Just a short update here! Usually, I would try to avoid doing a chapter that is almost entirely speech, but I did like the idea of having a small segment of the story dedicated to the younger nurses during their time off duty. Thank you ever so much for the amazing reviews, it means the world! And also, to anybody else facing the last few weeks of exams, best of luck!
Barbara could hear chatter and giggling from down the corridor, and so knocked gently on the door of Trixie and Patsy's shared room.
"Trix? Patsy? Is it alright if I come in?"
Trixie opened the door herself and gave her brunette friend a dazzling, if slightly sheepish smile.
"Hallo Babs," she grinned, "Are we in very awful trouble downstairs?"
Barbara made her way inside and perched herself on the end Trixie's bed. Patsy and Delia were sat cross-legged on the other bed next to her. Neither looked quite as chipper as Trixie, but seemed fairly happy nonetheless.
"No," she shook her head, "In fact, I think Sister Julienne found it all rather amusing. And she can hardly reprimand you very seriously, especially not considering the fact that less than forty seconds after you marched out, Nurse Crane followed you on too!"
Trixie gave a squeal.
"You're not serious!"
"Deadly! She got up and walked out, just like you!"
"Oh, God, how I wish I had seen that! I bet Sister Winifred had a face like a slapped arse!"
"Trixie!" Patsy said reproachfully.
"Oh, cheer up, Pats! It was brilliant!"
"It was!" Barbara nodded enthusiastically, "But Sister Julienne does want to see the three of you in her office later this evening,"
Trixie looked up in surprise and Delia gave a groan and put her head in her hands.
"I thought you said that we weren't in trouble?!"
"You're not. I think she just wants to ask you not to partake in such lively debate when everybody is eating,"
"I should have listened to you, Trixie," Delia sighed remorsefully, "I'd already lost my temper once that evening, and then I went on to do it again, despite you asking me not to!"
Trixie shoved her playfully.
"Oh, sod that! You gave her the dressing down that she deserved. She's always getting so awfully high and mighty about silly things. It's about time that somebody put her in her place,"
"I didn't want to upset her,"
"She'll have forgotten it by the morning, mark my words,"
Barbara chuckled to herself and the three other nurses stared over at her.
"What's so amusing then, Nurse Gilbert?"
"I don't think Sister Winifred will forget it… Sister Monica Joan…" she dissolved into a fit of giggles and clutched the mattress to try and get the words out, "… Sister Monica Joan called her a fool in front of everybody,"
"You're pulling my leg!"
"Am not!" Barbara retorted indignantly, "Ask anybody who was there!"
Trixie flopped back onto her bed and gave a howl of laughter.
"She may drive me mad sometimes, but I do love Sister Monica Joan,"
Patsy checked her wristwatch and gave a sharp intake of breath through her teeth.
"Damn," she muttered, "We'd better go down and see Sister Julienne,"
Barbara leapt up and went for the door.
"I'll tell her that you're on your way,"
"Cheers, Babs," Trixie thanked her before turning around, "Listen, you two. You haven't got a thing to worry about. You heard what Barbara just said; you've got a great many friends here who have got your back. Discard those guilty consciences and relax; you're in safe hands,"
Trixie seemed so confident that Patsy's nervousness felt instantly lessened. She was so very glad that they had resolved the argument that they had had last night, and that Trixie Franklin was now firmly back in her corner.