Post by scubasteve on Oct 6, 2007 10:43:41 GMT -5
Hey guys, as promised here's a short story which I've been working on. Rather appropriate with Halloween coming up. Not related to Phantasm at all, but i hope you enjoy it. Again any feedback/criticisms very welcome.
“…he shall earn but a penny a day, because he can't work any faster.” Matron Kendal’s voice fell silent on the last line as the body she supported fell motionless into her arms. She took the child up and wrapped the blanket she carried around the body.
“That’s another the Lord has taken from us, Nurse Pearson.” She stood cradling the lifeless mass in her arms and turned to face her younger colleague. The Matron held her arms out, to her colleague. Nurse Pearson took the child from her arms.
“Nowt but a babe, this one Matron.” Nurse Pearson observed.
“Yes. I want those clothes removed and burnt and then replace them. After place the body in the Sanctuary.” Nurse Pearson emitted a quiet ‘Yes, Matron’ and hurried from the playroom.
The Matron looked at the sparse room and a chill came over her as it always did. The world always felt a little colder with one less child. She had always dedicated her life to them and they needed her, now more than ever. It had been very difficult to recruit nurses for hospitals for infectious diseases when they were needed to care for casualties of war and the victims of the German bombings. Most of the medications were sent overseas, leaving a shortage back home. Still, she did what she could to treat everyone and those she could not, all she could do was to ease their passing.
“Excuse me, Matron.” One of the orderlies interrupted her train of thought. “We’re running out of beds in this ward and we’re being sent some transfers from Rainhill.”
The Matron broke from her stare at the rocking horse and half turned her head. “Thank you, Frank. Will you be good enough to open two of the overspill wards across the garden? Then make sure that the patients are shown directly there after having been bathed.”
Frank nodded and left with his instructions for the afternoon. The middle-aged woman was soon left by herself again, reflecting on the room around her. Soon, this playroom would have to be cleared for beds if this epidemic were to continue. In any case, the porters should be called and have the few things remaining here moved to one of the scarlet fever wards to avoid transmission. Her stomach was in knots today and transfers coming in would not help. The advantages of working in a hospital though, there were free painkillers and plenty of places to lie down.
Matron was woken by two hard raps on her office door and an apologetic face popped its head around.
“Sorry to disturb you, Matron but there is a small problem.” Nurse Pearson uttered almost inaudibly.
“Go on.”
“Mrs. McIvor and some of the other ladies in ward 209 are complaining of the cold. I went to check on them. There’s a fire on in there, they’re all in their beds and it’s still freezing. I’ve checked their temperature and they’re all fine. I don’t know what’s causing it. Can you have a look as well please?”
Matron gathered herself up and straightened out her uniform. “Yes of course, my dear.”
Nurse Pearson looked the Matron’s pale complexion. “Are you alright, Matron?”
“I’m fine, just a slight stomach ache. It’s already easing off a little. Let’s go and see what these ladies are complaining about, they should already know that Lancashire is never a warm place.”
The two nurses entered the ward with a degree of scepticism, probably patients after a few more home comforts. However, as they came through, they could feel the chill. Matron Kendal looked at all of the windows to see if they were secured and intact. Everything was in order and as Nurse Pearson had mentioned, there was a fire blazing in the hearth.
“Has anything been done here since my rounds this morning, Nurse Pearson?”
“No, Matron. Well, the only difference is that the toys from the playroom have been stored here until we can find a better place.”
Matron Kendal shuffled over to Mrs. McIvor’s bed and examined her pallor.
“It’s freezin’ in ‘ere,” she blurted out suddenly. “Ever since them men came wi’ those things. I want ‘em out of ‘ere, summit not right about them. Where’ve they come from?”
“They’ve come from the children’s ward. We need the room for beds and so they will remain until we can re-home them,” the Matron informed.
“I say, there’s summit wrong wi’ ‘em. Wasn’t cold until they were brought in, we want them moved,” Mrs. McIvor said a little too loudly not to be making a point.
The Matron looked at the rest of the women and most of them had their heads down, pretending to mind their own business. The wards were run how she wanted them too, not on the whim of the patients. But it was cold here and the patients were huddling under their blankets.
“Alright then. I’ll have them removed, so now you’ll have nothing to complain about and I might get a bit of peace and quiet today. Nurse Pearson, please see that the toys are moved again to the children’s ward once all of the beds are in place.” As usual, a Yes, Matron followed and the two went their separate ways.
