The Broken Watch
Copyright© 2015 by Old Man with a Pen
Chapter 3
"My head aches," she said.
The bed on the other side of the dividing curtain rattled.
"Let me call the nurse," I said.
"Who are you?" she asked, "And why are you in my room?"
"Well, according to the hospital ... I'm your brother..."
"I'm an only child."
The way she said that made me shiver. It was, like ... brother ... HAH! I have no use for one of those.
"The Child Protective Services says I'm your Dad..." I said.
"What?" she screeched.
"We have the same last name," as if that explained bureaucracy.
"But you're not?"
"If I were your dad, you would have some manners..."
"I have manners..."
"You couldn't prove it by me," I said. "You act like a spoiled princess."
That conversation? Been going on for a week. Wendy wakes up in a new world everyday. If she naps ... it's a new world twice. Personally? I'd prefer she had Alzheimer's ... it would be easier.
"Let me ring the nurse," I said.
Ring ... actually ... when I pushed the button, a light flashed over the door to our room and a buzzer sounded at the nurses station. Nurses don't nurse ... no ... Nurses fill out paperwork. Nurses aides answer the buzzer.
Usually, they are constantly on their feet fetching water, ice, coke, pencils, paper for inconsiderate old men and crotchety old ladies who are used to being waited on hand and foot.
Wendy wanted something for her constant headache ... but the Aide can't issue it, nor can she even carry it ... that has to be done by the MED Nurse. And that takes awhile ... and paperwork.
Aspirin, either by itself or in a combined formulation, effectively treats primary headaches. Those are the tension headache(the most common), the migraine, and the cluster, but its effectiveness may be questionable for others.
Secondary headaches, meaning those caused by another disorder or trauma, should be promptly treated by a medical provider. Wendy was one of those.
The Aide skidded to a stop just inside the door. She always did.
"Headache?" she thrust her chin at the curtain.
"Yup," I agreed. "Me, too."
"I'll get the MED nurse." and she was off like a shot.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.