One Thousand Porches by Julie Dewey

Author:Julie Dewey [Dewey, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Tuberculosis Sanatariums
Publisher: JWCD Press
Published: 2013-10-29T04:00:00+00:00

Father was less than pleased upon receiving my letter describing my intentions when cleared. I assumed incorrectly that he would be excited and supportive of my adventure into nursing but instead he feared I would grow ill again. He wanted me as far away from the sick patients as I could get. Father didn’t understand what it was to have compassion. I felt a calling towards this work, and although I didn’t want to disobey my father, Mother said I needed to give his opinion serious consideration. She worried my father would shun me at home if I went against his wishes. She, however, couldn’t hide her excitement at the thought of me in nursing school.

It wasn’t just my eventual reinvention that filled my mother with joy, no, she had a glow about her lately that I owed to Big Joe. She took the cure alongside him these days, side by side they read books, played checkers, or cards; their favorite game was bridge. Occasionally Mother dozed off and I caught Joe staring at her fondly. On more than one occasion I came upon them holding hands. I began to wonder if something was brewing between the two, and God forgive me because while I understand anything beyond a friendship would be adulterous, I wanted my mother to have someone who cared about her as only a man could. Joe was a good and kind man, and I believe it was love I caught in his eyes.

I left them alone and went about my usual activities, which included cleaning the specimen jars in the laboratory after the doctor had completed his studies, and charting. While rinsing with soap and then patting the containers dry one of the younger architects who had come to help design the new cottages and structures approached me. He was investigating the layout of the laboratory as he would each and every building and cottage on the property.

“How do you do, Miss?” he asked kindly and bowing slightly.

“Why fine, thank you, Sir, you are?” I asked, startled by this stranger’s appearance.

“I am Will, Will Stafford. I will be here for a year or more to help with the planning and building of the new facilities. I wonder if you’d be willing to show me around a bit.” His eyes held a hopeful gaze but I was taken back by his forwardness. I felt flustered immediately.

“Why, I am terribly sorry, Will, but I can’t. The doctor will show you around, I suppose. Good day.” I tucked my hair behind my ear and pretended to be very busy as I walked off in the opposite direction. I could feel Will staring after me as I proceeded out the door. I smoothed the wrinkles from the sky blue cotton skirt I chose to wear that day and continued on my way to visit Amy. After-wards I went to Mother’s and I told her about this interaction. Mother smiled widely, “You are quite a lovely young woman, Collette, suitors will start calling on you once more, just as Simon did.

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