Lights out had finally come. The black out curtains were down and the wards were being locked down for the night. For the exhausted Matron, her peace had arrived. No women complaining of cold and her aches and pains were easing away. It was her night shift tonight and there was an empty room full of beds that she was looking forward to seeing. There were still a few more case notes which needed to be completed and this was the best time to complete them. In the distance, sounds of doors being locked and the footsteps of staff leaving for the night echoed down the halls. One pair was heading her way, Nurse Pearson no doubt coming to say her goodnights. Movement past her window drew the Matron’s eye from her notes, but only just in time to see a figure in nurse’s whites walk past. Strange for Nurse Pearson not to say goodnight, she pondered. Then, two polite raps on her door jerked her from her thoughts.
“Just popped in to say goodnight Matron,” Nurse Pearson half whispered.
“Try to be a little bit more obvious next time, Nurse. You’ll frighten me half to death like that.”
“Sorry, Matron. I do come by every shift, I thought you’d know it were me b’now.”
“Yes, of course. I thought I saw you leave a few moments ago. Who was the nurse who left before you?”
“No-one there but me, Matron. Are you alright?”
“Yes, just a little overtired and aching. It appears I’m seeing things as well now.” The Matron let a small smile slip. “Goodnight Nurse, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Nurse Pearson nodded and left her alone surrounded by paperwork. The Matron closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. Her mind flew back to the start of the day with the loss of another child. Her usual nursery rhyme started to play in her head.
See saw, Marjory Daw
Johnny shall have a new master
He will earn but a penny a day
Because he can’t work any faster.
A morbid rhyme, but these were dark times. The rhythm always sent them off to sleep or eased their last few hours. She would gladly rock them for days if it were asked of her. With tired eyes, the paperwork was given up and she retired to the empty ward opposite. The only light in the room was the candle which the Matron carried with her. The room was cold without any movement during the day. Armed with a couple of thick blankets, the Matron picked a bed in the very centre of the room and placed the candle on the cabinet. The light from the candle barely reached the edges of the room and it was as much light as was allowed during these times. She could see however that the toys had been replaced since her instructions. She took off her shoes and slid under the blankets. As she closed her eyes she could almost feel the babe in her arms from this morning, the light breathing pressing her flesh leaving an indelible mark. The Matron could not seem to put Marjory Daw from her mind, over and over until annoyance at herself came over her. Her eyes cracked open in the darkened room. The chill room and her over active mind were making her stomach cramp.
From the corridor there came a very quiet children’s laugh. A giggle almost, revealing some hidden untold deed. The Matron swung her legs from the bed and moved to peer into the corridor to see which child had escaped from their charge and put it straight back to their bed. Yet she could see nothing. She moved towards her object of comfort, the cramp in her stomach became a more acute, forcing her to hold onto a bed rail lest she fall. Knife edge pain forced her to gasp for air as she slapped to the floor.
“Somebody help me!” She yelled, as a solitary tear ran down her cheek. “HELP!” Her body forced in as much oxygen in as possible to compensate for the shock it was quickly being forced into. Through the blood throbbing in her ears came a small voice, “Johnny shall have a new master.”
The Matron peered into the darkness to find the source of the voice but could not see movement within. “Hello? Help me, I need a doctor!” She pleaded. Within the shadows, small legs scuffled about the floor. Then a second and third pair joined the first. “Whoever’s there, please get help,” the Matron squeezed out through increasing pain. The three pairs of legs moved slowly into the light the candled offered and it soon became clear that these belonged to children. The Matron could not understand why they did not run for help.
“Come here, children. I need you to fetch me an adult at once.”
She was only met by silence. The children moved closer to her immobile body then stopped within a few feet. All three then began to sing,
“See saw Marjory Daw,
Johnny shall have a new master,
he will earn but a penny a day,
because he can’t work any faster.”
“Why don’t you help?” The Matron shouted. “Get an adult!”
From the position the Matron was lying in, she could not see their faces, just six chubby knees motionless at her side. The rhyme was repeated over and over again to her and the children moved a step closer with every verse. The Matron sobbed onto the stone floors as her pleas remained unanswered. Finally the children were stood over her, surrounding her body. With agony racing through her stomach, she turned and thudded onto her back.
The white pallor of the three children standing above came into focus. Three faces of children past stared down at her. The Matron was about to continue her shouts for help when a cold finger was placed on her lips, urging for quiet. Small hands stroked her hair and shoulders. The pain in her abdomen suddenly started to subside, but the children sang nevertheless. The Matron’s breathing soon became short and shallow. All she could hear was the singing in her ears and all she could feel was the hands caressing her brow. Her surroundings were slipping away, but she knew she was not alone and had love with her. The Matron did not realise how peaceful the song was, until it was sang to her. As she closed her eyes, she was grateful to have these words in her ears.
