one responsible?” I fought to keep more tears at bay.
“Ask Betty. She has plenty to say on the matter.” She walked out of the office and pulled a chair out for her to sit, facing me.
Please, let this night end. I'm calling the agency first thing tomorrow morning and heading home. This place is a nut house.
*
“I swear, this dog is the most neglected dog in town.” Marie hoisted Barney in her arms.
I smiled back, relieved that she didn't see me as a pariah. “Hi, Marie. I was wondering who was supposed to be in charge of Barney.”
Marie rolled her eyes. “He used to be Kathy's, but after her husband lost his job, she had to get rid of him. One of the aides suggested she bring Barney here and let the residents take care of him. She figured it would have been good for everyone involved, but as the resident's have deteriorated, Barney has been getting less and less attention.”
“He's Kathy's dog?” I sat down behind the desk.
“You wouldn't know it by the way she treats him. It's like she stopped caring altogether. Seems like her whole focus is on her crazy husband and her aging mother. She has a lot of stress. That's part of her issue. I can't account for the other stuff.” Marie motioned out the door. Kathy was walking toward the office, a chart in her hands.
Kathy nodded at Marie, but just motioned for me to get out of her seat. “I didn't have time to finish report. I got stuck doing all the stuff that you didn't finish last night.”
I didn't bother to argue. I figured she knew how my night went. Everyone probably knew and I was prepared to field questions or discerning looks from each of the other staff members.
Marie broke the tension with a question. “Did the husband make you mad again, Kathy?”
I wanted to laugh, but held it back. This wasn't the time or the place for that. I already had too many strikes against me, so it was far better to be safe than sorry and I managed to contain myself.
“Funny, but no. I just don't appreciate having to pick up someone's slack. I have my own job to do. Next time they decide to hire a temp, they might want to find one who is actually qualified and willing to do the job they are being paid to do, you know what I mean?” If Kathy was expecting that Marie would back up her statement, she was sadly mistaken because Marie walked away without acknowledging her rude statement, leaving me alone with Kathy.
She huffed and sat down in her chair. I took the opportunity to do morning rounds. I knocked on Nubbin's door, anxious to see him again. He could at least bring a smile to my face.
“You better have a darn good reason to be visiting at this hour, Monte Carlo.” Nubbin said by way of a welcome.
“Hello, Nubbin. How are you doing today?” I asked, surprised to find Marie seated in his room with Barney on her lap.
She answered, “He did. I'll take care of vitals today. Why don't you get charts ready for the new month? Can you believe Christmas is only a week away?”
I was confused. Why was she asking me to get the charts ready for next month when I was supposed to be doing rounds?
“Do you always get charts ready this far in advance?” I asked.
She excused herself and guided me out of Nubbin's earshot. “No, not usually, but since there's two of us today, we can get a head start on the first of the year stuff. I'll take care of the residents, while you pull old charts and get things in order for next month, okay?”
“I don't understand. Who told you to keep me away from the residents?” Heat rose in my face. I could feel my face flushing. This was yet another blow to my very fragile ego.
Marie smiled, patting me on the arm. “No one. I just think it would be safer for both of us if I took care of the residents and you took the time to get familiar with the charts and sorting things out. I mean, if you are going to be with us for
“Ask Betty. She has plenty to say on the matter.” She walked out of the office and pulled a chair out for her to sit, facing me.
Please, let this night end. I'm calling the agency first thing tomorrow morning and heading home. This place is a nut house.
*
“I swear, this dog is the most neglected dog in town.” Marie hoisted Barney in her arms.
I smiled back, relieved that she didn't see me as a pariah. “Hi, Marie. I was wondering who was supposed to be in charge of Barney.”
Marie rolled her eyes. “He used to be Kathy's, but after her husband lost his job, she had to get rid of him. One of the aides suggested she bring Barney here and let the residents take care of him. She figured it would have been good for everyone involved, but as the resident's have deteriorated, Barney has been getting less and less attention.”
“He's Kathy's dog?” I sat down behind the desk.
“You wouldn't know it by the way she treats him. It's like she stopped caring altogether. Seems like her whole focus is on her crazy husband and her aging mother. She has a lot of stress. That's part of her issue. I can't account for the other stuff.” Marie motioned out the door. Kathy was walking toward the office, a chart in her hands.
Kathy nodded at Marie, but just motioned for me to get out of her seat. “I didn't have time to finish report. I got stuck doing all the stuff that you didn't finish last night.”
I didn't bother to argue. I figured she knew how my night went. Everyone probably knew and I was prepared to field questions or discerning looks from each of the other staff members.
Marie broke the tension with a question. “Did the husband make you mad again, Kathy?”
I wanted to laugh, but held it back. This wasn't the time or the place for that. I already had too many strikes against me, so it was far better to be safe than sorry and I managed to contain myself.
“Funny, but no. I just don't appreciate having to pick up someone's slack. I have my own job to do. Next time they decide to hire a temp, they might want to find one who is actually qualified and willing to do the job they are being paid to do, you know what I mean?” If Kathy was expecting that Marie would back up her statement, she was sadly mistaken because Marie walked away without acknowledging her rude statement, leaving me alone with Kathy.
She huffed and sat down in her chair. I took the opportunity to do morning rounds. I knocked on Nubbin's door, anxious to see him again. He could at least bring a smile to my face.
“You better have a darn good reason to be visiting at this hour, Monte Carlo.” Nubbin said by way of a welcome.
“Hello, Nubbin. How are you doing today?” I asked, surprised to find Marie seated in his room with Barney on her lap.
She answered, “He did. I'll take care of vitals today. Why don't you get charts ready for the new month? Can you believe Christmas is only a week away?”
I was confused. Why was she asking me to get the charts ready for next month when I was supposed to be doing rounds?
“Do you always get charts ready this far in advance?” I asked.
She excused herself and guided me out of Nubbin's earshot. “No, not usually, but since there's two of us today, we can get a head start on the first of the year stuff. I'll take care of the residents, while you pull old charts and get things in order for next month, okay?”
“I don't understand. Who told you to keep me away from the residents?” Heat rose in my face. I could feel my face flushing. This was yet another blow to my very fragile ego.
Marie smiled, patting me on the arm. “No one. I just think it would be safer for both of us if I took care of the residents and you took the time to get familiar with the charts and sorting things out. I mean, if you are going to be with us for
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