NURSE JACKSON

“You’ve got to believe me. I know you guys think I’m full of shit,  but it’s God’s honest truth. Nurse Jackson is an alien!”

“Jesus Stan, not this again.”

“Stan, you’re starting to sound like a broken record.”

“Earth to Stan. Earth to Stan. Come in Stan.” Stan had become used to the mockery from his buddies but that wouldn’t stop him. He just had to make them believe.

“Have you looked at her eyes? I mean really looked? There’s something very strange about her eyes.“

“Says the 85 year old man with cataracts. Stan, we’re in an old folks home, for Christ sake. None of our eyes are any good anymore. Have you ever thought that this Miss Jackson’s eyes are different just because they’re not cloudy with wrinkles all around them?“

 Stan had already thought about that. And in fact he did have cataracts and his vision wasn’t what it used to be. He knew the others would say that. Stan was old but not so old that he’d lost his marbles. That was the one thing he was sure of.  And he was sure something about Nurse Jackson just didn’t add up. Hell, even his son Tommy, when he came to visit the other day, had agreed with him. “Pop, that Miss Jackson is one strange woman. Ever notice her eyes?“

Stan understood why his friends would have a hard time believing what he was telling them about Nurse Jackson. After all, it was hard to believe that the four old friends, could be sitting together in this sunny day room, in a expensive suburban senior citizen facility, discussing the fact that the head nurse had come from another planet.

Stan had to admit it was a little far fetched. He chuckled to himself. After all was said and done, did it really make any difference if Nurse Jackson came from the planet Zebulon?  Stan still had all his marbles, was in a nice place, surrounded by friends and Tommy came to visit at least twice a week. “Fuck all you guys. I hope she walks in here and zaps all of you with her ray gun! Whose deal is it?“ The guy’s laughter swept over Stan like a warm wave.

Suddenly, the door to the hallway sprang open.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I found him!”  Diego flicked on the light illuminating the cramped dirty slop sink closet. Stan Bartelston, dressed only in a filthy hospital  gown, squatted  on the floor, facing the corner.  It was the third time this week the nurses at County General had had to track him down. It didn’t help the old bastard never talked. God knows what he was thinking.  Well at least he didn’t have any family to notify. That really would have been a mess. And if Diego could just get him back to his bed without Nurse Jackson noticing, all the better. Nurse Jackson made Diego nervous. It was something about her eyes.