A Penny's Worth by Nancy DeRosa

Reins
stepped out to talk to the nurse. But now she was alone with the patient, with
no idea what to say.
    She needn’t have worried, though: he had
plenty to say. “By the way,” he began, breaking the uncomfortable silence, “let
me be the one to tell you that you suck at putting in IVs. Shit lady, it hurt
like hell. You’re lucky I didn’t scream out from the pain.” He pointed his
finger at Penny and added, “I saved your ass because I knew that old bat was
watching your every move.” His face didn’t look so grumpy anymore, just sad and
tired. “I do have a heart you know. Maybe it’s a little hard and crusty… or
should I say rusty. It’s been quite a while since I’ve attempted to help a
person out.”
    Penny’s face broke out in a huge grin,
and he smiled in return. She was amazed at how much his smile transformed his
face. His eyes became brighter and his features softened.
    “You have great teeth,” she said without
thinking.
    “Thank-you,” he replied as they continued
to grin at each other like fools.
    “We’re done for the day now Ms Marins,”
Nurse Reins said, breaking into the moment. Penny didn’t know how long she had
been standing there. “I will give my assessment to Dr Kittles and he will
notify you on our decision in a few days. I do not need you to come in tomorrow
for more observations.”
    Watching Nurse Reins abruptly walk out
into the hallway, Penny realized she had not said goodbye. Not a good sign. The
chances of her getting this job seemed pretty slim. Nurse Reins didn’t appear
to be impressed. She thought of her family and realized Nurse Reins should join
the club. A deep sadness gripped her so suddenly that she had to fight back
tears.
    “Don’t pay any attention to that witch,”
the old man said. “I’ve been on this floor one time too many and I’ve never
even seen her crack a smile. Even I can do that once in a while.”
    “Well you should be smiling all the time
with those pearly whites. I wish I had teeth like yours.”
    “Stop trying to cheer me up lady, because
maybe you’re being successful.”
    Smiling, she bid him goodbye. The time
had come to head home, hug her pets, and hope for the best. It was her only
choice.

Chapter 13
    The day after her nerve-wracking experience at Wayside,
her mother called. Penny didn’t offer much information. She was perched in the
living room with a bowl of tomato soup sprinkled with gold fish crackers. It
was the first time she’d felt just a tad relaxed; but the peace was now over.
    “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”
Dolores’ judgmental voice crackled down the phone at her.
    “I absolutely do.” Winston jumped up onto
the couch and Penny carefully placed the soup on the coffee table.
    Her voice rising an octave higher,
Dolores countered, “Do you think you’re going to meet some handsome doctor who
will take you away into the sunset?” She huffed. “Let me tell you something,
things like that don’t happen in real life. Doctors may have affairs with the
nurses but they rarely marry them.”
    “Are you for real?” Yanking the phone
away from her ear, she felt her stomach tying up in knots like a pretzel. She
felt her chest tightening as she retorted, “I’m really insulted Mom that you
think so poorly of nurses.” Drawing in a deep breath, she decided that she
wouldn’t respond anymore to her mother’s idiotic declarations. She remembered
Aunt Bess’ advice; step out of your mother’s space, don’t let her suck the air
of you.
    Unfortunately, Dolores’ tirade was still
in full flow. “Listen Penny, your father and I have noticed how secretive and
distant you’ve been lately. We can put two and two together. We know how hard
it’s been for you to meet a man and all, but giving up your career is a huge
mistake. Women at your age have a hard time meeting men and you need to face
that. Maybe you should start learning how to accept your life, make the best of
it and appreciate what you