Moonlight Magic

“Your boyfriend’s in again I see.” Said Sandra with a huge grin on her face as she strolled past Julie with an empty cardboard bedpan.

“I know.” Replied Julie without bothering looking up as she tried to fill in one of many forms all nurses have to complete on a daily basis. “I saw his name on the list and went to see him but he was asleep.”

“I was speaking to John, one of the ambulance drivers earlier and he said they picked him up in town. He had collapsed and someone rang for an ambulance.” Said Sandra spinning the empty bedpan around in her hands.

“Poor thing.” Replied Julie looking at Sandra. “I think you better take that to where it’s needed before it’s too late.” She said pointing at the bedpan. Sandra turned and walked off into the wardroom opposite balancing the bedpan on her head as she went. Julie smirked to herself…Sandra could be a pain sometimes, most of the time actually, but she could always be relied upon to be anything but normal and boring…which could be nice…sometimes…and now was one of those times.

Poor Eric she thought to herself, why did he leave the hospital in the first place and where was he going? Home? No-one new his address so maybe he just wanted to be at home…that was probably it.

“I forgot to tell you Julie.” Said Sandra as she came back out of the wardroom…now empty handed. “Your mate was found with a piece of paper in his hand...It’s with his clothes...just thought you’d like to know.”

Julie put her completed form in the Completed Form tray on the desk and stood up from her chair as Sandra walked past and sat at the computer next to her.

“I...yes…no…oh I don’t know.” Said Julie now even more confused than she was five minute ago.

Julie.” Said Sandra looking up from the PC. “Go and see him. You know you want to.”

Julie twisted her body round to look at Sandra and within less than a second a huge smile burst across her face.

“Oh…Ok…I will.” She replied scampering off down the corridor to where Eric’s wardroom was.

He had been put back in the same bed in the same wardroom.

She walked slowly into his room being very careful not to make any noise but her shoes would insist on squeaking with every step as the rubber sole touched and left the floor.

Squeak…eek…squeak…eek…squeak…eek.

She made it to the side of his bed without apparently waking him, or so she thought.

“Call that quiet.” Eric whispered without opening his eyes. “Hello Julie.”

“Hi Eric.” She replied through a large smile. “How did you know it was me?”

“I’m psychic.” He replied again without opening his eyes. All of a sudden Julie felt a wave of emotion flow over her entire body…was this old man special? Did he have psychic powers?

“And anyway…Sandra’s shoes go clump…ump…clump…ump. Yours squeak.”

Julie’s shoulders dropped and her face filled with a smile. Of course he wasn’t psychic. He just knew what her footsteps sounded like.

“How do you feel Eric?” Said Julie sitting on the bed next to his right hand. He opened his eyes and turned to look at Julie and again, his dazzling blue eyes almost took her breath away.

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. Every bone in my body aches…apart from that I feel good…a little tired and lacking in strength…but good.”

“Well…you shouldn’t have left the hospital so soon should you? You knew you weren’t fully recovered.”

“I know…but…”

“But what Eric? It was a very silly thing to do. You could have been seriously hurt…or worse.”

“I know…but I needed to get something.”

Julie was a little surprised by his answer.

“Get something? What do you mean? Was it to do with the piece of paper you had in your hand?”

Eric began to try and push himself up so Julie stood up and supported his arms and back enough for him to sit up a bit straighter as she re-arranged his pillows.

“Thank you.” Said Eric reaching for the plastic glass of water next to his bed. He took a large sip and Julie took it from him putting it back on his bedside cupboard.

“Julie.” Said Eric looking straight into her eyes which made her feel a little uncomfortable. “Will you look in my trouser pocket…over there...on the chair. The piece of paper is inside.”

She walked around his bed to where the chair was, and searching through his pockets, she found the folded piece of paper.

“Yes that’s it…can I have it please.” Said Eric holding out his hand.

“What is it?” She asked passing it over. “Can I see?”

Eric unfolded the shabby piece of note paper and took a few seconds to study what was written on only one side.

“Here.” He said handing it back to her. She took the paper and could see it was a mass of numbers in columns.

“What is it? I can see it has dates and times on it but they mean nothing to me.”

Eric didn’t answer for a second or two and just stared out the window.

“Eric…what is it?”

Finally he answered.

“It…It’s a timetable of all the full moons…in this country.”

“Why would you have that Eric…I mean…I know you like to look at the moon in the night sky. We’ve done it together here at the hospital…but…why is it important to you?”

Again Eric remained quiet and didn’t answer, dropping his head forward so his chin rested on his white haired chest and slowly closed his eyes.

“Eric…are you alright? What is it Eric? What’s this all about?” Said Julie sitting on the bed and taking his hand in hers. He slowly lifted his head up and opened his beautiful blue eyes to reveal tears welling and gently rolling down his life-worn cheeks.

“Oh Eric…what is it…please tell me. I want to help.” Said Julie clasping his hand with both of hers.

Eric took a deep breath and pushed himself up in the bed.

“Julie…I can’t tell you…if I do…if I do people might…might…”

“Might what Eric…might what?”

“Might upset everything…and anyway the piece of paper is missing what I need…look.” He said taking the paper from Julie’s hand and pointing at the dates. “Look…”

She moved his hand holding the paper back and forth to get the numbers into focus.

“Yes…I see. The dates stop at…two weeks ago.” Said Julie letting go of his hand and the piece of paper when something seemed to click inside her head. “That was just before you came in here Eric…is this paper anything to do with why you were brought in here…into the hospital?”

Eric looked away like a guilty child not wanting to look into his accuser’s eyes.

“Eric…look at me…does this paper…these numbers have anything to do with what happened to you?”

Then before Eric could answer, Sandra’s outline appeared at the doorway to the wardroom.

“There you are.” She exclaimed walking in towards them.

“You see.” Said Eric with the slightest hint of a smile on his weathered face.

“What…I see what Eric?” Said Julie expecting an answer to the riddle of the numbers on the piece of note paper.

“Her footsteps go clump…ump…clump…ump.”

“Oh…Eric.” Exclaimed Julie in frustration.

“Julie.” Exclaimed Sandra, “Come on…you’ve been in here for ages. We’ve got work to do…and that bloody old woman in the next wardroom wants another bedpan…you can do it this time.”

Julie stood up from the bed.

“I’m coming Sandra…I’m coming…and you…Eric.” Said Julie pointing a finger at him as she got to the doorway. “You owe me an explanation. Bye for now. Try and get to sleep…night.”

She left the wardroom flicking the main lights off as she left.

“Blimey Julie. You were in there for ages.” Said Sandra as they walked back down the corridor to the reception station.

“I know. I’m sorry…but something is bothering him and I…”

“Oh Julie…he’s a daft old man…he probably thinks this is a hotel and we’re room service.”

They both stopped at the reception desk, looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“I’ll go and see to the lady who needs a bedpan…you…you can make us a cup of tea…I think we both deserve it.” Said Julie as she turned and made her way to the old lady.

“What a good idea…and I think there’s some donuts left from earlier…in fact I’m sure there are.”