佚名 /Anonymous
Iwasinmysecondyearofnurse'strainingatChildren'-moonsky.
Jimmywasinthecommunicablediseaseswing, 'tsleeping, , '-tendedthere, butnoinstitutioncarecanreplaceamother'slove.
, “MissWhite! Haveyoucompletedallofyourworkandfinishedcharting?”
“Almost, MissStickleby.”
“It', .” 'snurse, 'dbeonvacationthenextthreedays.
Deliberately, Idawdled, massaginghisthinlittlelegs, playingpeek-a-boowithhisyellowduckyblanket, urginggurglinggigglesbetweenhisraspybreaths.
.
Backatthenurse'sstation, MissSticklebyglaredasIsignedoffJimmy'? ', playwith, readandtalktoallthechildreninourcare, weneversawhercooingoverababyorreadingtoatoddler.
Iwavedgood-byetoJimmy'sroomasIhurriedoffduty, , Iwaseagertoreturntomybright-eyed, nearlyrecoveredJimmy.
Holidayover, IrushedbacktoworkandeagerlypeekedthroughJimmy'.
“WheredidyoumoveJimmy?” Iaskedthenightnurse.
“Oh, 'tyouknow?” Suchacasualanswer.
, crushingthetoybag.
“I'msorry, .” Shereleasedalong, exhaustedsigh.“Saturdaynightwasabadnight.”
Beyondconsolation, Istumbledintothenurse'sloungewhereIcouldreleaseagreatwashoftears.
“MissWhite!” ItwasStickleby'sclipped, sternvoice.“, please.”
AlloftheemotionIfeltforJimmypouredoutlikeboilingoiloverthiscold, unfeelingwoman.
“Howcanyoubesouncaring?” Iyelled.“It'sbadenoughthatJimmy'sbeautifullittlelifeissnuffedout, buthedidn'? Doyoucareabouthimoranyotherlittlelife? No! Just, ‘MissWhite, .’ Well, itisn'! Ilovedthatlittleboy!’
Tearsspattereddownthefrontofmyuniform.
-bystoodatmyside, teardropssofteningherstiffuniform.
