Once I entered the cafeteria I paused and looked around. I  then closed my eyes and slowly opened them. I was ready for a nap, but food had to come first. So shrugging my shoulders I walked over and joined the line for the hot food. The other doctors and nurses in line only peered at me, none of them said a signal word. I guess most of them wanted to eat and go home. Which suited me just fine. Or on the other side of the coin they wanted to get a quick bite of breakfast before starting their day.

As the line inched along, I found myself piling my tray high with stables found at any Southern table. Jumbo buttermilk biscuits, smoked sausage, grits, eggs, french toast and scrambled eggs, sausage patties, a hash brown patty and a small bowl of oatmeal with chocolate chips added in. I shrugged my shoulders and paid for the stuff and filled a glass up with ice and sweet tea. I then found a table and started to eat. Oh, were you expecting me to get coffee or hot chocolate? I’m afraid not honey bunches of oats, this the deep south and we drink sweet tea no matter the time of day. Be it breakfast, lunch, supper, and or dinner where we are going to drink our sweet tea. Is it healthy for you? No, but then again most of this food on my tray contains enough salt and fat to give a sumo wrestler a bloody heart attack. Judge if you want, just remember this is the south. 

I figured, once I was done eating, I would walk back to my room, crawl into bed and fall asleep. And wait for the nurse to come around and give me my morning injection. Maybe they would say I was well enough to go home and start on the paperwork to discharge me from this pill pushing mother fucker.

Sighing I started to attack my food. I must have been thirsty because I swallowed my first glass of sweet tea and got up to get a refill. When I returned I noticed a nurse was peering right at me. She had a scowl across her face and her arms were folded across her chest.

“Morning.” I said as I sat down and started to eat a little slower this time.

“James.” She said, taking a deep breath. “We need to talk.” The nurse said.

“Later. I'm drowning my sorrows in food and sweet tea.” I responded as I started to spoon some big spoonfuls of oatmeal into my mouth. “Besides, I've been through hell and I don't care to revisit it. So like if you're going to tell me off for sneaking out of my room. I'm sorry.” I said swallowing. I then finished off my third glass of sweet tea and went to get another one.

“You drink a lot. That's good, though you need water instead of sweet tea.” The nurse said. “Good to see you eating again.” The nurse also said as she looked down at my plate.

“Well, this is the south and as a true born southerner I'm supposed to drink sweet tea with every meal. And yes, after what happened last night down in the basement of this place, I figured I could use the extra boost. After all, I'm sure you're short of a nurse this morning. She is down in the basement with her head bashed in and a knife to gut.” I added as I made a sandwich from the biscuits and one of the eggs and one of the sausage patties.

“We can afford to lose her. But she'll be back. You really have no idea who I am, do you?” The nurse seemed amused as she peered at me.

“I take it your the good phantom nurse?” I said as I took a big bite from my sandwich. “Because for one you have blonde hair and blue eyes like the good phantom nurse is supposed to have, and number two, you are wearing a white dress while the other nurses are wearing scrubs, and three your name tag says 'Mindy' on it.” I said, swallowing the bite I had taken from my sandwich. I then took another bite.

“You are correct..” The nurse said in a flat tone of voice.

“Self appointed guardian of this hospital, locked in a never ending battle of cat and mouse with the evil nurse. You also usher the souls of children who pass away in this hospital to the afterlife. You also help your fellow nurses when things get busy. You do a lot.” I added as I swallowed another bite.
“I'm flattered you know so much about me. But how do you know?” Nurse Mindy said as she peered at me. “I've never encountered somebody so well informed as you.”

“My mom was a nurse here back in the early nineties. She started shortly after you passed away and recorded your first appearance according to her research. You first appeared on Halloween of two thousand. If I'm not mistaken.” I said as I took another bite of my sandwich.

“Close enough.” Nurse Mindy rolling her eyes. “What was your mothers maiden name?”

“Isabella Mari Upton. Her grandmother Sarah Elizabeth Upton was ward manager I think when you were hired. And retired one year before you passed. You know, we southerners love to collect family lore. She married a man out of Vicksburg named William Bell, and they had two children, a girl and a boy, the girl was named Susan Elizabeth Mari Bell and the boy was named James Donald Bell,” I said, giving her the best half smile I could muster.

“I see..” Nurse Mindy said as she peered toward me. “I remember encountering a nurse named Isabella Mari Upton. Flaming red hair, blue eyes, kind of a firecracker. She was in love with a man named William Bell who was an upcoming lawyer who had a law practice in Vicksburg. Does he have a younger brother?” Nurse Mindy asks.

