Matron tweaked her cap. The morning sun was streaming through the windows of her office. A neat and tidy uniform was a belief she drummed into each and every one of her nurses. Mostly they followed suit. She sipped a little water. The power of the sun was aggravating her headache, so she drew the blinds. A morning person, she felt immediately guilty for shutting out the first one to greet her of a morning. But there was no time to ponder her decision. She had precisely three minutes until her shift started and lateness was one of her pet hates.
Leaving her office, she was met with the night shift nurses leaving to get some rest. "Nurse Stevens, you may have finished you shift, but it is not acceptable to galavant about the hospital with BOTH of your top buttons undone. If you wish to dress that way, you may do so, but outside of this hospital!"
"Yes, Matron. Sorry, Matron."
Entering Milner Ward, she spotted Sister Brigid hard at work immediately in front of her. "Morning Sister."
"Oh good morning, Matron. How are you today?"
"I'm not so bad thank you, Sister. How's Mr Hopper's leg coming along?"
"He's doing very well, Matron. He's eaten all his breakfast and regaining some movement in his leg."
"Very good." Matron put her hand to her head. This headache of hers was worse than Mr Rose's singing.
"Good morning! How's my handiwork today? Or should I say legwork?" He grinned at his own joke.
Matron inwardly groaned.
Sister Brigid didn't. "You're very early today Mr Rose? Up with the larks, I see."
"I have a very important golf tournament this afternoon and I wish to get through my list as quickly as possible so I have time to prepare. If we have any emergencies, tell them to wait."
"I wouldn't like to guess what they might say if I told them that." Sister Brigid blushed, a few words coming to mind.
Matron, who secretly couldn't stand Mr Rose at the best of times, chose to move onto the other patients on her ward. Patients attended to, escaping Mr Rose was now her ambition and Fawcett Ward was her finishing line. Unfortunately, between her and it was a guilty looking Ken and Alun. "And what have you two been up to now?" she sighed.
"Well, you see, Matron..."
"On second thoughts, Ken, I'd rather not know."
"Oh, very well Matron." He nodded and moved aside for her. "Alun!" He indicated Alun should move out of Matron's way.
"Sorry, Matron."
"Go and do what you're paid to do, please."
"Yes, sorry Matron."
