Page 15 of Be With Me
Chapter 6
Debbie clutched her backpack strap as she ran across the parking lot. She’d overslept this morning after staying up with an extra assignment for pharmacology. Lord knew, there was never enough she could learn about the meds. The responsibility of giving out meds kinda worried her.
She pushed through the doors for the break room on the first floor. Tossing the backpack into the bottom of the locker, Debbie grabbed the white coat she wore over her scrubs that identified her as a nursing student. Pulling the jacket over her shoulders, she took a deep breath to steady herself and walked to the nurses’ station.
“Sorry, I’m late,” she said to the charge nurse seated at the computer.
“Hold a sec.” The nurse didn’t look up from the computer screen for a minute. “Okay, there’s the discrepancy. Hansen? You’re late? Are you sure?”
Debbie looked around the hallway, then back at Mrs. June. “Pretty sure, ma’am. I’m scheduled for eight and it’s closer to eight-thirty.” She winced but there was no denying the facts. Clocks don’t normally lie.
“Wait a minute,” June said as she reached for a binder on the counter. She pulled it over, flipped through the pages and nodded. “I hate to be the one to break this to you but the schedule changed. You’re not scheduled for today. Something about Heidi having to make up a clinical.”
Convinced she was being pranked, Debbie stood there for a minute. “Pardon me for questioning you, but are you sure? I didn’t get a notification from my instructor.”
June smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure. Heidi is bumbling around after Susan right now. Thank God it’s not me because— okay, I shouldn’t say anything. It’ll be in her evaluation. Want a copy of the revised schedule?” She didn’t wait for an answer as she moved to the copy machine behind the desk.
“If I could get one, that would be great.” Debbie dropped her chin to her chest.Wonder what they say about me when I’m not around.She never gave it a thought that these nurses were not only mentoring her but they were evaluating her too.
“Here you go.” June handed over a piece of paper. “And Debbie?” she paused, looking around before leaning closer. “You didn’t hear it from me but you’re the best that we’ve got this year of students. You listen to instructions, follow them and don’t have to be shown something twice. Keep going as you are and you’ll make a great nurse.” June sat back down and pushed the mouse to wake the computer. “Get out of here now. Have a good day off.”
Debbie smiled before heading back down the hall to the lockers. Maybe she’d take a nap before reading more on the new combination drug for blood pressure control.
§ § §
“Luna, my office,” the first sergeant bellowed as he walked through the patrol room.Shit, what had he done?First Sergeant Downey, aka Top, wasn’t known for snapping for no reason.
“Yes, First Sergeant.” Mooney moved quickly to catch up.
“Close the door and have a seat.” Top dropped into his chair and closed his eyes. Mooney took one of the seats in front of the desk and looked around. Top had his awards framed on one wall, pictures of his family on the bookshelf opposite them.One day, I’ll have this.
“So Luna, I just had lunch with First Sergeant Scully. He was bragging about all the NCOs that were going to the ball from his company.” Top rolled his eyes. “Scully was basically challenging me…us…youto have more NCOs there.” Top leaned back in his chair and smiled.
Mooney sat there dumfounded. If he’d followed the first sergeant correctly, he had just dumped NCO attendance at the ball — which Mooney hadn’t planned on attending himself — at Mooney’s feet.
“I’m sorry, Top. I don’t think I understood you.”Play dumb. It’s the way out.
Top chuckled and shook his head. “Oh you understood me correctly. I need you to rally your fellow NCOs to attend the ball and put Scully’s company to shame. He’s always bragging about something at the monthly first sergeants’ meeting with the sergeant major and for once, I’d like him to be knocked down a peg. Not that I said that out loud.” Top looked at him pointedly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, first sergeant. You called me in here to talk to me about how I handled the Delta soldiers.”
“Yes, you handled that situation with a deft hand. I’m also impressed with how you’ve been mentoring Cassidy, Townsend, Newman and Rickson. They’ve started to show vast improvement in their communication skills and taking initiative. Their previous NCOs did them a disservice,” Top finished with a frown. “Something I’m glad you’re changing.”
Mooney was speechless. He was just doing what his NCOs had done for him. He didn’t think it was anything above and beyond but apparently Top did.
“Thank you, First Sergeant. Soldiers are the foundation of everything and if their NCOs don’t take care of them then who will? And Lord knows there are enough soldiers that don’t have two brain cells to rub together. The morons from the SportsUSA incident come to mind.”
“Oh those were winners. When First Sergeant Madison showed up, he wasn’t pleased to say the least.” Top smirked.
“If you’re done with me, First Sergeant, I need to go check my mess dress. Make sure it doesn’t need to be cleaned. Might even see if the woman I’m dating can get the night off.” Mooney stood and moved to the door.
“And Luna?” Top called out. Mooney turned his head with his hand on the doorknob. “I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that one day you will be on this side of the desk.”
“Thank you, Top.” Mooney was shocked. He knew he was a strong NCO but hearing that Top agreed and thought he’d be a first sergeant one day? He pumped his fist as he walked down the hall. Mooney shook his head to bring himself down to reality. Time to recruit for the military ball.Joy oh joy.
