A House Divided by Voeller Sydell

Author:Voeller, Sydell [Voeller, Sydell]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Books We Love Ltd.
Published: 2012-07-26T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

Mark’s footsteps echoed in the hospital corridor as he mentally prepped himself for the meeting at ten—in just a half hour. Earlier, he’d asked the twelve patients he’d chosen as possible residents at the halfway house to participate in the upcoming neighborhood coffee hour. Thankfully, they’d all agreed. Now to tie up the loose ends. Outline some goals and objectives. And especially find out what Ted and Allan and Jeffrey were planning to say when it came their turn to talk.

As he passed by the nurses’ station and rounded the next corner, his thoughts bounced back to his visit at the Chamber yesterday. His brief contact with the employees there—and Rebecca—had left him restless, uncertain, and he had to admit, a little apprehensive.

He’d overhead their conversation just before he’d walked in. The front door had been wedged open, Norm’s voice raised, and there was no reason he wouldn’t have heard. Norm had been ranting about the halfway house, and Rebecca had appeared to rally to its defense.

For personal, selfish reasons, he felt good about that. Yet at the same time, he cringed at the thought of her distancing herself from her fellow employees, especially this early in the game. She needed her job. And it was plenty humbling to realize, she’d taken that risk and willingly put her job on the line.

“Good morning, Mark.” Dr. Samuel Brandonoff, his colleague at the hospital, strode up to him and clasped his shoulder. “How’s the proposal coming along?”

“We’re making progress, Sam. Shaky progress, maybe, but progress nonetheless.”

“Ah. Not to go back is somewhat to advance, as our old friend Alexander Pope once wrote,” Sam said sagely in a theatrical voice.

Sam had minored in English Literature as an undergrad back when Mark and he had attended the University of Oregon together, during what now seemed eons ago. His special interest was English poets.

Mark chuckled, giving a mock salute. “Thanks, Alexander Pope. I needed that.”

“All kidding aside,” Sam met Mark’s gaze squarely, “tell me what’s happening.”

“I got a letter from the county, stating the planning commission has rejected my application for the first permit. Supposedly, the railroad traffic through town will create too much noise pollution for our residents.” He gave a rueful laugh. “Can you believe that, Sam? Noise pollution, they’re calling it.”

“What a joke.”

“Right. According to the county commissioner who wrote the letter, the train noise would not only totally threaten the clients’ need for rest and relaxation, but might set one or more of them off into a pathological rage.”

Sam shook his head. “Ignorance certainly can breed fear, doesn’t it? It’s sad to think there’s still so much prejudice against mental illness. Even many of the government big wigs can’t make an effort to think outside the box.”

“And all the more need for public education, such as the neighborhood coffee hour I’m in the process of organizing.”

“So what are you going to do,” Sam asked, pushing his glasses back up on his nose, “about the application, that is?”

“The only thing there’s left to do.

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