three
It's seven, announced Nurse Gwen. Where's Hilde?
I think she's in the bath house, said Samantha, who knew the real truth.
Nurse Gwen sent Samantha a scrutinizing look, then headed off. Samantha watched, then took off running down the hall and through another corridor to the air lock that led out to the garden. She opened the doors, waited for the ok, and ran out. Nina was apparently back in her room, while Hilde lay on the ground at the foot of the willow. Samantha laughed at the sight, then heard Midii snoring above her. In the second highest branch, Midii lay like a sleeping cat.
Wake up, Samantha shook Hilde's shoulders. Nurse Gwen is on the war path, get inside!
Samantha scooped Hilde up and threw her over her shoulder. Hilde's tiny build and lack of proper care had made her even less of a weight. Midii sneezed and fell from the limb, hitting the ground with a thump. Hilde lazily bobbed her head and let Samantha carry her to the air lock. She got her in, with Midii trailing in a laugh stupor. Hilde skidded to her own feet in the hall, rubbing her eyes. Her characteristic stoned facial expression fell over her features and Samantha pushed her back to the ward where their rooms were situated. Just as she shut the door to B2, Nurse Gwen was headed that way.
Did you find her?
Gwen shook her head.
Of course you didn't! Samantha beamed brighter than a spotlight. She's in her room.
Of for-- The nurse opened the door to find Hilde standing at the foot of her bed, head thrown back, staring at the ceiling with her mouth open.
she garbled.
Hilde made a snorting sound and turned around ever so slowly. Gwen held up a clip board and scribbled something down. Come on, it's time to eat breakfast.
I don't want anything, Hilde began crawling into bed, dragging her covers over her legs from where they lay in a twisted mess. I want to sleep.
Gwen grabbed the tail end of the covers, causing Hilde's saddened face to peer back at her, pleading. No, it was your choice to stay in the garden, Gwen yanked on the covers. Now it's time to get in sync with the rest of the Sweetwater patients. Get up.
But I don' want to.
Samantha watched from the door, her thumbnail in her mouth.
Hilde repeated, as Gwen took her arms. No, I just want to sleep.
You need to eat, Gwen told her. You're too skinny and you're not healthy. Just come on.
Why do we have to go to the cafeteria? Can't we eat in the rec. room?
Today they have cooked food. You have to eat in there if you want to eat at all. Which you are!
Successfully taking Hilde from her room, on her feet, Gwen led her to the cafeteria with Samantha and Midii falling step to the rhythm behind. Hilde pouted and resumed her monotonous look, melancholy and unhappy to be forced out of the comfortable niche of her bed. When they broke through the swinging doors of the cafeteria, all twenty three of the patients were sitting at their tables. Robin was sitting at a table with two over-possessive girls who would burst into an all out slap fest every other hour.
Hilde walked through the line, taking a slice of jellied toast and orange juice. Samantha snagged the last tiny box of cereal and clutched it to her chest. Midii, on the other hand, got a bowl of grits, gravy, and two buttermilk biscuits. They all filed through the remaining line and found an empty table. Krista threw an orange at Delilah across the room.
You bitch!
That's what you get for taking the last banana!
Delilah lifted up the banana, half eaten, and laughed. You want a banana, I'll give you a banana! She flipped Krista off above the heads of the other Sweetwater head cases.
Krista climbed on top of her table and tossed her tray to the floor. You want some, you Saigon whore?
Delilah, who wasn't Korean at all, stomped on the surface of her own table in her favorite combat boots and fatigue pants. Maybe I do, you dirty slut!
Carlene giggled and took a snappy bite out of a granny smith apple. Heh heh. Fight.
They climbed over table tops and around dodging heads until they met on a long, rectangular one. They snarled and hissed, spit and cursed until Delilah grabbed Krista's throat and Krista poked Delilah in the eye. There was a bit of thrashing and their own good-natured goosing until Nurse Beverly came and broke them up.
They ended up sitting at opposite sides of the cafeteria, monitored by a lunch lady closely. Hilde nibbled on her breakfast, while Midii snarfed her grits and Samantha carefully opened her box and the wax paper bag to pour in her carton of milk.
