Nora Ray (Ray Trilogy)

chapter Eight

Monday after school Nora rode her bike to the hospital to apply for a job. After asking questions and reaching the appropriate desk she was handed an application. She filled it out and handed it to the woman, whose name was Mrs. Pinkerton, according to the sign on the desk and said, “Mr. Littlefield recommended that I put in my application.”

“Oh, so you are that young lady,” she said kindly, taking her papers. “He told me to watch for you.”

“Please, sit,” Mrs. Pinkerton said making a sweeping motion with her arm toward the chairs. She stood and left the room.

Nora sat nervously on the edge of the chair looking down at her hands which were clasped in her lap. She could hear the clicking sound of the Mrs. Pinkerton’s heels as she went down the hall.

Finally, she returned and said, “I’m so sorry, but Mrs. Williams, the director of nursing, has already left for the day. “If you would like I will make an appointment with her for you at this time tomorrow, would you be able to come then?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Alright,” she replied with a smile. “Have a nice evening and we will see you tomorrow.”

Tomorrow Nora thought. I have all night tonight and all day tomorrow to think about this appointment. I’m going to be a bundle of nerves.

At the evening meal she told her parents about her appointment the next day. “I will be a bundle of nerves and have trouble concentrating at school tomorrow,” she complained.

“Here’s what you should do. Think to yourself, I am a hard worker. I can do this.”

“Dad, I know I’m a hard worker and that I can do this, but I’m not convinced that Mrs. Williams will think that.”

“Yes, and since you know that,” he smiled and with a nod, “you can walk in there with your head held high and a confident smile on your face. Not only that, but Mr. Littlefield has vouched for you.”

Nora stirred her food around in her plate and after a minute looked up at him with her usual self confidence restored.

“Little girl!” he exclaimed coming around the table to give her a hug. “You have this job in the bag!”

“Thanks for the pep talk, Dad,” Nora stood to receive his hug. “I’ll be alright now.”

Jokingly he shined his fingernails on his shirt and replied as he sat back down in his chair, “That’s what Dad’s are for.”

The next afternoon Nora returned to the house after school to put on a fresh dress. Her Dad took her to the hospital so she wouldn’t have to ride her bike. She walked up to Mrs. Pinkerton’s desk.

Mrs. Pinkerton recognized her immediately and stood from her desk and said, “Mrs. Williams is expecting you.”

This time Nora followed her as she clicked down the hall in her four inch heels to Mrs. Williams’ office.

After introductions, she asked Nora to be seated so she sat on the edge of the chair with her hands firmly clasped together.

Mrs. Williams seeing her nervousness smiled at her and said, “Tell me why you want to work at the hospital.”

Nora tried to speak but nothing came out, she cleared her throat and this time she said, “I plan to be a doctor. I want to get as much experience as I can to start preparing myself.”

“Do you understand that it takes years and years of studying and hard work to become a doctor?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Why become a doctor?” Mrs. Williams asked. “Why not become a nurse?”

“My father has a really bad heart. He has been told that he will not live long.” Nora said, “I also have a cousin with polio. I need to help them.”

Cocking her head to the side, Mrs. Williams asked, “What can you do that other doctors can’t do?”

Nora frowned to the side for a moment while she thought, then sat up straight in her chair, “That remains to be seen. I just know that if I study everything I can find; there will be something I can do to help these people in pain.”

“You understand that a person has to take baby steps before he can run, don’t you?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Since you’re still in high school, are you sure you can keep up your grades and work?” Mrs. Williams asked concerned.

“Yes, Ma’am, before we moved to town,” Nora explained, “We, excuse me, my parents had a dairy farm. I worked two hours before and after school milking, separating the milk and cleaning the barn.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Nora said nodding her head. “I know what it is to work hard and still go to school.”

“I see,” Mrs. Williams nodded in amazement that this small young woman sitting before her had been required to work so hard in the dairy, especially on school days.

“Would you be willing to work two four hour shifts during the week and eight hours on Saturday as a nurse’s aide.

“Yes, Ma’am. Thank you,” Nora sighed relieved that she had secured that much work. “Thank you, so much. I promise I won’t let you down.”

“I feel sure you won’t. Nora, since you applied for a position here at the hospital, I checked your references and took the liberty to also check into some other things about you, I hope you don’t mind,” she confided. “I was intrigued by the interest that Mr. Littlefield was showing. I found out that you are a very dedicated student and carry a 4.0 GPA. I don’t want this job to interfere with you schooling in any way.”

“No, Ma’am,” Nora hurriedly assured. “I will not let my grades slip.”

“How is your father doing?”

“At this point he is taking it easy. He tires easily but seems to be holding his own.”

“Good, good,” Mrs. Williams shook her head. “Will Monday and Wednesday from four to eight be good for you with eight to four-thirty on Saturday? That gives you a day between on the week days to keep your school work up?

“Yes, Ma’am, that will be perfect.” Nora hurriedly assured her.

Mrs. Williams stood and reached to shake Nora’s hand to indicate that the interview was over.

