Thirteen West Read Online Free PDF

visitors when they glanced her way. Showcase was the word he'd used and you'd better believe old Nellie always meant what he said.
    "The set-up is traditional," Dr. Fredericks went on, "since our physical space didn't lend itself well to any other configuration. Behind the nursing station is a lounge for personnel. This is separated from the rest of the ward by partitions so our nurses and technicians can have time to themselves during their breaks and yet not be off the ward. It resembles an island both in fact and philosophically.
    "The day room is here," he continued, moving off with the four visitors in tow. "We have a color TV for those patients who care to watch it, plus a place for them to interact with one another."
    Alma could see Frank's back through the safety windows of the day room. He was inside making sure the patients wouldn't act out in any particularly weird ways while the visitors were present.
    "Be glad you're not on days," he'd told her when she complained about this second tour within a week. "They get the brunt of it."
    Sally was in Laura Jean's room, trying to do her best to prevent the girl from stripping. For some reason the girl had taken a liking to the student nurse after meeting her on the Ad Ward. Alma shook her head, unhappy Sally had been there to see her flip out that day—but getting bit was one intolerable thing. Her shoulder was still sore.
    Connie Dominguez and David were in the four bed men's ward cleaning up old Mousie who'd deliberately crapped all over his wheel chair in the day room just before Dr. Fredericks was due with his VIP tour. The day room still stunk despite all the spraying housekeeping had done.
    Grace Geibel was teaching Susie Q to brush her teeth properly, an unusual occupation for afternoon, but it kept Susie Q from hanging on the visitors because she did love to brush her teeth.
    Lew Alinosky was in the lounge on a break and, thank God for small favors, Janet Young had a day off. She just naturally didn't like that woman.
    "The staff tailors the approach to each patient," Dr. Fredericks said. His high-pitched voice carried extremely well. Alma had never quite gotten used to it coming from his huge bulk.
    "For example, bowel retraining may be the goal for one of our elderly chronics..."
    He had smelled the crap then, Alma told herself. Personally, she didn't think Mousie was going to do zip with bowel retraining. She'd seen the glitter in his eyes when he decided to be incontinent right after he'd been toileted in vain. Purely mean, that old man.
    "...whereas the young adolescent needs acceptance, with firm reality direction at the same time."
    Teach Laura Jean not to bite? Alma snorted. Lots of luck.
    "While schizophrenia is an increasingly unpopular diagnosis," Dr. Fredericks went on, "I do believe there is a specific group of responses that can be termed nothing else. There's a movement afoot to overthrow all labeling of mental illness. I ask you—will not naming a condition cure the patient?"
    He paused and Alma saw he was staring at the four visitors. Intimidating them, daring them to argue with him. Too bad if they did—he'd bring out the big guns and demolish them. Not wise to tangle with Nellie. She'd never heard of anybody coming out one up on him.
    Seeing movement in the hall between the group and the exit door, she stepped into the lounge to alert Lew.
      "Dolph Benning's on his way to demand his green jacket from Dr. Fredericks," she said. "Take him around the other way to the day room. Frank's in there and can hang onto him till the tour's over."
    Lew passed her, his black hair accentuating his pallor…not really good-looking, different was a better word. Didn't talk much. If she hadn't set up her taboo about personal relationships with techs, he might prove to be interesting.   
    Lew skirted the nurses' station on the opposite side from the VIP group and approached Dolph from the rear. "Hey," he said, "there's a good western on TV. How