HW 11 “Room 607”

The Uber driver was quiet while driving. I appreciated the silence as I was thinking about Brenda and whether or not she would even talk to me. I really needed her advice. I thanked the Uber driver, entered Sacred Heart hospital, and walked nervously to the visitor counter. Brenda worked there on the week-ends to make extra money for college. Usually we rode there together and I did homework in the hospital cafeteria while I waited for her to get a break and come visit me. Oddly enough I found it easier to concentrate there than in the school library or my dorm room. Nobody came over to visit or knocked on my door. It was just me, my computer, and my books. This was different. When I approached, Brenda was looking up a room number for a woman who was there to see a friend. She first looked on the visitor list to make sure that it was okay to give the room number to the worried looking figure in front of her. After she concluded her conversation and sent the woman to the right elevator bank Brenda looked up and saw me. I thought I saw a cloud pass temporarily across her eyes but she quickly hid it.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” she asked boredly.
“Um, I was hoping we could talk.” I answered.
“I’m busy,” she replied, although there was currently nobody else approaching.
“I know,” I said, “and I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t really important.”
Brenda sighed. “Alright, but I can’t talk long. If my boss were to see me socializing here, I could get fired.”
“I´ll be quick.” I took a step back as another lost soul came up to the counter. They leaned on the wood counter with both elbows quietly, and asked if they could visit a patient on floor 13. I knew that’s where the psychiatric patients were. A hallmate of mine had spent a short stint on the 13th floor. When she was released, she made a hall display of artwork she had created during her residency there. She called it Tomlin’s “Crazy-Days” Creations. Who knew drinking 12 diet cokes per day and not sleeping could lead to a break-down? Brenda looked on the permitted guest list for the young man. Instead of telling him the truth she said that no patient by that name was on the hospital register. She was following protocol. He must not have been a permitted visitor. Boyfriends usually weren’t permitted to visit minors, but Brenda was not allowed to give out any real information when a person was on the “Do not allow” patient list. I knew this from previous conversations in the hospital cafeteria. The man walked away looking disappointed and a little skeptical–like he knew the name he had inquired for was for sure a patient. Rules were rules though.
“Ok, what’s up?” Brenda asked.
“Tell me this isn’t about your boss,” she said firmly.
Her words felt like a slap. Of course it was about him. I had had a crush on Jo Marley since going to work as a stage crew member of the college my sophomore year. He was to die for, whether or not Brenda agreed.
“Yes, it is about Jo,” I said softly.
Brenda sighed. “Why do you always go for guys who are so much older than you? You know they’re trouble. Especially Jo. He’s worked on a lot of shady productions. Plus, I hear he’s still legally married to a show-girl in Las Vegas.”
I stepped aside again as two women with pink balloons and gift bags approached the counter. It didn’t take a detective to know which floor they wanted–Labor and Delivery. Brenda asked for their names, looked up some information on her computer screen and gave them a room number. They happily walked toward the closest elevators and pushed the up button. I was happy for whoever they were going to visit. It must be amazing to have a new baby.
Brenda was just about to say something else when a large Spanish speaking family arrived. I recognized their accent as Mexican. Brenda looked over at me and I approached the counter. I was studying Spanish at the university and had just come back from a month in Guatemala. It was just easier for me to translate their questions for them, and to translate Brenda’s answers. There were other ways to get the job done, but when I was in the area I was happy to help out. It was good practice for me, and I genuinely enjoyed helping families when they were feeling vulnerable to reunite with their loved ones. They shuffled down the hall to find their loved one, a grandmother and great-grandmother to them.
“Thanks for that,” Brenda said matter-a-factly.
“Any time. You know I like to help when I can.
“I know you do. But you don’t understand how helpless I sometimes feel sitting here when people don’t speak English and they are asking me where they’re hijo, or abuelo is, and I don’t understand the rest of the conversation. Of course I can use the service we have, but it is really nice to have someone here who can help them in person. Ok, now. Tell me again what you need from me about Jo.”
I could feel myself relax as her voice changed and I recognized that she wasn’t angry anymore. She just cared about me, and didn’t want me to do anything stupid.