Nora hurried to tell her dad about the job she had obtained.

There was excitement in the air at the supper table. Nora felt that she was floating. She told them every word that was said at the interview. Her eyes were shining with a glow her parents didn’t see often.

It was so refreshing her parents discussed with each other later to see some excitement in Nora’s eyes. Usually she took on so much responsibility, like she needed to carry the rest of them all on her shoulders.

The next afternoon, Nora and her mother went to buy her a white nursing uniform to wear at work.

Friday morning, Nora awoke disoriented. She heard Danny and her mother moving around in the kitchen preparing their bowl of cereal. Nora looked at the clock, already seven-thirty. She thought why is Danny up so early on a Saturday morning? He usually sleeps in. If I don’t hurry I’ll be late for work on my first day. She jumped out of bed and threw on her uniform. I hope Dad is ready to take me to work. I’m going to miss my breakfast.

She quickly brushed her hair and braided it. She entered the kitchen and Danny and Laura both stopped what they were doing and looked at her in astonishment. Finally, Laura spoke, “Are you wearing your uniform to school? Today is Friday.”

Nora stopped. She looked down and looked from one to the other. Then she looked at the calendar hanging on the door to the broom closet. “Oh,” she said.

Danny let out a whoop, and bent over laughing. “Wow! That was funny!” he said when he could get his breath again.

Nora could hear Danny laughing at her from the other room and Laura trying to shush him. Well, I guess I did look pretty funny. She let out a little laugh herself. I don’t think Danny will let me live that one down for a while.

The next morning, Nora awoke and complimented herself that she knew that this really was Saturday and she really was going to her first day of work at the hospital. After breakfast, her dad stood ready to take her to work.

When they arrived at the hospital, her dad teased, “You know, they won’t let you into the operating room today.”

“Such a pity, too,” Nora teased back. “Bye, see you at four-thirty.”

When Nora received her assignments, she was mostly to observe and assist the other nurse’s aide working the floor. They filled water glasses, cleaned beds, delivered meals, fed a few patients who needed assistance.

That evening, John waited for her in the pickup. When she hopped in, he asked, “Well? What did you think of your first day of being a nurse’s aide?”

“All in all,” she considered, “I felt like I was in my first day of nurse’s aide kindergarten. I observed and did very little.”

John laughed, “So, they didn’t let you in the operating room?”

“Dad!” she chided. “What I did like,” she said thoughtfully, “Was the opportunity to be close to the patients where I could adjust them in the bed to make them more comfortable, give them a drink, or talk to them because they are lonely. I think that must be part of what nursing is about.”

“You’re right. You are getting a handle on this,” John nodded his head approvingly. “That’s why nursing is called TLC.”

“Yes, I heard that today, tender loving care.”

When they arrived home, Nora stopped to get a double take at Danny in the kitchen setting the table.

Danny turned and saw Nora’s reaction, “Wait a minute.” He held his hands up defensively. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m just helping Mom because you weren’t here. I am not a girl.”

Nora grinned at his reaction, “I’m not sure of that. Let me check you out.”

“No!” Danny giggled and ran around the table.

Nora followed him with a snarl on her face, holding her hands up like claws to tickle him.

Laura commanded, “Not in the kitchen!”

Danny ran to his room and shut the door.

Nora banged on the door, but Danny didn’t let her in so she relented and went to her room to change.

When Nora returned to the kitchen, Laura stopped stirring the gravy and turned around to ask, “How was your first day at the hospital?”

“I have so many things to tell you!” she answered excitedly.

During the meal Nora kept them entertained telling them about all she saw and did.

On Monday evening when she returned to work, she was assigned to work with a young woman named Jamie Rhodes whom Nora found out later was only a year older that she was.

During their break, Jamie asked, “Are you planning to be a nurse, or are you just working to earn a little cash?”

“Actually,” Nora answered matter-of-factly, “I am going to be a doctor.”

“Really? A doctor?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Jamie tilted her head to one side. “It may be hard to get into the doctorate school. You being a female, you know.”

“I hadn’t thought about that too much.”

Jamie shook her head and held up her hands defensively, “I don’t mean to discourage you, or anything. Just saying.”

“What about you? Do you plan to continue your education?” Nora inquired.

“Yes,” Jamie laughed half-heartedly. “My family is already calling me an old maid, but I plan to attend Bacone College at Muskogee at the beginning of the fall semester to become an RN.”

“Will you stay at the college or will you drive back and forth?”

“Driving back and forth,” Jamie said taking a drink. “I can’t afford to stay. I’m working here to save money for school. I live at home with my parents in Chouteau so that makes it closer to Muskogee for me than if I lived in Pryor like you.”

“You’re lucky to have so many of your plans worked out. I still have to finish high school.” Nora commented rolling her eyes as they got up from the table to go back to work.

“I am a year older than you so I’ve had a little more time to make my plans,” Jamie reminded her kindly. “A little advice from a friend,” she put her hand on Nora’s shoulder as they walked back, “you can only live your life as it comes to you, Nora. Not a minute sooner.”