Breakfast was brought to me the next morning, it was a simple breakfast, grits, boiled turkey bacon, toast, and milk. Still worn out from the nights before I ate and fell asleep, I awoke in time for lunch, a piece of broiled fish seasoned with just lemon juice and dill, steamed broccoli, and tea. Still tired I ate and again I fell asleep, dinner was a little better, roasted chicken seasoned with lemon and pepper, more steamed broccoli, a small slice of yellow cake with chocolate icing and more tea. Again tired I ate and fell asleep.
And so the cycle repeated till two days after my encounter with Amanda Fairchild I was deemed well enough to be discharged from the hospital. I remember that morning, the forecast for that day was cloudy with a slight chance of rain. In fact it did rain. Anyway, after breakfast, more grits, boiled turkey bacon, toast and milk, I was ushered into the bathroom and given a nice warm shower. The Nurse on duty, a blonde-haired and blue eyed nurse whose name tag read “Veronica” that was followed by the letters “RN” had taken her time and washed my hair again.
And after much debating and some teasing I'd allowed her to style my hair in two braided pigtails with a cord of pink ribbon looped around the end. I felt the pigtails complemented the rest of my outfit, a black pleated skirt, white woolen stocking, black leather shoes, and finally a pink turtleneck sweater. A sudden Easter Snap had dropped the temperature to near winter freezing levels. Okay, maybe not really freezing as a hard freeze, but it felt like freezing. But Sunny Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, every time you have a thin sheet forming on your window pane you know it's colder than a well diggers bottom outside.
Anyway, Nurse Veronica had just finished packing my bags and had just ducked out of my room. You know to check on somebody else. That left me sitting there, alone in a wheelchair. Why was I in a wheelchair you ask? Because most hospitals have this policy where all discharging patients are escorted to the exit and more often that not such transportation is provided by a wheelchair.
Anyway as the minutes ticked by, I found myself wondering where Veronica could be, I was ready go, and believe it or not, I was ready to see my family again, also as a added bonus, dad had promised to take us all out to get hibachi, you know to celebrate me getting out of the hospital.
also dad had promised to take us all out to hibachi, to you know celebrate me not dying of pneumonia or something. Also the weather was kind of perfect for hibachi, it was cold, windy, and frosty. Anyway as I sat there, twiddling my fingers, waiting for Veronica to return. I started to think about my encounter with Nurse Mindy, my bottom was still a little sore.. and well the fact that the nurse had spanked me, made the encounter a little too personal. I doubt I'll ever share that encounter with another living soul as long as I live. Anyway, the minutes seemed to slowly tick by then something happened. The door to my hospital room slowly opened and there in the doorway stood Nurse Amanda Fairchihld.
“So.” She said, strolling into the room. “You're finally well enough to go home.” She peered down at me. She held a box in her hand. The box was the size of a shoe box and was wrapped in pastel blue wrapping paper and tied around the box was a cord of pastel ribbon that ended with a box on top.
“Yes!” I said blushing as I stared up at her.
“Good.” Amanda Fairchild said smiling. “I've been keeping taps on you. You've been a good little girl, staying in bed, getting plenty of rest, eating all your food.” She said as she bent down and looked me right in the eyes. I felt a chill run down my spine as I peered into her bright blue eyes.
“And so, Nurse Mindy decided she should go out and buy you a present. For you know, I've been a good little girl these past few days.” She said with a giggle as she held the box out to me.
I'm not sure what came over me, but I slowly reached out and took the box from Nurse Mindy's hands. I could feel myself starting to blush with embarrassment, getting a gift from a total stranger, was something. Even if that stranger was a nurse.
“Go ahead and open it.” She said smiling. “You have a few moments before Veronica returns from making her rounds. And Dawn is printing out some papers for you.” The woman paused. “Plus, I want you see the gifts I've picked out for you.”
I blinked again, and slowly I undid the bow, and gently I removed the paper. Nurse Mindy giggled like a schoolgirl as she folded her hands behind her back and swayed from one side to the other. It's cute that a grown woman would act in such a childish manner. Also it was a little embarrassing too.
Anyway, musing aside, I quickly reached down and removed the lid of the box. I placed the lid at the bottom of the box and there much to my embarrassment was a teddy bear, one with white fur and one that was dressed as a nurse.
