before leaving, Zarlo, in a gesture of gratitude, gifted Dr Matthews a Pleekonese healing crystal. “For all the rotator cuffs you mend,” he said warmly.
As night settled over Melbourne, Zarlo’s spaceship floated above, its lights reflecting off the Yarra River. The quirky alien looked forward to another day of discoveries, but for now, he’d dream of rotator cuffs and the marvels of Earth’s medicine.