Yeshiva University High School For Boys - Elchanite Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Three by ARNoLD SILVERBERG The night was still. The clamor of the day had departed. On the seventh floor of the hospital all was quiet. The patients had gone to sleep. and only the night nurse remained awake. She sat reading a magazine. The elevator stopped on the seventh floor and a young intern stepped out. He waved his hand at the nurse in a gesture of salutation. but said nothing. He stepped into the corridor to make the final rounds. Room 701-he looked in-all asleep. Room 702-he looked in-all asleep. He started to hum a soft melody. Room 703-all asleep. Room 704-he looked ing there was one bed empty! The young man walked gingerly to the nurses booth. He whispered, VVhat's with 70-1? There's one bed empty. Mrs Harris checked out today. She answered in the same low tones. The intern nodded and went into the corridor to finish the rounds of the floor. Room 705-okay. He looked into room 706-all were asleep. The intern sighed as he stepped toward 707. the last on the Hoor. He looked in, A bed lamp was still on! The intern walked to the bed and saw that an old woman whom he did not recognize was still awake. 'AGran'ma, why're you still awake? he asked softly. Don't you know that you have to get some sleep? After all how else do you expect to get well? 'AOh! I was just thinking. I suppose that I forgot to shut the lamp, though. The thin. highfpitclied voice echoed softly in his ears. 'ANow you just get to sleep and forget everything, he said. He turned to leave, but she called after him. A'Please don't go just yet. Please sit here a little while. Room 707 was the last of the floor and the young man was in no particular hurry. He smiled and pulled a small chair up to the bed. The old woman lay there quietly, gazing through the window into the calm night. A few minutes passed and she said to him, I suppose you're tired too. You can leave now. He got up. 'AThank you very much, young man, for sitting here. He waved a kiss. turned, and walked out of the room to the elevator. uAny trouble with that old lady in room 707? She just moved in today. Mrs. Green is her name. She asked me to sit with her for a few minutes-couldn't fall asleep. She's all right now. He paused. Well, good night. 'iGoOd night. He stepped into the elevator and went up to finish the hospital rounds. The hospital was quiet. On the seventh Hoor all were asleep. The nurse sat absorbed in her magazine. Both hands of the hall clock pointed straight up. But in room 707 not all were asleep. The old woman tossed and turned in her bed-silently but uneasily. Sleep would not come. She sat up wearily in the bed and instinctively turned on the light. And she stared, attentively yet indifferently, out the window. at the dark blue, moonlit skies. And she thought and she reminisced. She remembered the childhood days spent in the city, and she recalled her early days of married life. 20

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The thought of happy days filled her mind, and jostled out the lingering memories of adversity. She suddenly felt a strong impulse to recapture them and the places where they were spent. And she anxiously but silently lifted herself out of the bed. i The old woman walked a few steps to the terrace and she found the door unlocked. She quietly opened it and stepped out onto the pleasant moonlit terrace. The memories gracefully returned to her and filled her eyes with tears. The intern finished the rounds of the building and brought the elevator slowly down. He looked at his wrist watch: it was l2:3O. The thought of Mrs. Green's insomnia had filled his mind ever since he left the seventh floor. He decided that he would check up on her again. He stopped the elevator on the seventh floor and stepped into the corridor. The nurse at the desk looked up at him. VVhat's the matter? ul dropped my comb somewhere on this Hoor. I'd like to get it. You'll get it when it's light in the morning. You can wait, cant you? No, I can't. It's the only one I have, and I'd hate to be without it when I get up later. I've got a Hashlight. It won't be any trouble. The young man stepped into the corridor and walked toward room 707. He peered in. The light by Mrs. Greens bed was on. but the bed was empty! He turned and looked around. The terrace door was open! He stepped quickly onto the terrace. There. sitting by the railing, was Mrs. Green. He walked silently up to her. She was smiling, looking out into the star spaugled night. Oh, just let me sit out here another little while, dear. she said to him. She hadnt turned around, but she knew he was there. Come on Mrs. Green, you'd better come in with me. It's pretty chilly out here. He spoke very tenderly. The old lady sighed as the intern escorted her to her room. He sat her down on the bed. Dont do that again, gran'ma. he said. 'AYou're liable to get real sick and I'm sure that you don't want that to happen. He smiled at her. He spread the blanket and covered her frail body. 'Sleep tight. gran'ma. I-Ie turned to leave but she called after him. XVould you please let me kiss you? she said pleadingly. yet very calmly. The young man paused, straightened his tie. and walked slowly and nervously toward the old lady. He bent his head slowly, and she kissed him tenderly on the cheek. Good night, gran'ma. Good bye. dear. She smiled. As he left the room. a tear rolled down his cheek. The young man passed the nurses booth. She was still very much absorbed in her magazine, and she didn't look up as she spoke. Did you find it? He didn't answer. 'Sweet old lady, isn't she? Ile nodded affirmatively. ls she asleep now? Yeah, she's asleep. Fast asleep. The young man turned quickly and entered the waiting elevator. The old woman did sleep that night. Slie slept 41 deep peaceful slumber. W'l1en they went to wake her next morning. tlzere was still cl smile on lzer face. Il