Silvy
Another long night at work. I should be used to it after doing it for so many years but tonight is dragging and I’m exhausted. Not to mention my feet and back are killing me. I can hear my bathtub calling me from here. I am fantasizing about a bubble bath, a bag of cereal and a cup of chamomile tea. My fantasies used to be about shirtless sweaty men with six-pack abs and tattoos. Okay, mainly Goof. And still do sometimes when I can’t have the real thing. Now at six months pregnant it is bubble baths. I expect I will have sexy men's fantasies again. Just not tonight.
The shift is normal so far. Well normal for the emergency room. We had a few cases of food poisoning. One broken arm from falling off a ladder. A kid with an allergic reaction to a bee sting. Not a major reaction thank the heavens, just a bad rash and a welt around the sting site. Poor guy had never been bitten before so his parents didn’t know. I just finished stitching up my patient. Yes, I do that. This leaves the doctors open for more serious cases.
Anyway, I will be glad when I can get this guy out of here. He gives me the creeps. In my gut, I feel he is on something. What? I don’t know. He has been jittery since he came in. Constantly bouncing on the bed and looking around. Scratching at sores on his arms. He said he cut his hand trying to cut a chicken but I’m not buying it. Even if he washed his hands I should have found something in his cut but I didn’t. And the cut was too perfect to be an accident so it leads me to believe he is drug seeking.
I can’t say anything. I just have to do my job and sent him on his way. I wrap his hand and tell him to sit tight while I get his discharge papers. Megan is flirting with one of the interns when I get back to the desk. Great. When I sit down to type out my patient's instructions and prescriptions Megan asks “ That the last patient?” “ Yea,” I told her. “ Good, I’m going to take my break,” she said. Megan doesn’t wait for my answer just walks off. The intern is on her heels. Fucking great. Her idea of a break is having a quickie in the storage room. How do I know she is in the storage room? That is her favorite place to hook up. I have walked in there a few times to get something to find a used condom on the floor.
I made the mistake of walking in on her once and saw her giving one of the lab techs a blow job. Now I listen at the door before I open it and yell when I do. I grab the papers I need off the printer, open the curtain, and go to my patient. “ Alright Mr. Kendall, I have your care instructions for your stitches. I also have a prescription for an antibiotic for you.” I told him as I handed him a pen to sign. “ What about pain meds?” he asked as he signed the last paper. He was officially not my problem. I just needed to get him out the door. “ You can take ibuprofen for pain and swelling,” I said.
Mr. Kendall gets up off the bed yelling “ This is bullshit. I’m in pain. Ibuprofen ain’t gonna cut it. I need something stronger.” I knew it. “ I’m afraid I can’t give you anything stronger,” I say calmly. Even though on the inside I’m shaking. Things like this can turn bad quickly. “ Then get that sorry-ass doctor back in here to give me something,” he screams. “ I’m sorry but the doctor is unavailable right now. If you have any issues you can call your doctor in the morning or come back in the morning.” I said. And then he will be someone else problem. I hope security hears him yelling and gets their asses in here.
“ I want to see the doctor now. Move your fat ass and get him. Now.” he shouts. He is so pissed he shoves the bed. The wheels are locked but it does skid a few inches. “ I have already said he is busy,” I said making sure to keep my tone even. Mr. Kendall shouts again “ You listen to me bitch I want some painkillers and you get the doctor to give them to me. I don’t care how you do it.” The noise caught the attention of my favorite security guard, Bull. Bull is a huge black man that has to turn sideways and duck to get through most single doorways. He is that wide and six foot three. He played college football before an injury took him out. He looks scary as hell and you don’t want to piss him off.
Well, he looks scary to anyone who messes with his nurses. He looks after all of us. To us, he is a teddy bear. If he wasn’t happily married to his husband Myron I would have loved to have dated him. He is now standing beside me looking at the skinny five-foot-ten Mr. Kendall. “ Is there a problem here?” Bull asks in his deep baritone voice. Mr. Kendall has suddenly calmed down and looks like he is going to piss himself. “ No, no sir.” Mr. Kendall stammers. Not so brave now are you? Inside I’m laughing. “ Looks like you have your discharge papers. Would you like me to help you out?” Bull asks.
Kendall picks up his papers and says “ No. I’m good. I was just leaving.” He damn near runs out the door. Bull puts his hand on my shoulder “ Come on momma. You need to get off your feet.” He escorts me back to the desk and helps me sit down. “ Where’s Megan?” Bull asks. He knows I shouldn’t be left alone. “ One guess,” I said. Bull says nothing and just sits down beside me. “ How much longer have you got?” Bull asks. “ One hour,” I said. And it can’t get done fast enough. I have dealt with assholes like him before but today it rattled me.
Usually, I would call my dad when that happens but today I want to go to Goof. “ Sit until you have to get up.” Bull said. I had already planned on it. “ I’m going to make a quick call,” I said and pulled out my phone. I flip through my recent calls and find who I’m looking for the second one down. I hit the button and it ringers twice before he picks up. “ Babe, what’s wrong?” he asks. “ Goof are you busy tonight?” I asked.
“ I’m just hanging out with my brothers at the club for a little bit,” he said. I can hear music and laugh in the background. “ Can I come to you? I need.” I stop because I don’t know what else to say. I’m not sure how to explain why I called him and feel the need to see him. “ You got an hour left. I can come to get you and we can go to your place.” Goof said not asking me to explain. He is there for me. As always. And of course, he knows my work schedule.“ No, it is fine. I’ll come to you. If you are sure I’m not bothering you.” I said. “ You are never bothering me. I’ll be at the bar waiting for you with some Sprite and orange juice,” he said. I want to laugh at him having my newest craving ready for me.
“ You sure?” I asked. I just had to make sure. “ I’ll see you soon. Are you sure you are alright? A little bit?” he asks. “ Yea, Goof. We are fine. Just a rough night. I’ll explain when I get there.” I said. “ Okay, babe. Be careful. Drive safe. I’m waiting.” Goof said. “ See you soon.” “ Boyfriend?” Bull asks. “ No. He’s.” I stop because I’m not sure what to call me and Goof anymore. “It's complicated,” I said. Bull nods “ If you ever need an ear I have been told I have two good ones. Or at least Myron says I do.” I laugh when I think of Myron. He is five foot six, skinny as a twig with bright pink shoulder-length hair and make-up. He wears skin-tight, pastel clothes. He is so adorable I want to squeeze him. And the exact opposite of Bull.
They are so cute together. And so much in love. You can see it on their faces. I strive to have that one day. Maybe. Hopefully. When my shift ends Bull walks me to my car to make sure I am safe. I pull out of the parking lot and make the twenty-minute drive to the clubhouse. I hate to admit two things. I’m looking forward to seeing Goof and I’m still rattled. And I don’t like it. The rattled I mean. There is a part of me that is hoping that being around Goof will help. If nothing else the man makes me feel safe. And there is no safer place I know than the clubhouse.