“Fair enough Lisa, I’ll see if any of the other girls can come. In the meantime, I believe Mrs. Graham in 438 is ‘patiently’ waiting for her dinner.” When Lisa came to Mrs. Graham’s room, she prayed to find her sleeping or at least tranquil. Lisa quietly walked in with her tray of boiled chicken, and almost dropped it at the sound of the bellowing welcome she received. The sight of Lisa holding up what was to both of them a most unappetizing dinner prospect was enough to trigger Mrs. Graham’s tirade on the spot. It was hard to believe that such a slight, frail woman of about seventy-five or so, had that much energy to let out on demand. It seemed like it came naturally to her. She looked like the kind of woman who was always on the ready to snap at something or other. Lisa already smarted from the tongue lashing she gave her when she came in earlier that day, at her request, to close the curtains.
“Don’t you know we’re sick people in here? We’re trying to get better, not come down with heatstroke or worse. It’s all a ploy to keep us in here, and keep treating us for this and that; never you mind how much the hospital bill is gonna be. What do they do, go around forcing young girls like yourself to innocently keep us tied to our sick beds? When’s my doctor coming? I can’t wait to know when I can finally get the heck out of here.” Naturally, a sort such as the dear Mrs. Graham would even find displeasure in some warm and rejuvenating sunlight.
“Now Mrs. Graham, please calm down,” Lisa tried to soothe her. “I know you want out of here, and truthfully I can’t blame you. But in the meantime, you had better stop exciting yourself or else your blood pressure will go up, and then they won’t release you for sure.” Mrs. Graham’s face softened a little as Lisa smiled at her and said empathetically, “I don’t want to add to your misery with the looks of your dinner tray, but hopefully you’ll find something passable to eat. Try, you need it to keep your strength up. I’ll try to see when your doctor is scheduled to make his rounds and leave word for him that you’d like to see him.”
“Thank you, child,” Mrs. Graham relented. “Sometimes I wonder if it isn’t you young ones that care the most.”
Lisa grinned at Mrs. Graham and quickly left to check her doctor’s schedule for her. She came back to report that he should be making his rounds that evening between seven and eight and to offer her an extra rice pudding which was about the best food available that meal. That being done, she went on to deliver dinner to the new patient in room 440. When Lisa walked in and saw ‘Mr. Gorgeous’ sitting on the edge of his bed, she regretted having been so hasty in trying to finish up for the day. She fervently hoped that she did not look like a total mess, but it was too late for her to worry about it now. With the awesome smile that greeted her, Lisa was instantly reassured that she must not be too bad off, otherwise she would never have gotten such a reaction. Confidence restored, she walked into his room with an air of authority that did not betray her desire in getting to know him better. She quickly decided to wait and see if he would make the first move.
Continued
