Game Day at the VA

by April Dancer

"Chuck!" Murdock hollered at his fellow VA inmate/patient "You're not s'pose ta tackle the other team. We're playin' volleyball not football. Larry let go of him!" Murdock ran over to break the headlock Larry had on another player" Pulling his cap off and running his fingers through his hair "Come on guys your gon' get us disqualified"

Beside him Mort was nervously checking over his shoulder for orderlies "Umm guys…guys…umm I think maybe we need to get out of here." He tugged anxiously at Murdock's jacket. "Think I heard Bruno. . ."

Murdock pulled Larry's arms loose. "Don't worry 'bout Bruno, he's over oglin' the nurses in the orthopedic wing. They have a pool an' water therapy"

Mort let out a relieved sigh. Ever since the "Great Jello Raid" and Bruno, green and screaming threats, being dragged down the hall he had been wary of being anywhere near the orderly.

Ignoring him Chuck looked up from the sand where he was sitting on an opposing player's chest. "How else do I get the ball?"

"Well you're not s'posed ta tackle 'em" was Murdock's exasperated reply "Volleyball is a non contact sport"

Larry watched his opponent scurry off and turned to Murdock. "Then how do ya score?"

"By hitting the ball over the net" Murdock tried to explain patiently "if your team is serving the ball and the other team misses ya get a point."

"Just one point?"

"Yeah just one point"

"That's a lot of work for just one point" Chuck was still sitting on the sand.

"How many points do ya gotta get to win" Larry asked

"Twenty-one"

"Twenty-one!"

"But that'll take all day"

"We'll miss dessert and today is jello day" Mort pointed out. After his initial outburst he'd been quite content to let Murdock sort out the others.

Murdock bowed his head, chin touching his chest. "Well what game do ya wanna play?"

A chorus of "I dunnos" met his ears.

"Archery?"

"Darts?"

"Guys you know they aren't gon' let us have pointy things. We don' even get real knives and forks" His gaze went across the basketball court where two other patients were trying and failing at a game of horse.

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Ok Larry you stand there. Murdock pointed to a patch of earth to the right of the tall pole. "And Mort you…."

No…umm. No…that's ok...I'll keep watch.

"Ok fine." He'd have to work on Mort's new anxiety issues later. "Chuck you stand here."

"Now this game is called tetherball." Murdock clapped his hands together "You're s'posed ta hit the ball an' be the first one ta make it wrap all the way 'round the pole. You hit it this way." He gestured to the left. "And Chuck you hit it that way"

"That's all we have to do?"

"Yup"

"Well what kind of game is that?"

"The kind that's gon' keep us outta straight jackets" He picked the ball up again. "I'll jus' toss it into the air and ya'll start tryin' ta hit it.

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"I hope they got the number of the truck that hit me" Murdock mumbled blinking hard against the glare of the exam room light.

"Oh Mr. Murdock you're awake." The nurse patted at his forehead with a cool towel.

"Wha' happened?"

"You were hit in the head by a tetherball."

"I was?"

"Oh yes. The orderlies had to unwrap you from the pole..."

Murdock batted his baby browns, placing his hand over hers "Stay with me." Maybe this wasn't such a bad way to end the day

"Oh I'm so sorry Mr. Murdock but I can't this time. I have other patients waiting for me to check on them," She crossed the room opening the door "but there's no need to worry we found someone special to come sit with you."

"You can come in now"

"OK who's the nut I have to. . . .?No. No. No. Not. Him."

"Sorry Bruno you drew the short straw." She started out the door "Besides the last time I watched him he thought he was a cat and treed himself. We had to call the fire department to get him down."

"But…but…but…I wound up green." Bruno sounded like he was going to hyperventilate

"Sorry Bruno."

Laying back on the exam room bed Murdock closed his eyes. All in All it hadn't been a bad Game Day. Sure he'd wound up with a concussion but he'd had a pretty nurse's undivided attention for a few minutes and now the chance to torment his favorite orderly. Not bad work if you can get it. Opening his eyes he looked straight at Bruno and smiled "Meeeeow."

~~fini~~