The Back Building by Julie Dewey Read Free Book Online Page A

and Emily showed me the bowling lanes. I was interested to try the sport so I lifted one of the balls but it was so heavy that Emily laughed when I tried to roll it down the lane.
    “Tomorrow we have bowling, there will be lighter balls then. These are set out for the men!”
    She showed me the cinema room, the theater, the basketball court currently being used by ten men playing an intense game, and finally the snack bar. We filled cups with popcorn and nuts and walked back to the third ward.
    “So, did he tell you about our new patient?”
    “No, he didn’t, why do you suppose he would?”
    “Well, she is your age. Her name is Kate and they are trying her out on the third ward since you’re here. The doctor hopes that being with someone her own age will help her.”
    “In what way?” I asked wondering what this Kate needed help with.
    “I am not really at liberty to say, let’s just hope it all works out. She’ll be arriving tomorrow.”
    “Hmm, okay. That will be good I guess, I already have one friend, but two would be good.”
    “Oh yeah, who did you connect with?” Emily asked.
    “I like Rose Mary. She’s really nice.”
    “Rose Mary, huh.” She didn’t say anything else but soon enough we were full from snacks and I was told we’d be taking a trip to the chapel at eleven so to be ready.
    I put on the nicest dress and shoes from the closet and waited until it was time to go to church. My suitcase with all my clothes still hadn’t come and I forgot to mention that to the doctor. It irked me that someone was going through my things and I wanted them back. I wanted my stationery so I could write my parents, double gosh darn it. I forgot to ask about that too.
    I couldn’t sleep, so I just fidgeted while I waited for our chapel trip. Finally it was time to go. We walked down the steps and through the second ward, a route I had not taken before, (one hundred and seven paces). Patients were more vocal on this level and I even saw two of the staff holding down one young woman with blood smeared across her forehead.
    “Never mind about that, they are doing their job, understand?” Emily asked me.
    “Uh huh,” I said, but I didn’t like how the patient was being restrained at all. I needed to get out of here before that happened to me.
    The service was attended by our group and one other from the men’s ward. The men were all much older, I would guess by their grey hair they were all in their sixties. Some of them drooled and others closed their eyes and slept during the sermon. It was a little unsettling but soon enough it was over.
    After church my group went outdoors for recreational therapy. We were allowed to walk along the property and would resume with a picnic by the lake. Just being outside helped me to settle my nerves.
    We had drumsticks and cornbread along with carrot sticks and celery. I took my lunch to the lonely wooden bench and sat eating while I looked across the tranquil lake. It was very still today, and the sun glistened off the water. The leaves were changing color and the air was crisp, I felt optimistic in this moment. I knew I could get home if I could get my hands on some paper. I knew I could survive a few more days and felt hopeful indeed. I ran my hands through my short, bristly hair and wondered what possessed me to cut it? My mother said my hair was among my greatest physical attributes. Maybe that was why I did it, so that my mother would see me, not my hair. I would discuss this with the doctor at my next appointment. Funny he never once mentioned my hair, or lack thereof, today.
    When our picnic was over we walked the long way back to our residence. I admit I did feel refreshed. Perhaps the methodology of recreational therapy worked after all.
    ***
    The new girl arrived and she was assigned to be my roommate. She had a bed in the opposite corner from mine but we shared the wardrobe. She was just lounging on her elbow, biting her nails when I twisted the doorknob and