“Nurse Brenda Bear is a very special teddy bear.” She said, smiling softly. “She'll be keeping taps on you while you're at home, each night she'll be reporting back to me, keeping me informed on your progress. Should you decide to stray and fall back into your old habits? Such as pushing yourself too hard, not taking your asthma medications, and you know, endangering your health. Then she'll tell me and I'll just have to visit you at home.” She said with a giggle.
“Okay...” I said blinking as I peered up at the strange nurse.
I gently placed the bear on my lap. And then I swallowed hard. Because sitting under the bear was an black walnut paddle hairbrush. I blinked and blinked again as I peered down at the brush. My blood ran cold, and I felt a chill pass over my shoulder. Nurse Mind was now smiling a very feral smile.
“Remember what I told you about repeated offenders. Ms. Jamie Sarah Potter.” She said as she stood up and before my eyes she started to vanish. “Consider yourself lucky, that I found you first. Nurse Spooky was hunting you that night. If you'd gone into the morgue. You would have been caught like a fly in a spider's web.” Her voice echoed and soon she had vanished..
The moment she vanished from my sight was the moment I felt all the color drain from my face. It then dawned on me, I'd been talking with the Phantom Nurse all along. My hands started to tremble, a cold sweat broke out across my forehead. My breathing increased. Now, I've had supernatural encounters before, but I've done my best to just write them off. Like the time I saw Joan of Arc, that could have easily been a hallucination brought on by stress. That time I thought I saw a white dove descend from heaven and smack me in the head. I kind of wrote that off as another hallucination brought on by the religious fervor brought on my Baptism and Confirmation into the Episcopal Church using my new name of 'Jamie Sarah Potter' which in a way kick started the whole process of me becoming 'Jamie Sarah Potter' more than anything else.
Then it was the time I fought the shadows... When I fought, and slew my shadow self.. my old self. Again I chalked that up to another hallucination brought on by the raging fever that was pretty much boiling my brain. Yep, you read that right, boiling my brain like an egg in a pot of boiling water.
But this, this I could not mark up as a hallucination. This was real, and the bear and the brush were real too. It was at that very moment that Veronica decided to make her return. She was trailed by Dawn who had a thick folder of papers in her hand. Both girls blinked when they saw my face. Veronica was the first one to speak.
“What wrong honey?” She said kneeling down beside the wheelchair. “You look like you've seen a ghost or something?” She said as she reached up and touched my cheeks, that one thing I love about Veronica, she had a lovely bedside manner.
“She might have.” Dawn said, shrugging her shoulders. “There know telling how many people have died in this room over the years. Plus, she and her friends were telling each other ghost stories a few days ago. You know teenagers and their overactive imagination. There is no telling what supernatural image her mind managed to conjure up.” Dawn added in a flat tone of voice.
“Dawn!” Veronica shouted in a scolding tone of voice.
Dawn just rolled her shoulders.
“Nurse Mindy.” I said as I peered down at the stuffed bear and the hairbrush. “Came to visit me before I was discharged.” I quickly added.
At that both Veronica and Dawn exchanged a glance. Dawn was the first to speak.
“Okay!” She said walking over and taking hold of the handlebars of my wheelchair. “I'm sure you thanked Nurse Mindy like a good little girl. And Anyway your family is waiting for you. Your Mom and dad have just signed the release forms and the doctor is briefing them now. You know, saying what you need to do and what you don't need to do. Nothing major.” And with that she started pushing me out of the room. Veronica soon followed us.
Anyway, as I was wheeled down the long corridor, I happened to look up and glance into one of the empty rooms. And there standing in the room was Nurse Mindy, her arms folded across her chest, her baby blue eyes twinkling as she peered right at me. A predatory smile seemed to grace her face. I only saw her for a second before she vanished again. It was then I knew that what I was seeing was no hallucination. But a real ghost, I had just seen the real Phantom Nurse and her name was Amanda Fairchild.
The End.
The Adventures of Jamie Sarah Potter will continue in 'The Adventures of Jamie Sarah Potter: Jamie Play's Dotty'.
