Human Blend by Lori Pescatore Page A

“I wasn't going to let
you get away that easily,” he said.
    “Neal, go sit somewhere else. You're gonna
scare her off before she even starts,” Joy said, sitting down with
her breakfast.
    “You're gonna be working here, nice!” Neal
grinned. Julie was so glad to see a friendly face. Neal's
persistence was past the verge of annoyance.
    “Hi Joy,” Julie said.
    “Hi kiddo. So what's the verdict? I haven't
seen Kathy yet this morning.” Joy asked.
    “She said I am gonna start with you, so you
can evaluate my skills,” Julie said.
    “Yes!” Neal exclaimed.
    “Neal, GO!” Joy said, more firmly. Neal
finally left, but Julie knew that wouldn't be the last of him.
“Don't worry. We have a full day today, so he won't have time to
annoy you... much,” Joy promised. The cafeteria was starting to
clear out as the clock moved closer to nine. Julie quickly downed a
few bites of her bagel and drank her orange juice on the way to the
elevator. “See you in a few,” Joy said, heading up to the fifth
floor.
    Julie walked down the hallway. Kathy's office
was on the same floor as the cafeteria. Julie was about to knock on
the door when a voice called from behind her. “I'm here, I'm here,”
Kathy said. She carried a cup of coffee in one hand, and a half
eaten cinnamon bun in the other, as she rushed down the
hallway.
    “I'm always chasing my tail,” Kathy said. She
looked at a loss on how to juggle things to unlock her office.
    “Can I hold something for you? Julie asked.
Kathy started to hand her the half eaten bun, then thought better
of it, and handed her the coffee instead. Julie held the hot liquid
while Kathy fumbled with the keys and unlocked the door.
    Kathy entered the office and quickly rushed
to answer her phone that was already ringing. “Kathy speaking. Yes,
I'm aware. I have the new schedule. I'll bring it to the meeting.
Okay, see you then,” she said, before hanging up the phone and
plopping in her chair.
    Julie eyed Kathy carefully. “How did your
doctor's visit go on Friday?” Julie asked.
    “He thinks I have an ulcer,” Kathy said, with
a laugh. “I don't have time for an ulcer,” Kathy chuckled.
    “It seems to have time for you,” Julie
said.
    “Okay, Miss Smarty Pants, save your cuteness
for the patients,” Kathy said and smiled. “Something tells me you
are gonna be just fine.”
    Kathy went over a few policy protocols with
Julie before taking her up to the fifth floor nurses station. The
floor was a flurry of activity from the moment the elevator doors
opened. The fifth floor consisted of patients that were recovering
from some type of cardiac event. It also had rooms for physical
therapy and an infusion department. Joy was behind the nurses
station, on the phone, writing down something. She smiled brightly
at Kathy and Julie when she finished. “You owe me,” Kathy said to
her.
    “I'm sure you'll collect,” Joy kidded
back.
    “Work her until three with an hour lunch,
then send her back to me,” Kathy instructed.
    “Aye, aye captain,” Joy said then came around
to Julie. “C'mon girlie, I'll show you where you can change.”
    “Good luck,” Kathy called after them.
    Joy led Julie to a locker room. “I'm gonna
use the little girls room while you change,” Joy said and excused
herself. Julie changed into her uniform and grimaced at the old
fashioned garment. “You're gonna be beating the interns off with a
stick,” Joy said, appraising Julie.
    “Gee, thanks,” Julie replied
sarcastically.
    “There are some pretty hot looking ones,” Joy
said. Julie wanted to tell Joy that she was not interested in 'hot
interns'. She just wanted to make people feel better.
    Back out in the busy corridor, they headed
towards the nurses station where Joy introduced Julie to a few of
the other nurses. Julie was glad that they all wore name tags,
because she would never remember everyone's names. “Time to work,”
Joy said, grabbing a basket filled with various medical