Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Day and Night (07/10/14)
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TITLE: The Spirit of Bedlam. | Previous Challenge Entry
By Danielle King
07/17/14 -
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“A mysterious outbreak of the trots has reduced three of the night team into 24hour lavatory huggers,” she said. “And heaven forbid the patients should contract it.”
Me again. First port of call. Just call me Muggins.
“I’m covering the late shift myself, so if you could make it for ten?”
Ten? 10pm? But I don’t work nights. Night staff work – Marjory sleeps.
An annoying sense of duty compelled an ‘of course Matron’ sound through Marjory’s pursed lips. Having committed, she momentarily considered exploiting the situation by means of a personal rush of the unfriendly virus.
Who would know?
But mother warned her to always speak the truth lest her nose grew into an elephant trunk.
Marjory knew Cedar Floor well. It was the original wing of the early 1800’s County Pauper’s Lunatic Asylum. Though renovated and renamed, the layout, featuring long corridors lined with single side rooms remained unchanged.
Cedar was home to former long-stay patients, now too institutionalised to cope in the fast changing world of the ‘60’s.
Marjory was in a strop. Mars bars and crisps were tossed into a bag followed by knitting needles, Mills and Boon romance and a spray to murder the cockroaches that crunched underfoot in the dark.
“Enough! Get over it!
“The stars are twinkling and the moon’s shining brightly. By 4am the blackbirds will be heralding the dawn of a new day. Aren’t I the fortunate one Pricilla?” Those feline eyes displayed a manic stare as pet moggy leaped out through a window.
Old Bertha started up first time, assuring Marjory that her positive thinking was paying off. She sang as she rattled along.
By the light… of the silvery moon… I want to spoon…
She stuck her head out of the window to wink at the moon. Immediately the feel-good affirmations curled up and died.
Indignantly, she entered the ward office with a formal, “On duty Matron.”
Matron was flustered. “You’re on your own tonight Marjory, but they’re all settled bar Frankie. Pray no-one kicks off.”
“Frankie?”
“He’s on his knees. Two hours now. You’ll need to be firm with him.” Matron pulled on her coat. “It’s odd that patients are unaffected when the staff’s dropping like flies.” Marjory politely nodded. Matron headed for the stairwell.
“Oh, by the way Matron, there’s a stunning full moon out there tonight.” Matron paled and quickened her pace.
Alone with 30 charges, Marjory took stock. OK, no-one kicking off – yet. I’ll observe better from the corridor. She dragged an armchair from the patient’s lounge.
“You can’t stay there nurse. That’s where she walks.”
“No, she doesn’t Betty. She died 100 years ago.”
“I saw her.”
“No Betty, that’s the hallucinations.”
“She wears her long dress and white apron. And a butterfly cap.”
“Should I get your medication Betty? Are they tormenting you?”
“She was on duty, like you, the night she did it. It was July. A full moon, like tonight.”
Marjory took Betty’s hand and coaxed her back to bed. Over on the male side Frankie, a non-verbal man, was still on his knees. Each night, before lights-out, he knelt on the unforgiving stone floor, hands clasped and head bowed.
Tonight, Marjory did not want trouble. She chose not to come between him and his maker.
All remained well. The night was still as the moon tracked its predetermined course in the heavens. Until, shortly before dawn, and with the ferocity of a force nine gale, the padlocked doors that separated the corridor and the disused staircase leading to the old clock tower, shook and rattled.
Betty fled from her room. “Get out of her way,” she screamed. “Let her pass.” Marjory grasped Betty’s arm.
“There’s no-one here Betty. There is a logical explanation for this and I promise to find it.”
Marjory had witnessed the potency of fear. She comprehended its power to wreak havoc with minds and wreck lives.
She also knew the antidote.
Patients were trailing, confused and agitated, mumbling incoherently. Betty clung to Marjory’s sleeve as she shepherded them back to bed.
Then Marjory noticed Frankie. Amidst the mayhem, Frankie was snoozing contentedly, blissfully unaware.
The light of daybreak dispelled the fears of the night. The nurse who sadly chose to take her life was oblivious to the legacy of fear she’d engendered.
But Frankie, on his knees before God from nightfall to dawn? Marjory smiled as the identity of the True Spirit dawned on her.
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There were a few times where I was confused about who was speaking and some phrases that threw me, but once I got into the rhythm of the piece, it all made sense and flowed well. I like it when something starts off unfamiliar, but brings me along and helps me adapt as we go. That's a sign of a truly talented writer.
Blessings.
Well done!
God bless~