Page M6 March 28, 1990. This Week PRIMETIME The treasured housecoat t was night shift in the small country hospital, and there were only three of us on duty. All the postops were doing well, and the admissions for surgery the following day were settled. The only patient who was giving us concern was the one who had been brought in by ambulance late in the evening. She had suffered some form of mental breakdown, and had scratched up the ambulance attendants pretty good before they got her sedated. We were holding her for the arrival of a city ambulance in the morning, and had the papers ready for her transfer. We felt sorry for the woman. She turned to look at us, the housecoat still in her hands. It was a soft rich velour, definitely not hospital issue. The occupant of the bed was sitting up, quietly watching, not saying a word. I wondered if we were in for a bit of trouble, but our “Mrs. Smith” seemed still half asleep from her medication. We asked her to come with us and we would take her back to her room. “Alright,” she said, holding tight to the housecoat. “It’s so pretty,” she added, stroking the soft pink material with a gnarled, calloused hand. I said that it was indeed very pretty but that we compliment our patient on her presence of mind. s Most people would have screamed, seeing a stran- ger at the foot of their bed in the middle of the night. - Mrs. Wilkes laughed. She was a nice lady, who, with her husband, owned a small gift and stationery store in town. She said that after 20 years of dealing with the public she was pretty well unflappable. The ambulance taking Mrs. Smith to the city was due at 6 am. When we went down to get her ready, she was asleep, but woke the moment we touched her. I think she was aware she was to be sent out, but didn’t comprehend the reason. And she didn’t appear to remember the attendants, She had known nothing but hard work all her life. She had raised a big family in an old farmhouse lacking either pow- er or plumbing. Her husband was a gruff emotionless man, and the daughters were repli- cas of their mother — tired, —Goldenrod= By IVY KENT much to their relief. But she wouldn't voluntarily give up the beautiful housecoat. a Several times during the night, we had tried to take it away surreptitiously, not want- ing to upset her. But once she was transferred to the trolley, rundown and unkempt. It was all too easy to assume that, given another 20 years, they would be in the same shape. The thought was depressing. All went well until about 3 a.m. We had just done rounds, checking on the patients and they all seemed to be sleeping. But just as we got back to the station, the board showed a light on for Room 26. This was the one next to our mental patient. It, too, was a private, it’s occupant a woman booked for surgery that morning. I pressed the button and asked her what she would like. “Come quietly.” Her voice was a whisper, so low I could hardly hear her. “There’s someone standing at the foot of my bed.” We wasted no time getting there. The door was ajar, and standing at the foot of the bed, fingering the soft fabric of the housecoat lying there, was the woman from the next room. had better put it back where it belonged, and I reached over to take it from her. Mrs. Smith backed away, clutching the garment to her. My companion tried another approach, but that, too, met with little success. Having, for possibly the first time in her life, gotten her hands on something dainty and feminine, our patient was reluctant to give it up. I really didn’t want to force the issue. I had been the one to patch up the ambulance attendants. But something had to be done. Then a voice spoke quietly from the bed. “Let her take it for now, you can get it back later.” Mrs. Smith seemed not to hear, but when we no longer tried to take the housecoat from her, we went readily back to her own room. Once we had her settled, still clutching her treasure, we went back to the other room to apologize for the interruption and and Bone. $64 “WE HAVE YOUR SIZE” NOTE: IF WE DO NOT HAVE YOUR SIZE WE CAN ORDER (NOT ALL SHOES AVAILABLE IN ALL WIDTHS SHOWN). 711 YATES ST COMO to count on There are plenty of reasons why this wedge is a Naturalizer favorite—like its dress-to-casual versaility, nonstop comfort and flawless fit. Count in it to walk you comfortably all through the season ahead! Taupe, Navy NATURALIZER. = Hh Mel Hp Lael Available at HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN VICTORIA—SEARLE’S. SHOES ¢ MOEN Building or Renovating a Home? Featuring quality brand name products: ¢ VENCO AMERICAN STANDARD e B.C. MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS e RENTALS MILES PLUMBING CENTRE 730 Audley Street, Victoria 361-4488 595-3636 we had no choice. We had to | pry her hands open, and once it was gone, the tears | came. I felt horrible, and desperately sorry for the poor woman. The ambulance attendants began wheeling her © down the corridor. When they stopped, I looked up. } Mrs. Wilkes was standing in their way. One of the § other nurses had given her back her housecoat, and she was just standing there with it in her hand, looking at Mrs. Smith. s Mrs. Wilkes wore a belted hospital housecoat. She looked down at the fine garment in her hands, and then again at the woman weeping on the trolley. — Then she walked closer, reached over and toucheqg Mrs. Smith’s hand. As the woman turned her head and looked up, Mrs. Wilkes gave her back herfe treasure, folding it and placing it beneath her hand. f& For just a second, the two women smiled at eachf other, then, without a word, Mrs. Wilkes turned away, entered her room and closed the door. ie FINALLY? ‘COMPLETE’ | PLUMBING CENTRE ALL UNDER ONE ROOF e CRANE » SPRINKLERSYSTEMS (Lawn & Garden) ° NEW & USED (We buy & sell) e VALLEY FIBREGLASS e¢ PARTS, ACCESSORIES, KITS and much, much more. Width 4/45) S [Se ]°6 [64] 7 [74] 9 1 B%) 9 | 9S) 1 [10K] IE [1K] 12 - <5 a — For Vicloriaisdargest selection-of ASA e 2 e e © 2 ° e|;e % = Se 2 = } B.C. 1opic books (over 700 titles). AA es eo e ° e 2 e e|;ele Ss 2 e 1 rss ! were the place! A e eo e;e e so s e 5 elelejelelelelelelelelelelelelele : E Drop in and browse downtown al: a “lelelelelelelelelele ; 546 Vales Street. Victoria. BC. = il feel cedee tl weeliw te sltesitealre Phone: (604) 386-4636 383-3324 B.C. 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