The Case Of The Not-So-Nice Nurse. Mabel Maney

Чтение книги онлайн.

      The distinctive creak of rubber-soled shoes outside her door woke Cherry from a deep slumber. Being careful not to disturb her roommate, Nurse Cassie Case, Cherry slipped out of bed, donned her pink-flowered chenille robe and fuzzy slippers, and quietly opened her door.

      “I must have been dreaming,” she thought when she peeked out and discovered no one in the hallway. “That, or I’m a little jumpy after the events of last night! I may as well get an early start on my trip,” she reasoned, but when she saw the soft glowing dial of her electric alarm clock, she changed her mind.

      “Three in the morning and I’m thinking of getting up?” she yawned, jumping back into bed and snuggling under the warm covers.

      She slept in fits and starts the rest of the night. Once she thought she heard someone jiggling her doorknob, but decided she was imagining things. Eventually she resumed her slumber, and when she awoke, Nurse Case was gone. On her neatly-made bed was a note for Cherry:

       I didn’t want to wake you because you’ll need all your rest for the trip ahead. Have a gay time in San Francisco!

      Cherry hopped out of bed, gave her face a good scrubbing in the little corner sink and put on the travel outfit she had selected before going to bed, a cornflower-blue madras skirt, simple white cotton blouse and comfortable flats.

      “It’s just the ticket for a comfy car trip,” she declared, surveying herself in the full-length mirror. She double-checked the contents of her stylish white leather suitcase and matching cosmetics bag before latching them securely. Cherry wasn’t sure what the styles were in San Francisco, so she had packed a wide variety of outfits, from play clothes to formal wear. She put Nurse Marstad’s package in her purse and left her room.

      After a delicious breakfast of soft-boiled eggs, melba toast and fruit cup in the hospital cafeteria, Cherry had two stops to make. The first was the payroll office, to receive her vacation pay. There was an envelope attached to her pay packet, addressed to her in Nurse Marstad’s unmistakable handwriting. Inside was a map of Oregon, a crisp ten-dollar bill, and a note.

      Cherry, I really appreciate this—you are a lifesaver! Use the money for gasoline and a treat. I’ve marked the map so you know where you’re going.

      Have a good time—that’s an order.

       Peg Marstad

      Cherry remembered that Nurse Marstad’s lavender handkerchief lay crumpled in the pocket of last night’s uniform, which she had thrown hastily into her suitcase. Her friends laughed when she packed her uniforms for a vacation trip, but Cherry knew that a nurse could be called into action at any time, and she wanted to be appropriately attired if such an occasion should arise.

      Besides, she wanted to show off the uniform to her chums in Pleasantville.

      She had forgotten all about the handkerchief the night before during an impromptu party thrown together by her chums. Nurse Dina Darling, an Iowa farm girl with big brown eyes and a fetching smile, had filched some cheese and crackers from the cafeteria, and Nurse Polly Pluck, a tall brunette with an elfin grin and a dancer’s graceful body, had produced a bottle of sparkling apple cider. “For special occasions,” she said when she popped the cork. For these hard-working nurses, a vacation was a special occasion, indeed.

      Cherry resolved that she would wash and iron the handkerchief at her mother’s house and promptly mail it back to Nurse Marstad—or Peg, as she had begun calling her in her mind.

      Her next stop was Women’s Psychiatric to ask about Lana. Nurse Gerry George reported that Lana was still missing, but they were certain she would be found soon.

      “Now, don’t you worry about a thing,” said Nurse George as she escorted an anxious Cherry to the elevator. “Marstad said if you came around to send you on your way,” Nurse George laughed. “I guess she knows you pretty well, Cherry. First to volunteer and last to leave. You’d make a great army nurse! Now, get out of here and have some fun!” She gave Cherry a quick hug and playfully shoved her into the elevator.

      Cherry felt drawn to the handsome woman with her warm manner and soft brown eyes. Nurse George was someone she would certainly like to get to know better. “I’ll send her a postcard, too,” she decided.

      She walked briskly to the hospital garage where she stored her 1953 dark blue Buick. “It’s not a very glamorous car,” she thought, comparing it to the flashy red convertible with white leather seats parked in the next space.

      “But it’s sturdy and dependable, just like me.” She smiled at her reflection in the car window and patted her dancing black curls into place.

      She СКАЧАТЬ