A deep blush colored my face as I peered into the floor length mirror. The reflection showed a girl with blonde hair, baby blue eyes, and a petite frame. The girl was also dressed in one of the most embarrassing costumes I've ever laid eyes on. The costume was a short white dress with black spots. The accessories included a purple dog collar with a golden nameplate that read 'Jamie' engraved on it. And last but not least a pair of black dog ears. A small sigh escaped my lips as I spun around. This has to be the dumbest thing I've ever volunteered to do. And I've done a lot of dumb stuff too since becoming Jamie.
Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I'm dressed like a dog? Well to answer your question its because my best friend talked me into volunteering to play 'Dotty The Dalmatian Princess' a popular Saturday Morning cartoon always seems to be playing on PBS Kids. Think Clifford the Big Red Dog infused with My Little Ponies. Yes, as horrible as that sounds, it's what the cartoon is like. I use to watch it when I was eight. That was about eight years ago, and yes it's still running. It's been running for eighteen or so seasons and still going strong. Heck, there is even a cult following of the show on the internet and maybe even one or two conventions. It's weird okay.
Anyway, each month or every few months the newly opened Benton Animal Rescue, our town's only no kill animal shelter sponsors a charitable stunt were somebody cosplay's as Dotty and gets covered in a few buckets of chili after performing a few tricks, like fetch, rollover, speak and shake for the amusement of the crowd. Yes people donate to see how many tricks the person in question must perform and how many buckets of chili get dumped on them. It's weird, but then again, when it comes to helping animals, no sacrifice is too great I suppose.
“Oh this is so embarrassing!” I said aloud as I turned around from the floor mirror, folded my arms under my breast and sunk my head down. “And is so dumb too! And all my friends will be here too! And all my cheer sisters!” I said pouting a little.
Then it dawned on me, most of my fellow cheerleaders had donated to see me perform those tricks too! The whole squad had collectively donated around three hundred dollars or so, the football team had donated another three hundred dollars, the soft ball team another two hundred, both the girls and boys basketball teams had donated around a hundred dollars a piece. And the girls track team inspired by my friend Lana had donated around another hundred dollars, and the boys track team, not wanting to be outdone, donated another one fifty.
Add in another hundred dollars collected from the other students. Then it was the business, Sweet Magnolia the maid-theme cafe my sister and her best friend Robin operate donated a hundred dollars, Ginger Evans Bakery and Sweet Shop donated another one hundred dollars, St. Mary's Episcopal Church donated another one hundred dollars, Edward's Butcher Shop donated another one hundred dollars, The Lost Dog Pizza Parlor, a newly opened business in the downtown area had donated around fifty dollars. Pandora's Family Hair Salon donated another fifty dollars, and All Saints Catholic church, not to outdone by the local Episcopal Church donated a whopping two hundred dollars.
So yes, Madeline was right, by volunteering for this little stunt I'd proven to myself that I was still as popular as ever, but maybe a little too popular. A gentle sigh escaped my lips as I turned away from the mirror. The time was a quarter till ten. That meant I had ten minutes before I was to go out on stage and make a total fool out of myself.
“Hey Jamie!” A voice said behind me, “You won't believe this! But the school's auditorium is freaking packed! I mean packed like you would not believe it! They even have a television crew from new channel WJTV News Channel 12 out there covering it. You're going to be on the evening news girl!”
The voice startled me, and I quickly spun around to see who the voice belonged to. And their standing in the doorway was, much to my surprise, a girl with long brunette hair and baby blue eyes. She was wearing a pink blouse, a flora print skirt, and open toe sandals. Of course the voice had to belong to none other than my best friend, Madeline Diana Brewer.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I thought you'll be doing stuff at your school.” I said blushing a little. Okay I know that sounded rude but still, Madeline should be the one wearing this costume and going out on stage and performing those tricks and getting covered with chili. Not me! Even though I'm kind of the one who volunteered for it.
“Oh!” Madeline giggled a little. “Don't you know! Since I'm like your best friend forever and all that good stuff. They wanted me to be the one who would guide you out on stage, help you perform the tricks, and then in the end gunge you!” She said smiling as she folded her hands behind her back and swayed from one side to the other. “I even brought a cute little leash.” She said holding up a pink nylon leash.