“…he shall earn but a penny a day, because he can't work any faster.” Matron Kendal’s voice fell silent on the last line as the body she supported fell motionless into her arms. She took the child up and wrapped the blanket she carried around the body.
“That’s another the Lord has taken from us, Nurse Pearson.” She stood cradling the lifeless mass in her arms and turned to face her younger colleague. The Matron held her arms out, to her colleague. Nurse Pearson took the child from her arms.
“Nowt but a babe, this one Matron.” Nurse Pearson observed.
“Yes. I want those clothes removed and burnt and then replace them. After place the body in the Sanctuary.” Nurse Pearson emitted a quiet ‘Yes, Matron’ and hurried from the playroom.
The Matron looked at the sparse room and a chill came over her as it always did. The world always felt a little colder with one less child. She had always dedicated her life to them and they needed her, now more than ever. It had been very difficult to recruit nurses for hospitals for infectious diseases when they were needed to care for casualties of war and the victims of the German bombings. Most of the medications were sent overseas, leaving a shortage back home. Still, she did what she could to treat everyone and those she could not, all she could do was to ease their passing.
“Excuse me, Matron.” One of the orderlies interrupted her train of thought. “We’re running out of beds in this ward and we’re being sent some transfers from Rainhill.”
The Matron broke from her stare at the rocking horse and half turned her head. “Thank you, Frank. Will you be good enough to open two of the overspill wards across the garden? Then make sure that the patients are shown directly there after having been bathed.”
Frank nodded and left with his instructions for the afternoon. The middle-aged woman was soon left by herself again, reflecting on the room around her. Soon, this playroom would have to be cleared for beds if this epidemic were to continue. In any case, the porters should be called and have the few things remaining here moved to one of the scarlet fever wards to avoid transmission. Her stomach was in knots today and transfers coming in would not help. The advantages of working in a hospital though, there were free painkillers and plenty of places to lie down.
Matron was woken by two hard raps on her office door and an apologetic face popped its head around.
“Sorry to disturb you, Matron but there is a small problem.” Nurse Pearson uttered almost inaudibly.
“Go on.”
“Mrs. McIvor and some of the other ladies in ward 209 are complaining of the cold. I went to check on them. There’s a fire on in there, they’re all in their beds and it’s still freezing. I’ve checked their temperature and they’re all fine. I don’t know what’s causing it. Can you have a look as well please?”
Matron gathered herself up and straightened out her uniform. “Yes of course, my dear.”
Nurse Pearson looked the Matron’s pale complexion. “Are you alright, Matron?”
“I’m fine, just a slight stomach ache. It’s already easing off a little. Let’s go and see what these ladies are complaining about, they should already know that Lancashire is never a warm place.”
The two nurses entered the ward with a degree of scepticism, probably patients after a few more home comforts. However, as they came through, they could feel the chill. Matron Kendal looked at all of the windows to see if they were secured and intact. Everything was in order and as Nurse Pearson had mentioned, there was a fire blazing in the hearth.
“Has anything been done here since my rounds this morning, Nurse Pearson?”
“No, Matron. Well, the only difference is that the toys from the playroom have been stored here until we can find a better place.”
Matron Kendal shuffled over to Mrs. McIvor’s bed and examined her pallor.
“It’s freezin’ in ‘ere,” she blurted out suddenly. “Ever since them men came wi’ those things. I want ‘em out of ‘ere, summit not right about them. Where’ve they come from?”
“They’ve come from the children’s ward. We need the room for beds and so they will remain until we can re-home them,” the Matron informed.
“I say, there’s summit wrong wi’ ‘em. Wasn’t cold until they were brought in, we want them moved,” Mrs. McIvor said a little too loudly not to be making a point.
The Matron looked at the rest of the women and most of them had their heads down, pretending to mind their own business. The wards were run how she wanted them too, not on the whim of the patients. But it was cold here and the patients were huddling under their blankets.
“Alright then. I’ll have them removed, so now you’ll have nothing to complain about and I might get a bit of peace and quiet today. Nurse Pearson, please see that the toys are moved again to the children’s ward once all of the beds are in place.” As usual, a Yes, Matron followed and the two went their separate ways.
