I hate it when I am running behind schedule but today was going to be one of those days. My clothes dryer quit, the alarm didn't go off and I don't have any clean uniforms plus I am going to be late. Now I am going to be stuck in one of those stupid scrub dresses and be behind the entire day.
After taking the ribbing for being late, I received my assignment for the day. It seems that the main house is full and they have transferred some of their adult patients to pediatrics. Joshua Summer had the unfortunate honor of coming down with an allergic reaction to seafood. Oh joy, cranky adults. My day just keeps getting better and better.
I introduce myself to the children and their parents first, and then go into Mr. Summer's room. "Mr. Summer? I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you that I was going to be your nurse today." I said. This voice comes out of the bathroom, telling me to call him Josh, and he's wondering if I have anything for the itching.
He walks out of the bathroom and is covered in a rash that looks very uncomfortable. But for some reason, he has a smile on his face and is being very pleasant. And he looks vaguely familiar for some reason. I leave to get him something for the itching, trying to puzzle out why he looked like someone I should know.
The rest of the day went fairly well. I still hadn't put that nagging question of Joshua out of my head yet. With the day almost over, I deliver the last of Josh's medication to him when the fire alarms in the hospital go off. All patient doors release automatically so that they will close the patient rooms off from any possible threat of fire. The announcement comes over the intercom that the alarm system is being tested and to disregard all fire alarms. After giving Josh his pills, I turn to leave but the door won't open.
"I can not believe this. This can not be happening to me," saying the words slowly through clenched teeth. Josh wants to know what's wrong. After explaining about the door not opening, I call out to the desk to tell them where I am and what has happened. Several of my coworkers try to open the door from the outside without any luck and place a call to the engineering people to have them look at the door. Until they come up, there isn't much else that can be done.
Josh offers me a chair and tells me that I might as well be comfortable and sit down. Since there doesn't seem to be any way to get out of my current situation, I sit. But, now that I don't have anything else to think about, the question of why Josh looks so familiar is really bugging me.
"You have a question, you want to ask me, don't you?" Josh is lying in his bed with this Cheshire cat grin on his face.