Misty Hill Manor

Adding Salt to the Wound

Night shift has been on the clock for 3 hours and so far, no incidents. Frank is watching his shows, the sisters are sound asleep. Madge is roaming the halls on the second floor but Hilda knew everyone was asleep so she didn't worry much. The day sleepers were on the 3rd floor and away from the noisier residents. Gert had finished her rounds and was about to take her place at the desk when she noticed Hilda's light was still on in her office.

"Burning the midnight oil?" She peaked around the corner. 

"Yes," Hilda replied wearily. "I have to get this ad in the classifieds. I have no idea what to say." 

"Jessy said you finished that already." Gert looked at her confused.

"Piercy fried the hard drive. I lost the sheet I was working on. Not sure why I keep that boy around. Placing a mop bucket on my desk makes absolutely no sense whatsoever." Hilda rubs her forehead and runs her hand over her face.

"Go home, Hildy. You need sleep. Start fresh in the morning. Your mom is out like a light. Snoring. Already two complaints. Go home." Gert patted Hilda on the shoulder.

"OK. I'll be here to relieve you in the morning. Good night Gert." She moved from behind her desk and grabbed her bag and jacked. "Thank you." she waved and left out the door.

Gert smiled back and waved halfheartedly. She sat down at her desk and checked the list from the dayshift. 

"Did she finally go home?" Said a deep, gravely voice from the doorway. 

"Yes. I need to speak with the doctor about overworking that one. She needs her sleep to handle the lot of us!" Gert chuckled. 

Gus moved out of the shadows and pushed his bucket down the hall slowly. "Yes, yes she certainly does." He chuckles too. 

The phone buzzes suddenly and makes Gert jump a bit. "Damn thing." She mutters. "Front desk." She answers. "Ok, where is he?" She asks and follows with a few, okays and yeses. "Alright, where is he?" Again, some nods that the person on the other side can't see. A few rubs of her eyes and some shaking of her head. "Dora, please keep calm and just tell me where Mr. Wolf is, please." She asked calmly. She heard cans crashing together. "Never mind. I think I found him." She said and hung the phone up. Gert moved out from around her desk and headed for the kitchen. With purpose, she swung around the corner and walked up the hallway. Hitting the double doors that separate the kitchen from the hallway, she spotted him. "Mr. Wolfe." He looks at her startled. Skitters around the rear side of the center island, away from her. "Mr. Wolfe. We've had this conversation sir. This will not be tolerated. We must NOT raid the kitchen after hours! If you need a snack, please ring your attendant. You needn't come downstairs in your condition." She said, holding her ground. With a huff and a growl,  he stood straight and walked around the counter to face her. 

"Apologies." He bows and turns on his heels and heads out the door.

Gert takes in a deep breath, steadies herself and heads back to the front desk. Picking up the phone, she dials the top floor. "Dora, he's on his way back. Please keep on schedule. He would not leave if you feed our residents on time. Please do not require a reminder again." with a few 'yeses', and head nods with 'uh huh' Gert clicks the hang up button and dials the basement desk. "Peggy? Yes dear, Dora says Frank is back upstairs trying to sneak into Mere's room. Mind directing him back, please? Thank you dear. And Peg, please be sure to give him his snacks early and head him to activities so he does not wander off?" She thanks her and hangs up the phone and sits down. Pulling out her bottom drawer she grabs a flask, opens it up and pours a bit of the contents into her coffee cup. Closing the lid she places the flask back into the drawer and slams it shut. Taking a swig of her coffee, she refocuses on her evening tasks. "This place is going to put me in an early grave." She says under her breath and sits forward to work on the pile of papers on her desk. 

"You're too old to die." She hears Gus say behind her. He doesn't startle her anymore. After all the years they've worked at the manor together, she can tell when he is lurking near. 

"Get to work, Gus." She snickers. 

"Right." He replies in a deep gritty voice and moves like smoke past her and back down the hallway. 

"They are all going to drive me to drink!" She smiles and takes another sip.