Lights out had finally come. The black out curtains were down and the wards were being locked down for the night. For the exhausted Matron, her peace had arrived. No women complaining of cold and her aches and pains were easing away. It was her night shift tonight and there was an empty room full of beds that she was looking forward to seeing. There were still a few more case notes which needed to be completed and this was the best time to complete them. In the distance, sounds of doors being locked and the footsteps of staff leaving for the night echoed down the halls. One pair was heading her way, Nurse Pearson no doubt coming to say her goodnights. Movement past her window drew the Matron’s eye from her notes, but only just in time to see a figure in nurse’s whites walk past. Strange for Nurse Pearson not to say goodnight, she pondered. Then, two polite raps on her door jerked her from her thoughts.
“Just popped in to say goodnight Matron,” Nurse Pearson half whispered.
“Try to be a little bit more obvious next time, Nurse. You’ll frighten me half to death like that.”
“Sorry, Matron. I do come by every shift, I thought you’d know it were me b’now.”
“Yes, of course. I thought I saw you leave a few moments ago. Who was the nurse who left before you?”
“No-one there but me, Matron. Are you alright?”
“Yes, just a little overtired and aching. It appears I’m seeing things as well now.” The Matron let a small smile slip. “Goodnight Nurse, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Nurse Pearson nodded and left her alone surrounded by paperwork. The Matron closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. Her mind flew back to the start of the day with the loss of another child. Her usual nursery rhyme started to play in her head.
See saw, Marjory Daw
Johnny shall have a new master
He will earn but a penny a day
Because he can’t work any faster.
A morbid rhyme, but these were dark times. The rhythm always sent them off to sleep or eased their last few hours. She would gladly rock them for days if it were asked of her. With tired eyes, the paperwork was given up and she retired to the empty ward opposite. The only light in the room was the candle which the Matron carried with her. The room was cold without any movement during the day. Armed with a couple of thick blankets, the Matron picked a bed in the very centre of the room and placed the candle on the cabinet. The light from the candle barely reached the edges of the room and it was as much light as was allowed during these times. She could see however that the toys had been replaced since her instructions. She took off her shoes and slid under the blankets. As she closed her eyes she could almost feel the babe in her arms from this morning, the light breathing pressing her flesh leaving an indelible mark. The Matron could not seem to put Marjory Daw from her mind, over and over until annoyance at herself came over her. Her eyes cracked open in the darkened room. The chill room and her over active mind were making her stomach cramp.
From the corridor there came a very quiet children’s laugh. A giggle almost, revealing some hidden untold deed. The Matron swung her legs from the bed and moved to peer into the corridor to see which child had escaped from their charge and put it straight back to their bed. Yet she could see nothing. She moved towards her object of comfort, the cramp in her stomach became a more acute, forcing her to hold onto a bed rail lest she fall. Knife edge pain forced her to gasp for air as she slapped to the floor.
“Somebody help me!” She yelled, as a solitary tear ran down her cheek. “HELP!” Her body forced in as much oxygen in as possible to compensate for the shock it was quickly being forced into. Through the blood throbbing in her ears came a small voice, “Johnny shall have a new master.”
The Matron peered into the darkness to find the source of the voice but could not see movement within. “Hello? Help me, I need a doctor!” She pleaded. Within the shadows, small legs scuffled about the floor. Then a second and third pair joined the first. “Whoever’s there, please get help,” the Matron squeezed out through increasing pain. The three pairs of legs moved slowly into the light the candled offered and it soon became clear that these belonged to children. The Matron could not understand why they did not run for help.
“Come here, children. I need you to fetch me an adult at once.”
She was only met by silence. The children moved closer to her immobile body then stopped within a few feet. All three then began to sing,
“See saw Marjory Daw,
Johnny shall have a new master,
he will earn but a penny a day,
because he can’t work any faster.”
“Why don’t you help?” The Matron shouted. “Get an adult!”
From the position the Matron was lying in, she could not see their faces, just six chubby knees motionless at her side. The rhyme was repeated over and over again to her and the children moved a step closer with every verse. The Matron sobbed onto the stone floors as her pleas remained unanswered. Finally the children were stood over her, surrounding her body. With agony racing through her stomach, she turned and thudded onto her back.
The white pallor of the three children standing above came into focus. Three faces of children past stared down at her. The Matron was about to continue her shouts for help when a cold finger was placed on her lips, urging for quiet. Small hands stroked her hair and shoulders. The pain in her abdomen suddenly started to subside, but the children sang nevertheless. The Matron’s breathing soon became short and shallow. All she could hear was the singing in her ears and all she could feel was the hands caressing her brow. Her surroundings were slipping away, but she knew she was not alone and had love with her. The Matron did not realise how peaceful the song was, until it was sang to her. As she closed her eyes, she was grateful to have these words in her ears.