Love Songs Read Online Free PDF Page B

you’ve ruled out any physical problem—”
    “We have. These measurements are all related to sleep patterns. We’d like to establish, at the start, that you do go through the normal four stages of the sleep cycle. I’m sure you’re familiar with the term. For the average adult the sleep cycle repeats itself many times throughout the night. Once we’ve plotted your sleep pattern I’ll be able to show you a graphic illustration.”
    Alanna’s lips twitched in humor. “I’d like to see that. With the number of finance and production charts I read in a day I often wonder whether I can see things any other way.”
    “Then you’ll appreciate the illustration.” Ellen smiled. “I don’t actually anticipate seeing anything unusual, but it’s necessary to find out if we’re going to the effort of controlling so many other factors and taking two weeks’ worth of your nights.”
    “Of course. I understand.” Feeling slightly more comfortable about the monitoring, Alanna was curious again. “What then? What about the other thirteen nights?”
    “OK.” Ellen sat forward. “Now we get to the nitty-gritty of the project. We ask you to come in every night at roughly the same time, preferably no later than nine. Early curfew,” she quipped, successfully coaxing Alanna into mirroring her smile. “We have a lounge in the unit and a small kitchen. Both are well appointed, very pleasant. You will have your own bedroom and a private bath—nothing fancy, but, again, pleasant. It will be dark and quiet. There will be no disturbances. Please sleep in whatever nightwear you’re accustomed to. Above all, I want you to be comfortable. You may spend your evening until you fall asleep either in the lounge or in your room. Follow your usual routine. If you usually shower before bed, do it. When—and only when—you’re sleepy, you’ll go to bed. You will be woken at the same time every morning, regardless of that bedtime, and you will be expected to follow a fixed routine immediately after waking up—preferably some form of exercise, then breakfast.” She paused, again consulting the papers on her desk. “I understand you swim?”
    Alanna nodded. “I coach a swim team on Saturdays. Ten- to twelve-year-olds. Girls.” At the thought, she brightened. “They’re great kids!”
    “Do you swim much on your own?”
    “When I have the chance.”
    “Well,” the psychologist drew out her words with feigned sternness, “I want you to make the chance. There’s a pool just down the street which we have access to. If you’d like, you can swim every morning before breakfast.”
    Alanna knew only too clearly her prebreakfast moods. “I don’t know, Ellen,” she hesitated. “My early mornings are pretty bad.…”
    “Then this will be one way of letting out all that pent-up aggression.”
    Aggression. That word again. Alanna couldn’t help but remember when she’d heard it last. Then it had been on taunting male lips, firm and enticing.… Ellen snapped her from the memory.
    “Will you try it? You may notice a huge improvement—both in your temperament and in your sleep habits.”
    The last did it. Though skeptical, Alanna was game. “I’ll try.”
    “Great!”
    “Ah … what else am I going to have to do?” Her good-natured, but wary, question was enough to lighten Ellen’s expression even more.
    “Nothing painful.” She laughed. “We’d like to eliminate stress from the bedroom. That means no heavy reading or television while in bed. Staying in bed only while you’re sleepy. Getting up and leaving the bedroom whenever you’re unable to fall asleep—or go back to sleep—quickly.”
    Alanna mulled over the suggestions. “Sounds fair.”
    “You don’t nap during the day, do you?”
    “If only I had time!” Her eyes widened in surprise.
    “Well, don’t!” the other woman rejoined just as quickly. “Never nap during the day—even on weekends. And no coffee or liquor after, say, three in the