Nora Ray (Ray Trilogy) (10 page)

“
Yes, Ma’am.”

“
Since you’re still in high school, are you sure you can keep up your grades and work?” Mrs. Williams asked concerned.

“
Yes, Ma’am, before we moved to town,” Nora explained, “We, excuse me, my parents had a dairy farm. I worked two hours before and after school milking, separating the milk and cleaning the barn.”

“
Yes, Ma’am,” Nora said nodding her head. “I know what it is to work hard and still go to school.”

“
I see,” Mrs. Williams nodded in amazement that this small young woman sitting before her had been required to work so hard in the dairy, especially on school days.

“
Would you be willing to work two four hour shifts during the week and eight hours on Saturday as a nurse’s aide.

“
Yes, Ma’am. Thank you,” Nora sighed relieved that she had secured that much work. “Thank you, so much. I promise I won’t let you down.”

“
I feel sure you won’t. Nora, since you applied for a position here at the hospital, I checked your references and took the liberty to also check into some other things about you, I hope you don’t mind,” she confided. “I was intrigued by the interest that Mr. Littlefield was showing. I found out that you are a very dedicated student and carry a 4.0 GPA. I don’t want this job to interfere with you schooling in any way.”

“
No, Ma’am,” Nora hurriedly assured. “I will not let my grades slip.”

“
How is your father doing?”

“
At this point he is taking it easy. He tires easily but seems to be holding his own.”

“
Good, good,” Mrs. Williams shook her head. “Will Monday and Wednesday from four to eight be good for you with eight to four-thirty on Saturday? That gives you a day between on the week days to keep your school work up?

“
Yes, Ma’am, that will be perfect.” Nora hurriedly assured her.

Mrs. Williams stood and reached to shake Nora
’s hand to indicate that the interview was over.

Nora hurried to tell her dad about the job she had obtained.

There was excitement in the air at the supper table. Nora felt that she was floating. She told them every word that was said at the interview. Her eyes were shining with a glow her parents didn’t see often.

It was so refreshing her parents discussed with each other later
to see some excitement in Nora’s eyes. Usually she took on so much responsibility, like she needed to carry the rest of them all on her shoulders.

The next afternoon, Nora
and her mother went to buy her a white nursing uniform to wear at work.

Friday morning, Nora awoke disoriented. She heard Danny and her mother moving around in the kitchen preparing their bowl of cereal. Nora looked at the clock, already seven-thirty. She
thought
why is Danny up so early on a Saturday morning? He usually sleeps in. If I don’t hurry I’ll be late for work on my first day. She jumped out of bed and threw on her uniform. I hope Dad is ready to take me to work. I’m going to miss my breakfast.

S
he quickly brushed her hair and braided it. She entered the kitchen and Danny and Laura both stopped what they were doing and looked at her in astonishment. Finally, Laura spoke, “Are you wearing your uniform to school? Today is Friday.”

Nora stopped. She
looked down and looked from one to the other. Then she looked at the calendar hanging on the door to the broom closet. “Oh,” she said.

Danny let out a whoop,
and bent over laughing. “Wow! That was funny!” he said when he could get his breath again.

Nora co
uld hear Danny laughing at her from the other room and Laura trying to shush him.
Well, I guess I did look pretty funny
. She let out a little laugh herself.
I don’t think Danny will let me live that one down for a while.

The next morning, Nora awoke and co
mplimented herself that she knew that this really was Saturday and she really was going to her first day of work at the hospital. After breakfast, her dad stood ready to take her to work.

When they arrived at the hospital, her dad teased, “
You know, they won’t let you into the operating room today.”

“
Such a pity, too,” Nora teased back. “Bye, see you at four-thirty.”

When Nora received her assignments, she was mostly to observe and assist the other nurse
’s aide working the floor. They filled water glasses, cleaned beds, delivered meals, fed a few patients who needed assistance.

That evening, John waited for her in the pickup. When she hopped in, he asked, “
Well? What did you think of your first day of being a nurse’s aide?”

“
All in all,” she considered, “I felt like I was in my first day of nurse’s aide kindergarten. I observed and did very little.”

John laughed, “
So, they didn’t let you in the operating room?”

“
Dad!” she chided. “What I did like,” she said thoughtfully, “Was the opportunity to be close to the patients where I could adjust them in the bed to make them more comfortable, give them a drink, or talk to them because they are lonely. I think that must be part of what nursing is about.”

“
You’re right. You are getting a handle on this,” John nodded his head approvingly. “That’s why nursing is called TLC.”

“
Yes, I heard that today, tender loving care.”

When they arrived home, Nora stopped to get a double take at Danny in the kitchen setting the table.

Danny turned and saw Nora’s reaction, “Wait a minute.” He held his hands up defensively. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m just helping Mom because you weren’t here. I am not a girl.”

Nora grinned at his reaction, “
I’m not sure of that. Let me check you out.”

“
No!” Danny giggled and ran around the table.

Nora followed him with a snarl on her face, holding her hands up like claws to tickle him.

Laura commanded, “Not in the kitchen!”

Danny ran to his room and shut the door.

Nora banged on the door, but Danny didn’t let her in so she relented and went to her room to change.

