Chapter 5

"So, where you from, Mary?" Patty asked as they got ready for bed that night.

"I'm from Paris. Both of my parents were French. My last name means 'star' in French." Tabitha smiled.

"So your parents.... They're still in France?" Glenda intruded.

Tabitha's smile faded. She clutched her pillow tightly. "They're dead."

"Oh, -" Glenda replied, her eyes failing miserably to show sympathy.


"We are very sorry," Martha frowned, taking a seat on Tabitha's bed.

"Oh, It's all right." She was keen on changing the subject about her past. Her mind lingered to the whole hospital matter. It wouldn't take very much sense for someone to figure out that she was not a registered nurse. "Who's in authority over the hospital?"

"There's Mother Eliza and Senora Mariela, who is in charge of keeping order amongst the nurses. Why?"

Tabitha rung her fingers nervously, "Well, I was needing to speak to them about something."

Martha and Patty nodded and resumed getting ready for bed. They assumed that the conversation was in no need of pursuit. But of course, Glenda could always be counted on, "Why do you need to speak to them?"

"Nothing really, just a matter about my employment here."

Glenda rolled her eyes, obviously becoming more and more annoyed, "Well, haven't you heard? Mother Eliza is away on a business matter and Senora Mariela has been sick in bed for the past two days. I thought that everyone knew that."

"Well, apparently not, Glenda," Patty said, sending her a severe look. "So do you gotta guy?"

"Er, no," Tabitha replied, suddenly becoming extremely interested in the hem of her lace nightdress. If only they had know what she had been going through for the past few weeks. "How about you?" she smiled, once again hoping to withdraw the attention from herself.

"Oh, no, but Glenda's got..." she paused, beating her eyelashes in interpretation, "Johnny." Martha toppled off the bed in a fit of giggles. "She's got a whole photo album of pictures with just him and her," Patty giggled, shoving a large navy blue book into Tabitha's arms. She toppled over under the sudden amount of weight. But just as she climbed back on the bed and flipped through the first few pages Glenda grabbed it away. She hadn't seen her look quite that mad all day.

"Martha placed a hand in front of her mouth to hide her grin. "She's very stingy about her guy," she whispered.

"You know, I'd never met any Americans before you," Tabitha grinned.

"So that explains the strange looks you gave us in the lounge earlier."

Tabitha blushed pink. "Oh, I am sorry."

"No need to apologize. We've gotten many more odd looks than that. With my Joisey accent and Martha's Brooklyn we sound like quite a group. It's funny dat it's all quite normal at home."

"Where are you from, Glenda?" Tabitha asked.

"Minnesota," she groaned, placing the pillow gruffly over her head. Can't a girl get some sleep around here."

"Well, G'night pals," Martha whispered, from her bunk.

"Goodnight."

Tabitha smiled to herself as she stared up to the bunk above her. It quivered as Patty wrestled to get comfortable. She was surprised at how quickly she had made friends here in this new place. But she couldn't help, but think that Glenda had some sort of grudge against her. She had not taken her arrival very happily. It was no bother to Tabitha. The fewer friends she made, the less she would have to say goodbye to when she left at the end of the week. It was just her luck that both of the head mistresses were available upon her arrival. They would have taken her straight to the authorities the moment they found out that she was a 14 year old runaway.