“Yes.” I said. “Who has spotted you from time to time.” I added as I finished my glass of ice tea and went to get another one. After a few seconds I returned to find Nurse Mindy peering at me. Her arms were now folded behind her head and she seemed to be thinking.

“Okay! So this is not normal for me! So how much do you know about the supernatural.” She said as she peered at me. “And don't worry about time, I'm going to milk that clock for as much over time as possible.” She added.

“I know based on what I've gathered from reading my uncle's notes, that there are two different worlds that run parallel to ours. One is a light world. The light world is often called 'Heaven' and the dark world is often called 'Hell'. And at certain places, the dark word often overlaps our word. Place's like graveyards, hospitals and old battlefields. Here 'Demons' come through and torment the living that are foolish enough to venture into those places. At each given place there is a guardian. For example you, that is the position there to guard those overlapping places and to save mortals who have strayed into them.” I said, taking another sip of my tea.

“Correct.” Nurse Mindy seemed to be growing annoyed.

“In Benton is the graveyard that is haunted by the spirit of a bride who killed her husband and her sister. The so called 'Bloody Bride' there the guardian is a woman by the name of Gwendoline Potter who is training somebody else to take over when she is too old. She is helped by my uncle who is a priest in the Episcopal Church.” I said as I finished off my sandwich. “Hey would you mind since you're quizzing me and stuff getting me another sausage and biscuit?”

At that moment I thought the nurse was going to reach across the table and slap me right across the face. Instead she sighed again, got up, walked over to the woman standing behind the hot bar, she whispered something, the woman nodded her head and a few minutes later she returned with a hot sausage and biscuit. She placed the sausage and biscuit down in front of me and I just smiled as I got up and fixed myself another glass of sweet tea.
“Okay.. how did you know about me though, I mean beside the notes your mother left.” She added. “And how did you know about Spooky?”

“I have a cousin who lives in Benton, her name is Madeline. Madeline encountered you one night in this very hospital. And later when she published her first collection of ghost stories and urban legends about Benton, she included her encounter with you in them.” I said.

“I remember encountering a girl named Madeline...” Nurse Mindy said. “She lost her mother in a car wreck and was struggling with something. All I did was take her by my side and show her some tender affection and promised her everything would turn out okay.”

“She is about to start college now. She is going to major in Nursing and has published three short collections of ghost stories. She credits you with showing her the right path to take. And I guess because you were a nurse she wants to be a nurse too.” I added.

“I'm flattered.. okay.. still..” She said getting a bit annoyed.

“Also my cousin Jamie, a blonde haired, blue eyed girl who is also transgender encountered you a few years ago. She told me about her encounter and how you pulled her across your lap and tanned her bottom because you caught her out of bed and she almost ended up going down into the basement. Or something to that effect.” I said as I finished off my second sausage and biscuit. I then got up to get more sweet tea.

“You drink a lot... maybe too much..” She said, sighing. “That is going to be murder on your blood sugar.”

Once I refilled my glass I sat back down and then started to attack my bowl of grits. After a few spoonfuls the nurse just arched an eyebrow and peered at me and motioned with her hands for me to keep talking and so I did.

“Well, the last person who told me about their encounter with you was my girlfriend. Cerridwen. Short girl with coal black hair, blue eyes, petite, wears a bunch of pride bands on her arms. Peppery. Tends to shout a lot. And then tends to pout.” I said smiling.

“I remember her. She was the last one I'd encountered. She barely escaped Nurse Spooky.” Nurse Mindy paused. “So your telling me, you had three people tell you about me, all three were people were people who had no reason to lie to you, and yet you could not accept their stories stories and you had to push your luck and see if you could encounter the fabled 'Nurse Spooky' despite being warned and told otherwise.” Nurse mind said as she unfolded her hands and placed her head on the table.

“Yep.” I said as I finished off my grits and started on the oatmeal.

“I have a headache..” The nurse said.

“Can a ghost get a headache?” I asked as I finished the oatmeal and tossed the empty bowl aside.

“I don't even know.” Nurse Mindy then looked at me and then she pointed to the braid that I had to cut off. She then shook her head and placed her head down upon the table.

“Okay what happened to your  hair?” She sighed as she rolled her head around the table.
“I cut it, it's the newest style. I hope you like it?” I said draining my glass again. I then got up and walked over to get a refill of sweet tea and to get something else to eat. I returned a few minutes holding a plate that held another sausage and biscuit.

“Be honest with me please.. I have a killer headache going on right now trying to wrap my head around all of this. And the last thing I need is some added shark, because trust I'm a hair's breadth from pulling you over my knee right here in this crowded dining room and lifting up your skirt, lowering your panties. And trying to pap some sense into you!” She muttered.

