When Ruth awoke the room was dark, save for a light on the other side. She moved around a bit a slight moan escaping her. How long did she sleep? How late was it? Late enough that she was a bit hungry. She sat up and blinked, rubbing her eyes.
"Well look who's finally awake. We all thought you would come down to dinner, so that we could meet you and welcome you." A perky voice said from the other side of the room.
"Dinner? I'm still a bit groggy." Ruth replied.
"Obliviously." The voice twittered. "We did save you some. I brought it up and placed it over there. I'm Nurse Franklin, by the way. Everyone calls me Trixie." Trixie sat reading a magazine on her bed.
"Thank you Trixie." Ruth got out of bed. "Hang on a second." She promptly left the room. When she came back she picked up the meal, sitting down to eat it on her bed.
"Just to warn you. I'm on call tonight. So there might be moving around late. It's the hazards of the job. Hazards of sharing a bedroom with a nurse." Trixie smiled.
"That's perfectly fine." Ruth said over a bit of food. "It seems I'm still on American time. It's early afternoon where I come from."
"California?"
"Yes California."
"I've always wanted to see California. Movie stars, beaches, sun! It all sounds like so much fun."
"Actually I'm from a suburb out of San Francisco, so we don't get many movie stars. Although I have been to Los Angeles. However the beaches are spectacular. It's a good place to go and stare at the scenery and the men do make quite the thing to look on." Ruth giggled and Trixie joined her.
While Ruth ate her supper the two women talked. Ruth learned a bit about the other nurses, and about life in Poplar. Trixie learned more about life in California. Their giggling soon lead Valerie into the room. The three becoming fast friends.
Ruth liked these woman and was glad to have made friends so fast. It could be hard for her, but thrown together as these women were helped things along. Ruth asked what the women did for fun. Their reply was "Ride bikes and deliver babies." All three laughed again. Trixie performed a modeling show for the other two. All too soon it was time for Valerie to leave and go back to her own bedroom. She would be taking the late shift. Ruth wasn't tired yet, but new that she must at least try to keep some hours, or it would take her longer to settle into the time change and Trixie would be allowed to dose if no one needed her.
The sun shone bright the next morning. Everyone getting ready and sauntering down to the kitchen for breakfast. All except the nuns who had been up early for contemplation and prayer.
"So what are you up to today?" Trixie had asked of Ruth.
"um. Not sure, I want be jumping in right away to teach. I'd like to get to know the day schedules and moms before jumping right in. But I expect Sister. Juliene will inform me of my duties."
"With that gumption we should train you to be a midwife!" The two women shared a smile and as if on cue Sister Juilene appeared in the kitchen.
"Good morning ladies." Sister Juilene's voice lilted.
"Good morning Sister Juliene." As if on cue both women had been in perfect unison.
"I see you two have got to know each other. Good." She smiled at them. "I also heard you ladies last night. I do hope that won't be a nightly occurrence. "
Both of their faces revealed a mischievousness to them. "Not at all Sister." Replied Trixie "We will be as quiet as church mice."
"Now as for you Miss. Talbot."
"Ruth, please." Ruth interrupted.
"Ruth. I'd like you to follow the nurses to clinic today. You can get a feel for things. Also it wouldn't hurt to join them in their morning assignments. There is a bicycle all ready for you. You do know how to ride don't you?"
"Yes. " She would have said more expect that the Nun had looked about ready to continue.
"Good. Now morning assignments start promptly. You should get going." Sister Juliene left the kitchen.
"Are you coming today?" Ruth asked Trixie
"No. Being on call for the late shift means I get today off. Have a good day. We can talk about it all later. It's through there. First door." Trixie pointed and Ruth was soon leaving the room.
When she reached the room all the nurses were assembled and already in the process of taking assignments.
"Ah good here she is our new recruit. Miss."
"Talbot. Ruth Talbot. Please everyone why don't you call me Ruth." Valerie motioned her over.
"American? They didn't say anything to me about you being an American. I guess it was time to call in Yanks. Although we could have handled to situation on our own."
"Nurse Crane has this thing against Americans and bringing you lot in." Valerie whispered with a smile.
"Yes thank you Valerie. That will be quite enough of that. I am your commander as it were." Valerie did a mock solute which made both Ruth and herself crack up. Nurse Crane let out a breath making it quite clear they were both treading on very thin ice. "Since this is your first day, we will show you around. You are to do a nursery class twice a week during clinic for mothers and baby." Ruth nodded. "As well as the odd jobs around here, answering telephones and such."
Nurse Crane finished giving assignments for the day with an "off you pop" at the end. Nurses and Nuns went in every direction. Valerie showed Ruth the way to clinic.
Standing there, in the middle of getting clinic ready Ruth prayed for strength. This was her first day and she would make the most of it.