Those two are something else, Midii laughed, finishing her grits and washing it down with orange juice. Eat up, Hilde. I'm sure you'll want to be able to stand up without falling over when you see your guest today.
Hilde gasped, dropping her toast. I have a guest? Where did you hear that?
I heard the nurses talking about it in the lunch line after you walked out.
Hilde put her hands on the edge of the table, tipped forward. Do you think it's Duo? Will it be him? Oh God I hope it is. It has to be.
She held her hands up. Don't get your hopes up.
All rightey, Midii cracked her knuckles, walking out of the cafeteria. Time for a bath.
Hilde nodded, her eyes shining a bit more than usual.
Iris tagged along, not coming too close, rubbing her hands with a disinfectant pad. I agree.
Most of the other girls came along as well.
I'm gonna have a bubble bath, Molly cried out. Mr. Shissle needs a bath too. But I just can't find him.
Samantha kept watching Molly as they neared the bath house. Her eyes narrowed and Molly grinned. Oh lord, it's Molletto, she's back.
seethed Molly, walking with a sway now. Molletto was never gone.
Third person, Midii chuckled. Sassy, and full of fire.
Hilde made a strange face and took her basket of hygienic accessories. Her lime and lemon shampoo. The mango melon glycerin soap. Facial wash. All of the other little things girls needed for a shower, like loofas and sponges; lotion and dental care items. Midii's basket was extensive, second only to Iris, who was the cleanest of them all. Hilde was right behind Midii, while Molly and Samantha had a thing for children's shampoos scented like bubble gum or fruit, with bubble bath and their pink, glittery toothpaste and brightly colored tooth brushes.
What is this, Molly looked at her basket. Molletto does not use...fantastic fruity burst shampoo! Molletto uses sensual rose!
Delilah laughed hard, a bit of oatmeal in her hair. Krista knocked her on the shoulder and smiled. Of course there were never any hard feelings between them after a brawl. I have some crazy citrus combustion shampoo!
I like the blueberry blitz and sweet strawberry smoothie.
Hilde went into her own stall and set her basket on the rack, tugging off her sweater.
Carly stormed in, singing. How sweet it is to be loved by you! I needed the shelter of someone's arms, there you were. I--
screamed Krista, in her own stall, her head over the top due to her clawing at it. I'm in here!
Carlene jumped, and toed the floor. But I wanna sing.
I'll be real quick, she said in an angry, clipped tone. Then you can sing.
I think I'm gonna be sick, Delilah held her stomach. Molletto's ranting about hygiene again.
Hilde and Midii, as well as the others that had accompanied them, rushed out of the bath house in robes, carrying along their dirty clothes to be dropped in their bins.
I have a visitor, Hilde told herself when she reached B2. A visitor.
She went inside and locked the door, throwing her sweater and jeans into her laundry hamper. With a hasty run through her closet, she picked out a t-shirt with the Krispy Kreme logo on it and a pair of shorts. Standing in front of the mirror, she examined her face. A few worry lines here and there, deep shadows beneath her eyes. Had it really been so long since the last time she saw herself?
God, Hilde, she said to herself. You look horrible.
She took off the robe and put on a fresh pair of underwear and a bra, padding to her bed where she'd left her clothes. The shirt went on first, over her damp head, and then the shorts. Again in the mirror, she looked sickly and thin. Not healthy at all. Nurse Gwen was right. Hilde tucked the shirt in and buttoned the shorts, noticing how loose they were. There weren't any belts in Sweetwater, so she'd just have to sag a little.
someone knocked at the door.
Who is it?
Hilde opened the door and backed away, retrieving a pair of socks and tennis shoes. How is this?
Since when do you care, hm? Midii sat down at the desk.
Since now, she turned to her side, checking her image in the mirror again. Since I have a visitor.
Midii ran her hands through her wet hair, now wearing a button-up flannel shirt and baggy jeans. He's here already, you know. They're talking to him in administration.
Hilde lost focus on herself. How do you know all of this?
So I have good connections with Nurse Polly.
...to be continued...