Promise to Cherish Read Free Page B

not to blame.” Ms. Phancock released such a heavy sigh Christine could feel the weight of it around her. The administrator made a fist with her hand and pursed her lips.
    “Ma’am?” She laid the slate back down on the frozen floor.
    “We need more workers.” Ms. Phancock’s fist pulsed up and down with each word. “You and the rest of the staff cannot possibly do more than you already are.”
    Christine agreed, of course, as she looked at the tragedy before her.
    She found herself sorry that Sonny’s nakedness was so visible, more than Wayne’s. Of course, they often had more naked patients than clothed ones. Keeping patients clothed was difficult if they were incontinent or when they displayed erratic behavior. But this time it seemed worse. He wasn’t just asleep or behaving dangerously. He was a human being who was lying naked in front of everyone coming in or near the room. She untied her apron and draped it over his lower body.
    “What are you doing?” Nurse Minton asked as she strode in. Christine looked up at the older nurse. Her hair was already coming out of her severe bun, as if she’d been working all day instead of only a few hours.
    “He deserves some dignity.” Christine turned to her superior.
    “Thank you, Nurse Freeman,” Ms. Phancock said. “You’re right.”
    Nurse Minton remained quiet.
    “Can we tell the state what’s happening here? Maybe they will find a way to get us the help we need.”
    “That sounds about as likely as a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.” Ms. Phancock sighed as she spoke. She patted Christine on the shoulder and told her that Gibson from the morgue would be there soon, then she left.
    The two nurses remained in the room, silently together for several pregnant moments.
    “Did you record Rodney’s insulin shock therapy today?” Nurse Minton finally broke the quiet.
    “Nurse Minton, we have a real tragedy here, and you want to talk about insulin treatment?”
    “We are nurses, Freeman. This is our job.” Her voice came out harshly, and even the old, jaded nurse seemed to realize it and cleared her throat. “I’ve been around long enough to know this is part of the job—though terrible, I understand. I also know that we have to keep the ward running regardless; otherwise another tragedy will be right around the corner.”
    Christine nodded. Minton was right. She turned toward the older nurse and stifled a loud sigh. “Yes, Rodney got his insulin treatment.”
    “Did his anxiety and aggressiveness subside? I was dealing with the other hall and haven’t checked on him yet.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Subsided was putting it mildly. Rodney had gone into a coma from the massive dose of insulin. He had lost all control several hours earlier when the doctor had come to see him about his outburst the night before. Like a frayed rope under too much strain, he snapped. “Tonic-clonic seizures continued for several minutes post therapy. He’s being observed for any aftershocks now.”
    “Fine.” Nurse Minton looked at Christine out of the bottoms of her eyes, with her chin up and nose in the air. The older nurse was no taller than the younger, but looked down at herin any way she could find. Tall women were typically placed on men’s wards with the expectation that they would be able to better handle the larger male patients.
    “Dr. Franklin has a standing order of barbital for him. If he wakes up agitated I will administer it. Dr. Franklin said to keep him in the restraints until he returns.” The use of the sleeping drug was a mainstay in the hospital.
    “I’ll leave you to deal with Gibson and the morgue; I’ll get back to the patients. We still have a full day.” The older nurse started walking out of the room.
    “Nurse Minton, don’t you wish there was more we could do? You’ve been here for years and I’m new, but I already feel so helpless.”
    “Adkins said you were idealistic.” The older nurse’s mouth curled into an unfriendly and