When Nora returned to the kitchen,
Laura stopped stirring the gravy and turned around to ask, “How was your first day at the hospital?”

“
I have so many things to tell you!” she answered excitedly.

During the meal N
ora kept them entertained telling them about all she saw and did.

On Monday evening when she returned to work, she was assigned to work with a young woman named Jamie
Rhodes whom Nora found out later was only a year older that she was.

During their break,
Jamie asked, “Are you planning to be a nurse, or are you just working to earn a little cash?”

“
Actually,” Nora answered matter-of-factly, “I am going to be a doctor.”

“
Really? A doctor?”

“
Yes.”

“
Oh.” Jamie tilted her head to one side. “It may be hard to get into the doctorate school. You being a female, you know.”

“
I hadn’t thought about that too much.”

Jamie shook her head and held up her hands defensively, “
I don’t mean to discourage you, or anything. Just saying.”

“
What about you? Do you plan to continue your education?” Nora inquired.

“
Yes,” Jamie laughed half-heartedly. “My family is already calling me an old maid, but I plan to attend Bacone College at Muskogee at the beginning of the fall semester to become an RN.”

“
Will you stay at the college or will you drive back and forth?”

“
Driving back and forth,” Jamie said taking a drink. “I can’t afford to stay. I’m working here to save money for school. I live at home with my parents in Chouteau so that makes it closer to Muskogee for me than if I lived in Pryor like you.”

“
You’re lucky to have so many of your plans worked out. I still have to finish high school.” Nora commented rolling her eyes as they got up from the table to go back to work.

“
I am a year older than you so I’ve had a little more time to make my plans,” Jamie reminded her kindly. “A little advice from a friend,” she put her hand on Nora’s shoulder as they walked back, “you can only live your life as it comes to you, Nora. Not a minute sooner.”

Chapter Nine

A large
fir tree stood in the entrance lobby of the hospital decorated to the hilt with lights, ropes, bulbs, and tinsel icicles. Candy Stripers assisted to place Christmas decorations all around the hospital creating a gala atmosphere. More workers smiled as they went about their activities. There were drives set up to obtain gifts for the unfortunate ones who were too ill to go home for the holidays.

Wow
! Nora thought feeling star struck.
When we lived on the farm, we never decorated much at Christmas. Probably because there wasn’t any money,
she surmised.

When she got home, she decided, she would talk to her parents about putting some really neat decorations in their house.

As she stood there admiring the tree, Jeremy entered the lobby carrying pots of Poinsettias to place before the reception desk where the volunteers sat to direct visitors and patients to the appropriate rooms they requested.

A big smile broke out on Jeremy
’s face, “Aah, there is my beautiful Nora standing there waiting for me.”

Nora ducked her head
while she felt a red blush start at the base of her neck and fully cover her face. “Jeremy!” she hissed.

He came over and rubbed his knuckle over her cheek, “
I love it when you let me know how much you missed me.”

She turned her back to him and placed her
hands over her face.

He turned to the amused volunteers sitting at the desk, shrugged his shoulders and held out his hands, “
She loves me. What can I say?”

He turned back to Nora and took her gently by the hand and pulled her into the hall where it was mo
re private.

She looked at him with fire in her eyes, “
You don’t always have to embarrass me!”

“
I know,” he grinned. “It was too good to pass up this time.”

“
Do we need to make another deal for you to not embarrass me?”

“
You know, Sweetheart, it would be impossible for me to keep a deal like that. Besides, I wanted everybody to know who the Prince Charming was that gave you that ring. I am so proud of you.”

“
Jeremy, you embarrass me so. Then you turn around and melt my heart.”

He grinned, “
I’m glad I don’t bore you. May come over tomorrow afternoon?”

“
Sure, can you come for dinner?” Nora said, thinking of decorating the house. “I have a little project and I would like your help.”

“
I see,” he teased, “you not only want me around because I am so loving but you need my brawn, also.”

“
Jeremy, you are incorrigible.”

See you tomorrow afternoon. He kissed his finger and placed it on her lips.

Nora turned to go back to work as Jeremy turned to the lobby. He saw the box placed next to the desk with a sign ‘gift donation.” When he looked in the box to see how many gifts were there, he only saw one.

“
How many gifts do you estimate are needed for the Christmas drive?” he asked the women at the desk.

“
It depends on how many patients we have. Last year we had close to seventy patients,” she replied.

“
How many of them were children?”

“
It could be anywhere between to ten to twenty depending on the flu season,” she looked to her co-workers for confirmation who agreed with her. Pryor’s small hospital sent their most serious patients on to Tulsa hospitals where there were more specialized doctors and more sophisticated equipment.

“
I’m trying to understand how this works.” Jeremy inquired, “Should there be thirty children’s gifts, would the gifts then be sent on to other charities for donation?”

“
Yes, that’s right. Unfortunately, it usually works the other way though,” she shrugged.

“
Who is your activities director?” he asked.

“
Jana Marshall, she will be here on Monday.”

He looked thoughtful for a moment, “
Will you place a note for her that I will come by to see her at four Monday afternoon? My name is Jeremy Littlefield.”

With a wave he was out the door.