Page 14 - Contrast1958Winterv3n1

With clenched fists and pursed lips, she retorted in a low voice:
"Dr. Wilson, you put me on this case so as to keep me here. You

wanted me to come to children's ward and now you've got me here.
Well, I'm not going to stay. I want to leave here and I'm going to.
Not even you can keep me against my will!"

Dr. Wilson's strong arm grabbed her. Immediately she regretted
what she had said.

"Not so fast, young lady. It so happens we are short of qualified
nurses right now and you're going to stay right here. A life will be
placed in your hands; are you going to accept the responsibility or
not?" There was a long pause.

"I'll take it," she answered weakly and turned quickly so that
the doctor would not see the tears which were now trickling down
her cheeks.

Three weeks had passed. Julie stood gazing out of the window
in room 310. There was snow on the ground and a few flurries filled
the air. Inside, the atmosphere was different. A still, white form lay
on the bed swathed in bandages. No movement was visible; yet there
was an aura of life in the figure. A low sigh caused Julie to turn
from the window and go back to the bed. She again felt Catherine's
pulse and finding it normal, seated herself in the big chair directly
across from the bed.

. . . Here I am, even two weeks after my intended discharge date
.:.. how could I ever leave Catherine, though? ... she's so good ...
now that she's over the hump, maybe they'll stop this twenty-four
hour duty ... how I'll miss her!

There was a light knock at the door; Mrs. Staplin beckoned Julie
to step out the door.

"Julie, I promised you we'd get a replacement and we now have
one. As of now, you may be discharged. I have the necessary papers
at the desk. If you'll come down when you're relieved, we can finish
the other matters that need clearing up."

"Oh, Mrs. Staplin, I thought you knew . . . I told Dr. Wilson
I'd stay until Catherine is sufficiently recovered to leave. You see,"
she continued bashfully, "we've become quite attached to each other."

"Why no," the supervisor answered surprisedly, "I didn't know
anything of the matter. If I'd known that, I could have redirected
the replacement. I guess now I'll assign her to the other children's
section. Don't get me wrong, though, I'm very pleased that you have
reconsidered!"

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