I felt my jaw drop a few inches as I peered toward Madeline, if looks could kill then Madeline would be as good as dead. It took her a few minutes but soon Madeline noticed the look I was giving her, she responded the only way she could by shrugging her shoulders and giving me a smile. The girl could charm a viper.
“Hey! You volunteered for this!” She said as she strolled up to me. “Plus, like I said, they have a television crew from WJTV News Channel 12 out there. They're going to broadcast this live across the whole freaking state! Heck I think even some parts of Arkansas and and Louisiana will get it.” Madeline paused. “Heck girl your going to be the most most famous Dotty there ever was!”
“Joy!” I said, sighing. “Okay! But you're volunteering next time they need somebody to play Dotty!”
At this Madeline paused and then after a few moments, a few moments of mentally debating I hoped. She nodded her head and sighed.
“Okay! I'll volunteer for the next event. Are you happy?” She said, shaking her head from one side to the other. “Anyway! Your adoring fans are waiting for you.” She said walking over and clipping the leash to the collar. “So come along Jamie girl, we're going to go for a walk.”
At that very moment I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Instead though I allowed myself to be led from the dressing room through the backstage area. And before you could shake a stick, I was being guided onto stage.
The first thing I noticed was the crowds, it seemed all of Benton Academy and then some had somehow managed to stuff themselves into the old auditorium. The moment the crowds noticed me was the moment and deafening cheer filled the air. Whistles, hoots, and the clapping of hands thundered in my ear and made the old concrete walls vibrate.
“Go Jamie!” Shouted somebody from the back.
“We love you Jamie!” Shouted another student.
I felt a little chill run down my body. But then a small smile started to form upon the bow of my lips as I started to wave toward the crowd.
“Good afternoon Benton Academy!” Shouted Madeline at the top of her lungs. “My name is Madeline Diana Brewer and I'm going to be your hostess this afternoon.” Madeline had a dazzling sprayed across her lips peering out at the crowd.
The crowd broke out in cheer.
“Anyway! Benton Academy, you princess, the lovely Ms. Jamie Sarah Potter here has agreed to take on the role of Dotty and entertain you this afternoon! Jamie did an amazing job raising money too, and you guys have been so generous with your donations. I mean counting the last minute donations, you guys have raised close to twenty one hundred dollars!” Madeline said with a broad smile.
I blinked and blinked again and allowed a low whistle to escape my lips. Twenty one hundred dollars was a good bit of pocket change for this small country town. It kind of filled me with a sense of pride that I'd managed to raise so much in such little time. I mean, I've pretty much shattered last year's record of fifteen hundred dollars that Rebecca Coleman managed to raise when she volunteered to play Dotty.
“And because you guys were so kind and generous that means Jamie here will be doing all the tricks and getting not one, not two, but three full buckets of puppy chow poured over her at the end!” Madeline said smiling as she twirled the cord of the microphone around her fingers and smiled toward the crowd. And the crowd answered with a roar of approval.
“Also.” Madeline said, smirking a little as she reached down into her pocket. “I have a few treats for our lovely princess.” She said as she pulled out a small red and yellow package. “Here I have a few dog biscuits as rewards.” She said smirking a little
I blinked and blinked again as I peered toward the package that Madeline was holding in her hand. And at that moment I wanted to bark for real. Because Madeline was holding in her hand was a snack size package of my favorite peanut butter flavored treat, a decadent cookie that was simply called Nutter Butters. Madeline smiled toward me and winked. That is the problem with best friends, they know all your weaknesses.
“Okay, the first trick is fetch!” Madeline said smirking as she reached down and pulled out a small rubber ball from the pocket of her skirt. “Okay!” She said grinning as she tossed the ball across the stage, the rubber ball bounced up and down as it traveled across the stage.
I blinked and blinked again and then muttering a quick prayer under my breath I bounded across the stage. Sighing deeply I bent down and picked the ball up with my mouth, I then carried it across the stage, then once I reached Madeline I dropped the ball down upon the ground and barked again.
“Good girl!” Madeline said in a praising tone of voice.
I felt my cheeks flush with color as I peered toward Madeline.
“Moving on!” She said smiling as she peered toward me. “Now Speak!” She said, smiling sweetly as she bent down. “Can Jamie girl speak!”
