Read Online The Hunger by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Tags: JUV000000
Ads: Link
the package underneath her pillow before the nurse was back in her room. “Now Paula,” she began. “I’ll explain the rules here. You get weighed first thing every morning—before breakfast, but after you’ve been to the bathroom. You’ll be weighed in a hospital gown so you can’t fool us. And until you’ve gained ...” Nurse Bowley drew out a chart from the holder on the door, opened it, and frowned. “Okay, it says here that you’ve got to remain in bed until you’ve gained two pounds.” She looked up from the chart and regarded her new patient.
“I can’t do that,” stated Paula. “I need my exercise.”
The nurse chuckled. “Don’t even think about exercising right now.” Then she took Paula’s overnight bag from her hands and said, “You can have this back once you’ve gained those two pounds.”
Paula looked alarmed. “But what am I supposed to wear? And what am I supposed to do?”
“You’ll find a fresh hospital gown in the closet. And all you’re supposed to do right now is conserve your energy, sleep, and eat.” Then the nurse frowned and shook her head slightly. “I don’t think you realize how serious your condition is.”
With that, the nurse headed towards the door. When she was almost out, she turned and said, “Slip into that gown now. I’ll be back in a few minutes to hook up your IV.”
“IV?”
The nurse looked surprised at Paula’s reaction. “Of course. We’ve got to get some nourishment into you quickly. This is no joking matter.”
Paula watched as the large pink rear end of Nurse Bowley disappeared through the doorway. “That’s what I’ll end up looking like,” she whispered to herself. “There’s no way they’re going to make me fat.” And then she silently pounded her fists on the bed. “Has the whole world gone crazy?”
A few minutes later, Paula watched as Nurse Bowley tried to insert an IV needle into her forearm for the third time. “Your veins have all but collapsed,” saidthe nurse as she gently tapped Paula’s skin to try and find a good vein. “Success!” She noted with approval a drop of blood formed in a bead at the top of the plastic tubing that was attached to the needle. Deftly, the nurse slipped the narrow plastic sleeve over the needle and compressed the end between her finger and thumb, sliding the tubing into the opening made by the needle and slipping the needle out through the other end of the tubing. Securing the tubing in place with a strip of surgical tape, she attached the open end to an IV drip.
Paula could hear the cheerful voice of Nurse Bowley going over the rules of the ward and mentioning something about a menu, but she wasn’t really listening. Instead, Paula held her arms up to her face and stared at them. The knuckle scabs had all but healed, leaving a trail of angry red scar tissue in their wake. She lightly drew her right index finger over the bruised spots on her arm where Nurse Bowley had tried to find a vein. This ordeal of being admitted to the hospital was like a war, she realized. And only she knew what—or who—was the real enemy.
When Paula was certain that Nurse Bowley was finished tormenting her for the moment, she reached underneath her pillow and drew out the package her brother had given her. Inside the bag was Erik’s beloved Game Gear and it was loaded with the game Columns —one that she knew he hated, but one shehad always loved for its calming effect. Her eyes welled up with tears. She knew what a sacrifice it was for him to lend her this unit. Without it, he would not be able to play games during the stolen moments of solitude throughout the day. She had ignored him so much during the past year, and when she did pay attention to him, it was to snark at him, yet he was so forgiving. She vowed to be a better sister when she got out of this place. She turned the volume down low, and played a few games in tribute to her brother.
Long after Nurse Bowley’s shift had ended, Paula
“I can’t do that,” stated Paula. “I need my exercise.”
The nurse chuckled. “Don’t even think about exercising right now.” Then she took Paula’s overnight bag from her hands and said, “You can have this back once you’ve gained those two pounds.”
Paula looked alarmed. “But what am I supposed to wear? And what am I supposed to do?”
“You’ll find a fresh hospital gown in the closet. And all you’re supposed to do right now is conserve your energy, sleep, and eat.” Then the nurse frowned and shook her head slightly. “I don’t think you realize how serious your condition is.”
With that, the nurse headed towards the door. When she was almost out, she turned and said, “Slip into that gown now. I’ll be back in a few minutes to hook up your IV.”
“IV?”
The nurse looked surprised at Paula’s reaction. “Of course. We’ve got to get some nourishment into you quickly. This is no joking matter.”
Paula watched as the large pink rear end of Nurse Bowley disappeared through the doorway. “That’s what I’ll end up looking like,” she whispered to herself. “There’s no way they’re going to make me fat.” And then she silently pounded her fists on the bed. “Has the whole world gone crazy?”
A few minutes later, Paula watched as Nurse Bowley tried to insert an IV needle into her forearm for the third time. “Your veins have all but collapsed,” saidthe nurse as she gently tapped Paula’s skin to try and find a good vein. “Success!” She noted with approval a drop of blood formed in a bead at the top of the plastic tubing that was attached to the needle. Deftly, the nurse slipped the narrow plastic sleeve over the needle and compressed the end between her finger and thumb, sliding the tubing into the opening made by the needle and slipping the needle out through the other end of the tubing. Securing the tubing in place with a strip of surgical tape, she attached the open end to an IV drip.
Paula could hear the cheerful voice of Nurse Bowley going over the rules of the ward and mentioning something about a menu, but she wasn’t really listening. Instead, Paula held her arms up to her face and stared at them. The knuckle scabs had all but healed, leaving a trail of angry red scar tissue in their wake. She lightly drew her right index finger over the bruised spots on her arm where Nurse Bowley had tried to find a vein. This ordeal of being admitted to the hospital was like a war, she realized. And only she knew what—or who—was the real enemy.
When Paula was certain that Nurse Bowley was finished tormenting her for the moment, she reached underneath her pillow and drew out the package her brother had given her. Inside the bag was Erik’s beloved Game Gear and it was loaded with the game Columns —one that she knew he hated, but one shehad always loved for its calming effect. Her eyes welled up with tears. She knew what a sacrifice it was for him to lend her this unit. Without it, he would not be able to play games during the stolen moments of solitude throughout the day. She had ignored him so much during the past year, and when she did pay attention to him, it was to snark at him, yet he was so forgiving. She vowed to be a better sister when she got out of this place. She turned the volume down low, and played a few games in tribute to her brother.
Long after Nurse Bowley’s shift had ended, Paula
Similar Books