“I had to cut it, Spooky was holding on to it.” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“This just keeps getting better and better. Now the evil bitch has something personal. I'm sure she is going to stroke herself while she holds it and thinks about torturing you while she climbs space mountain and then right before lift off she is going to smell it.” She said, sighing.

“I'm trying to eat here..” I said glaring.

“I think you've eaten enough. If you keep this up you're going to get as big as a house!” She said, sighing as she placed her head back down on the table. “I have a massive headache too! And all I want to do is clock out and go home.. maybe take a holiday from this damn place and haunt somewhere else for a while.” Nurse Mindy said as she released a sound that sounded like a groan.

“Can ghosts get headaches? Also do you really sleep? Also where is home? Your grave?” I said between bites.

At this Nurse Mindy lifted her head and peered at me.

“What with all the questions? Normally I'm the one asking questions!” She said, sighing. “Damn, the tables have turned on me.” She said placing her head back down upon her table. “Jesus kid, what are you a lawyer or something?” She added.

“My dad is a lawyer.” I said, smiling a little. “His father was a lawyer, his father before him was a lawyer, and his father before him was a lawyer. I think the whole Bell family was nothing but lawyers. We became planters when after the Civil War my great-great-great-great grandfather started getting paid in land when money was scarce.” I said, smiling brightly.

“Oh good! And I guess you want a lawyer too?” Nurse Mindy said signing.

“It is either law school or the priesthood.” I said finishing my meal and then my tea.

“... You know.. I'm done..” She said standing up. “I could tell you the type of person who thinks too much, who listens too little and will debate the fact that the sun is in the sky and the sky is blue. I'm just going to come out and say it. Nurse Spooky has a section of your hair. She is not dead, you just wounded her. She can use that section of hair to conjure your soul at will to her lair. But knowing you, I'm sure you thought up a plan! So let me hear this brilliant plan before I will myself to the afterlife..” She paused.

“And why are you dressed like a damn cheerleader!” She yelled. Though it seemed I was the only one who could hear her yelling. Because nobody turned around and peered at us.
“I'm dressed like this because based on what Cerridwen said I thought a dead cheerleader or the soul of a dead cheerleader would be the perfect bait to draw Spooky out from hiding and it worked!” I said as I stood up and walked and refilled my glass with sweet tea I then sat back down.

“... I'm shocked beyond words right now. You think too much you know that, you think way too damn much and what you think about is 'How do I get myself killed' instead of I don't know 'How not do I encounter this demonic nurse!'” She bellowed. “Oh Goodness me! Why! Why! Why! Now every time you're here in this hospital I have to keep my eye on you.”

“Why?” I asked. At this point I think the breakfast hour was over because the line cooks were taking up the trays and collecting the trays. 

“Because you could be visiting your damn girlfriend! And she can now snatch you as you exit the lift! You could be visiting your first born child here and boom she will snatch you. DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND YOU DIM WITTED BOY. As long as she holds that piece of hair she can snatch you and will, you can be visiting your child here at the hospital, some twenty or thirty years from now and boom, she can snatch you. This is not some game you foolish boy, this is a fucking war!” She bellowed.

“Why would she snatch me then? I thought by then I would have aged out of her strike range. She is not known to go after adults much less twenty something years old; she only known to target children and teenagers. I'm sixteen now and in about two years I would have aged out of her strike range.”

“Bullshit your fourteen.” She said, sighing. “I know because I remember the day you were born. The bitch tried to take you twice!” She said holding up the two fingers. “First when you were born because you had the 'shine' about you as the gift. Your sister had the 'shine' about her. But you have the greater shine! Also that true she stops going after people when they turn eighteen. But here the thing you kicked her ass. So it a matter of pride”

“oh..”

“Here is what I will strongly suggest you do. First take communion and then consider the priesthood both will give a measure of protection from her. Take communion daily, if possible, weekly at least and best of all stay in your room! She can't enter your room! All rooms are blessed! That's why she sticks to the hallways! If you get caught here at night, stick to your room or one of the play rooms.”

“What if I have to pee..” I said I knew now I was just taking the piss, but I had too.

“Then piss in one of the pots they have plotted plants in ! Anyway, all the time I have for you this morning,so take my advice, and get back to your room and stay there.. there still is  fifteen minutes left on her 'watch' no.. stay here until one of the nurses finds you and then stay in your room till they discharge you.” And with that she vanished.

And yes I waited until somebody came to collect me. And the very next day I was discharged. And no, unlike Madeline I did not get a book! I'm sorely disappointed. And overall I consider this whole adventure a bust. I had escaped without earning an ‘Red Badge’ of courage was my intention from the start. The only thing I had to show for this little adventure was a selfie with Nurse Spooky. 

The End.