At that point I wanted to show Madeline that Jamie could also use 'Bite!' but I decided that might get me spanked with a rolled up newspaper. Knowing Madeline, she might have a rolled up copy of 'The Benton Herald' tucked into those pockets of hers.
“Okay are next trick is..” Madeline smirked a little as she peered toward me. “Roll over! Can Jamie girl roll over like a good little doggy?” She said smiling.
I sighed and rolled over on my back, Madeline again praised me for being 'Such a good girl!'. The next command was to sit, and that meant I had to sit like a dog. That was again embarrassing, that was followed by the command to speak. I think after this I'm going to need help, the mental kind. While all of this was going on, I started to wonder what kind of sick and twisted person would think up this idea. Okay not only think it up, but pitch it to as an idea for a fundraiser. And what kind of people would approve this idea! I really wanted to introduce them to my balled up first at this point. And then follow it up with my own trick, a high flying kick to the jawbone. Maybe the person at a pet-play fetish and this was their way of scratching that itch. I don't know and I don't care to find out.
“Good girl!” Madeline praised again as she peered toward the crowd. “Jamie was such a good girl! But now it's lunch time!” Madeline said as she reached over and clipped the leash on me again. I swear I wanted to thrash the girl on the leash, but the thought of my revenge when Madeline played dotty made me smile. Oh yes, revenge would be sweet indeed.
“Okay boys and girls, ladies and gentleman!” Madeline said as she ushered me across the stage. “It's now time for the main event.” She added with a wink.
And that is when I really wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole. Because there on the other side of the stage was this huge, plastic dog bowl. It was about the size of your average wading pool. Somebody had even taken the time to plaster huge lettered stickers on the side. The stickers spelled out the name “Jamie” and in the center of the pool there stood a wooden stool.
I took a deep breath and slowly climbed over the edge of the plastic pool and sighing I eased my bottom down upon the wooden stool. I took a deep breath and turned to face the audience. A deep blush formed across my face as I folded my hands in my lap and then because it felt right, I barked.
“Oh!” Madeline said, smiling sweetly. “It looks like Jamie is hungry!” She said smiling as she picked up the first bucket of chili. “I guess we better go ahead and feed our puppy!” At this point I knew I was going to do everything in my power to see that Madeline raised a freaking tone of money when it was her turn to play Dotty. As I watched Madeline lift the bucket above her head, I closed my eyes and braced for impact.
A moment later, I felt a massive landslide of brown mush starting to tumble down upon my head. The chunky brown mush seemed to tumble down upon me, the smell struck me like a bolt of lighting. It was a savory smell, it kind of reminded me of the time I busted a whole case of Worcestershire sauce while I was stocking the shelves down at my family's store. I used to enjoy the savory smell of the sauce, but now I think I'll never enjoy it again. Then I felt the brown chunks of the stuff flow down my chest, my back.
“BARK!” was the only sound I could make to protest.
“Oh looks like Jamie girl wants more!” Madeline said, smiling sweetly. “We'll Jamie girl, we have another bucket right here.” Madeline said, smirking as she picked up the second bucket. I braced myself again and took a deep breath, a moment later, another brown, chunky avalanche came pouring down upon me, coating my blonde tresses of hair that I assumed would go from blonde to brunette once all of this was said and done.
“BARK! BARK! BARK! BARK!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.
“Okay settle down Jamie girl or I'll have to spank you with a rolled off newspaper.” Madeline teased as she picked up the third and final bucket of chili. I closed my eyes again. Another moment passed before I felt another massive landslide of chili come spilling down on my head. The savory smell of the brown chunky gravy filled my noise and clumps of beans seemed to cover every square inch of the dress.
“Okay Jamie girl I'm afraid that bucket we have for you today!” Madeline said, smirking. “But join us next time folks when another brave boy or girl will once again play Dotty and get fed!”
“BARK! BARK!” Was the only thing I could say.
“That right Jamie girl, we would like to donate to everybody who donated today too! Now before we take her out back to hose her down, cause Jamie girl was a messy eater, lets all give her a round of applause for being such a good sport and volunteering to play Dotty!” Madeline shouted at the top of her lungs.
And that how another messy adventure of my life comes to an end.