and undaunted.
Chan had trusted her with the truth. He had faith that she would move forward. He believed in her more than she believed in her own self. She looked down at the bangle encircling her wrist. Tomorrow, she would enter the Ranch. Tomorrow, she would find her way out.
Chapter Fifteen
The following day, Fran stepped into the Ranch and met with Jan, the Ranch caseworker.
“You’ve been given charge of four residents, Ms. Monde. Rooms S41-S44.” Jan palmed a reader as she ticked off the information. “Most residential care is automated, so your main task is to keep the declining residents company as you tend to each of their unique needs.”
Jan turned on her heels. “Follow me please.”
Fran clapped a hand over her nose and mouth to ward of the scent of the Beast and scurried along the empty hallway behind the efficient caseworker. They paused in front of a doorway which opened into a closet containing sheets, blankets, and smocks, as well as blue canvas uniforms folded into neat piles and stacked onto metal shelves.
Jan pointed to the uniforms. “Take a set and make sure you are garbed in a clean uniform each day.”
Fran pulled a set of scratchy, low-quality Canvies from the pile.
Jan gestured with a smile. “Across the hall is a changing room. You can leave your clothes in locker 22. At the end of the day when you change back into your own clothes, please place the soiled uniform into the receptacle. Tomorrow, you’ll come in here for a new pair.”
Fran crossed the hallway to where Jan pointed and waved a hand in front of the indicated entry. The portal whooshed open, and she stepped inside of a small chamber containing a few lockers and a single plastic bench. Before the door panel slid closed, Jan poked her head inside.
“After you’ve changed, please check in on your wards—S41-S44. Everything you need to know about them is available on their VDU.” She hesitated a moment and rubbed her brow. “Did I forget anything? Oh yes, of course. When all four residents have fully succumbed, your penance will be considered paid.”
Jan’s cheery expression disappeared as the doors closed. Seriously? You can say that with a smile on your face? Fran shook her head and then changed into her new uniform.
Her stomach balled into a knot as she stood at the entry of the first resident’s quarters. Just like Chan’s, the room housed a bed, locker, and shelf with an old fashioned computer. An aged man in a wheelchair sat in the center babbling to himself. Fran rapped on the doorway before entering. “Hello?”
His babbling continued without interruption. Fran stepped around the man to the video display and waved a hand in front of the screen. To her chagrin, the screen remained dormant.
“Hmmm.” She tried again with no response before spying the palm-sized device next to the unit. Mom had told Fran about gadgets that Grandma had used with her computer. She snickered as she remembered Mom calling it a mouse, and then rolled the plastic thing around until the screen came to life. She employed the plastic mouse to chase a white arrow around the screen before reaching the icon that read, “Resident Information.”
Once she clicked the buttons at her fingertips, data scrolled across the screen for Bob . Fran smiled and turned around.
“Hello, Bob. How are you?”
Bob continued babbling, and Fran returned to the video display to read through his history. Bob had been a schoolteacher at one time. She faced Bob and scrutinized his mannerisms as he babbled. Although unable to understand the words, Fran did notice familiar gestures like those of her old teachers—a lift of a brow, nod of the head, and occasional pointing of a finger. She experienced a surreal shiver. Although his classroom ceased to exist in this world, Fran had a suspicion that somewhere in Bob’s world, he continued to teach.
She watched him for a few more moments and then shrugged. He seemed content. She moved on to
Chan had trusted her with the truth. He had faith that she would move forward. He believed in her more than she believed in her own self. She looked down at the bangle encircling her wrist. Tomorrow, she would enter the Ranch. Tomorrow, she would find her way out.
Chapter Fifteen
The following day, Fran stepped into the Ranch and met with Jan, the Ranch caseworker.
“You’ve been given charge of four residents, Ms. Monde. Rooms S41-S44.” Jan palmed a reader as she ticked off the information. “Most residential care is automated, so your main task is to keep the declining residents company as you tend to each of their unique needs.”
Jan turned on her heels. “Follow me please.”
Fran clapped a hand over her nose and mouth to ward of the scent of the Beast and scurried along the empty hallway behind the efficient caseworker. They paused in front of a doorway which opened into a closet containing sheets, blankets, and smocks, as well as blue canvas uniforms folded into neat piles and stacked onto metal shelves.
Jan pointed to the uniforms. “Take a set and make sure you are garbed in a clean uniform each day.”
Fran pulled a set of scratchy, low-quality Canvies from the pile.
Jan gestured with a smile. “Across the hall is a changing room. You can leave your clothes in locker 22. At the end of the day when you change back into your own clothes, please place the soiled uniform into the receptacle. Tomorrow, you’ll come in here for a new pair.”
Fran crossed the hallway to where Jan pointed and waved a hand in front of the indicated entry. The portal whooshed open, and she stepped inside of a small chamber containing a few lockers and a single plastic bench. Before the door panel slid closed, Jan poked her head inside.
“After you’ve changed, please check in on your wards—S41-S44. Everything you need to know about them is available on their VDU.” She hesitated a moment and rubbed her brow. “Did I forget anything? Oh yes, of course. When all four residents have fully succumbed, your penance will be considered paid.”
Jan’s cheery expression disappeared as the doors closed. Seriously? You can say that with a smile on your face? Fran shook her head and then changed into her new uniform.
Her stomach balled into a knot as she stood at the entry of the first resident’s quarters. Just like Chan’s, the room housed a bed, locker, and shelf with an old fashioned computer. An aged man in a wheelchair sat in the center babbling to himself. Fran rapped on the doorway before entering. “Hello?”
His babbling continued without interruption. Fran stepped around the man to the video display and waved a hand in front of the screen. To her chagrin, the screen remained dormant.
“Hmmm.” She tried again with no response before spying the palm-sized device next to the unit. Mom had told Fran about gadgets that Grandma had used with her computer. She snickered as she remembered Mom calling it a mouse, and then rolled the plastic thing around until the screen came to life. She employed the plastic mouse to chase a white arrow around the screen before reaching the icon that read, “Resident Information.”
Once she clicked the buttons at her fingertips, data scrolled across the screen for Bob . Fran smiled and turned around.
“Hello, Bob. How are you?”
Bob continued babbling, and Fran returned to the video display to read through his history. Bob had been a schoolteacher at one time. She faced Bob and scrutinized his mannerisms as he babbled. Although unable to understand the words, Fran did notice familiar gestures like those of her old teachers—a lift of a brow, nod of the head, and occasional pointing of a finger. She experienced a surreal shiver. Although his classroom ceased to exist in this world, Fran had a suspicion that somewhere in Bob’s world, he continued to teach.
She watched him for a few more moments and then shrugged. He seemed content. She moved on to
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