Thirteen West Read Online Free

heard whispered about Frank Kent. God knows if she couldn't get a rise out of him, she'd like to see the gal who did.
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Sally Goodrow clutched her hands together in her lap, sitting straight and still in the hard chair. Why, oh, why had she selected a front row seat? She watched as Dr. Fredericks steepled his hands together, his gaze drifting from one to another of the people seated in the two rows of chairs across the desk from him. Taking a deep breath, she nerved herself to meet his glance when it came to her.
    His eyes were bright and brown. Sally swallowed, tried to smile and failed. Dr. Fredericks probably wouldn't have smiled in return anyway.
    Lionel E. Fredericks, M.D., Superintendent, the sign on his office door said. He was a big man, fat even, with red-brown hair that curled at his collar. Not jolly, though. Sally tried to hedge herself round with rallying words from her psychology text-book: "...authority figures may call up responses from the subconscious totally inappropriate to the situation..."
    She was terrified of Dr. Fredericks.
    When he'd talked to her earlier today she'd trembled with apprehension.
    "Ah, Ms Goodrow," he'd said. "Your nursing instructor at the college tells me you've been ill and missed the affiliation here with your classmates."
    Innocuous enough. Had he paused for a fraction of a moment between been and ill, though? Did he know? But that was impossible—not even her instructor knew.
    "We are not accustomed to student nurses on any shift except the day shift," Dr. Fredericks had continued.
    "However, quite coincidentally, your needs fit in with a new project of ours so I shall make an exception. I'd like to have you join the group meeting in my office this afternoon at fifteen hundred."
    Sally frantically counted off on her fingers—would she ever get used to the hours going up to twenty-four instead of repeating themselves after twelve?
    "Yes, Doctor," she'd said, then started to stammer an apology for taking so long to answer him.
    He'd waved a hand, dismissing her apology while his small bright eyes seemed to pick out all her faults, interior as well as exterior. Was her hair straggling down from its topknot? Had he been able to see into where her stomach churned and spasmed?
    She jerked herself to awareness, suddenly realizing she was missing what he was saying here and now.
    "...quite experimental."
    What was experimental? she wondered worriedly.
    "I'm sure you all, as I do," he went on, "look forward with enthusiasm to our challenging venture in complete desegregation. A unique opportunity for our patients as well as ourselves."
    Sally hadn't a clue to what he meant by desegregation. The hospital, she knew, had been racially desegregated for years. And some, if not all, of the wards were a mixture of male and female patients.
    Maybe she wouldn't find him so intimidating if he weren't so big.
    Dr. Fredericks smiled. His teeth were small and white and even. He laid his hands flat on the desk. "We have a newcomer in our midst," he said. "Ms Goodrow, a student nurse, who was unfortunate enough to be ill and miss her class affiliation here. After this week of orientation, she will be joining us on Thirteen West to work the afternoon shift as, of course, all of you will be doing. Ms Goodrow, if you'll stand, please, so the staff can see you."
    Sally got to her feet and turned to those seated behind her. Their faces blurred together as she managed a clenched teeth smile. She sank back onto her chair, hands knotting together convulsively. A brown hand reached over and touched hers gently, then withdrew. Once again she concentrated on what the doctor was saying.
    "Some members of the medical staff have expressed the opinion we should have a Fourteen West instead of a Thirteen. I admit to surprise at the extent of superstition among psychiatrically oriented personnel. Does any person in this room suffer from a similar triskaidekaphobia?"
    Silence. No one so