Dominican College of San Rafael - Firebrand Yearbook (San Rafael, CA)

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(Nurse pays no attention and walks briskly around to Mike ' s bed. Mike ' s eyes follow her with a sheepish look. Nurse looks at him quizzically.) Nurse: And what ' s the matter with you? Now what have you done? You look mighty sheepish to me, son. Let ' s have a look. Mike: Nothing ' s wrong, honest. Miss Scott. Nurse: Hm . . . we ' ll see. (Takes his pulse and tem- perature, and examines the bottles on his table.) Well, young man, I don ' t see that bottle of cod-liver oil. You don ' t by chance know where it is now, do you? Mike: C-Cod-liver oil? No, sir, I mean, ma ' am. Nurse: Oh, is that so! Well then, what is this? (She pulls the bottle from imder his pillow.) I ' ve been here a mighty long time, son, and I know all the tricks. Now (in a stern voice) sit up and take it. (She puts a spoonfid in his mouth, and puts her hand over his mouth until he swallows it.) Harry: (With the thermometer still in his mouth) Female beast. Henry: (Complacently) Heh, heh, a just recom- pense if I ever saw one. Cards and story telling, yes, indeed, a just recompense. Nurse: (In a loud voice) And what is it you ' re mut- tering about, Mr. Kline? I hear tell that you ' re ruin- ing your eyes reading all those history books, taking 106

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(As Harry is about to answer, a muffled groan is heard from the fourth bed.) Harry: (Whispering) Hey Mike, what ' s wrong with the kid? He ain ' t said a word since we got here. I guess he ' s taking it kinda hard. Sure wish we could get him interested in some cards or somethin ' . Mike: (In a sad, slow voice) He wants to die. (Kline puts down his book and looks at the huddled figure. He passes his hands across his eyes, leans back on the pillows, and stares at the ceiling, on his face the sad look of knowledge of what the boy is going through. The door on the left opens, and a stern look- ing middle-aged nurse comes in. She goes directly to Harry ' s bed and takes his pidse.) Nurse: (With dry humor) What ' s the matter with you, Mr. Blain, lose at cards? You look like you ' re ready to be buried. And what about these pills? You should have been out of here ten days ago. You ' re using up the taxpayers ' money and taking up space. Why, you should be out there now, running one of those night clubs, and keeping poor men ' s minds di- verted from these times. Here, (she shoves a ther- mometer in his mouth) and keep still while you ' ve got it in there. Harry: (Muttering) Hard hearted female if I ever saw one. 105

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your recreation inside instead of outdoors getting some exercise. Henry: I ' m inclined to disagree with you, my dear Miss Scott. One never ruins one ' s eyes doing what is right and . . . Nurse: And I suppose you ' ll disagree with me that your bottle of cod-liver oil is also missing? Henry: Not so hasty, my good woman. (He pro- duces the bottle) You see, I followed the instructions quite rigidly, and it is empty. (He gives her a com- placent smile.) Nurse: Now aren ' t you the good boy! Just for that I have a surprise for you. (She goes out the door on the right.) Harry: Apple polisher, that ' s what you are. Henry: Elementary, my good fellow. I threw the stuff out of the window this morning. The result of a well-rounded education. Nurse: (Coming back in) Here you are, Mr. Kline, a brand new bottle. Noav sit up and take it like the good boy you are. (Gives it to him. He chokes and gurgles, and Mike and Harry laugh.) The next time you throw stuff out of the window, by the way, make sure you know where you are throwing it. That was the second change I had to make this morning. Henry: (Sliding into his blankets) Oh, dear me . . . 107