Nurse Zoe headed down the corridor toward the Nurse's Station with her patient, found the room number for her patient, and, with an aide who had come along with her, pushed along toward the patient's room. In a few minutes, the patient was in bed and Zoe was reviewing the record with the nurse who would be responsible for the patient's care. Those responsibilities completed, the aide started to push the now-empty bed back down the corridor toward the elevators and Zoe walked along until she again me Barbara.

“Ok, its lunch,” said Zoe smiling. “Let's go before I get a call to come back to the unit.”

“Sounds good to me,” came the reponse from Barbara, who turned to walk along the corridor with Zoe. They took the employee elevator and quickly found themselves on the first floor and headed for the cafeteria.

Walking along, Zoe and Barbara exchanged small-talk about the hospital, where they worked, and some of the things they liked ‘out of uniform’. Finally, reaching gthe entrance to the cafeteria, Zoe reached for the door handle, then the side of the door as it opened, so Barbara could enter first.

“Oh my,” announced Barbara, as she somehow tripped a bit on her rubber-soled shoes, and nearly fell into the door, brushing her breasts against Zoe's hand. Zoe reached quickly with her other hand to stabilize her new friend.

“Gee, I'm so sorry for that,” announced Barbara. “Not sure how I stumbled there. Seems like the shoes buckled or something.”

“No problem,” responded Zoe. “Glad I was here to help. Are you OK now?"

“I seem to be,” responded Barbara, “Sure, everything is fine now. let's eat.” The two walked into the cafeteria, went through the serving line, and found a table on the side of the room.

“Have you had these falling episodes before, Barbara?” asked Zoe, concerned.

“Not really,” she responded, “I have just been working too many hours lately, and really need some time off to just relax.”

“I understand,” Zoe replied, “We all get that way sometime. Just don't let dedication destroy your health, my Head Nurse always says. Good advice, I think. perhaps you do need some time off.”

“Perhaps so,” Barbara answered. “Since I broke up with my old boyfriend, I have been mostly working and sleeping. I am tired, so perhaps your advice is worth considering now.”

“Certainly worth considering, and seriously,” responded Zoe. “As I said earlier in the gift shop, we both live in the same apartment complex, so feel free to ask for any help you may need, or just someone to talk to instead of sitting alone, looking at the four walls. That can frustrate anyone. Give me a zell anytime."

“Sure, and thanks, I will," said Barbara in reply. “That was good advice, thank you. Now, let's eat before the paging system goes off for either of us."

Zoe and Barbara ate in relative silence, except for a few comments on the food., which Barbara scarcely ate. She just seemed to move some of it around on the plate. Zoe assumed it was the result of Barbara's tripping at the door. When they finished and took their trays to the kitchen conveyor belt, they walked out toward the door.

“You know,” said Barbara, “I think I will ask to have the rest of the day off. I do feel a bit woozy still.”

“Good for you,” answered Zoe, “Take some time for yourself. Get some rest and relax. Again, I'm over in South 506 if you need any help.”

“Wow,” offered barbara, “You are right across from me. I'm in North 506. What a coincidence.”

“It sure is,” responded Zoe, feigning ignorance on something she already knew. “Are you going to be all right getting back to your unit, and home? I can take some time to go with you, if you wish?”

”Actually, that would be appreciated, Zoe.,” Barbara responded. “I do still feel a bit woozy, and some help might help a lot.”

”Do you want some lunch first?” Asked Zoe, concerned.

”Well, perhaps something light,” answered Barbara, “My stomach has been upset a bit for the past few days.” They entered the cafeteria, and found an empty table over on the side near the food line. Zoe asked what Barbara might like and, hearing soup, went off to get them some food. She returned in a short time with a tray and put some chicken soup before Barbara.

”Eat this and you will probably feel better,” said Zoe. “My mom always said this was good for you when feeling bad.” She smiled, and puts down her own food, placing the tray on an empty chair. They spent some time eating, then Zoe took the tray and empty dishes to the conveyor belt in the kitchen.

Walking back to her in it with Zoe, Barbara thanked her for the soup, and entered the unit to fin d her head nurse to get the rest of the day off. Zoe told her to go home, and she would check by later at home to be sure she was Ok. The head nurse, concerned as well, absent Barbara home with one of the nursing aids just in case she had another woozy spell.

********************************

Later that afternoon, Barbara, who had been resting her couch watching the TV, heard a knock on the door.

”It’s unlocked,” she shouted toward the door.

”Zoe entered, saying, “It’s just me, Barbara. I wanted to check on you. Hope that is all right.”

”Sure,” responded Barbara, “C’mon it.” Zoe entered and sat in a chair near the couch.

”How are doing?” She asked. “Any more dizziness?”

”No,” Barbara answered, “But the stomach still feels a bit off. The chickens soup helped.”

”I’m glad,” said Zoe. “My mom always says that chicken soup is the universal cure for everything.”

”Mine does as well,” came the response from Barbara. “I think I have had gallons of chicken soup since I was a little girl. to my mom, it was the universal cure as well.” Just then, Barbara grasped her stomach slightly, as her stomach gave out a quiet groan. Zoe became concerned.

”Are you sure everything is OK, Barbara?” Zoe asked.

“All this Weill pass, Zoe,” she said, adding, “As soon as the gas decides it wants to come out, Everything will be fine.”

Zoe looked at her, and responded, “Barbara, it is really none of my business, but how long has this been going on?”

”Barbara looked down a bit, and answered, “A couple of days, I guess. Worse earlier today, though.”

”That doesn’t sound too good, my dear,” offered Zoe. “Let me ask a personal question here, if you don’t mind.”

”Go ahead,” Barbara answered.

“Well, ah, when was the last time you had a good bowel movement, a really good one?”

Barbara turned a bit red in the face, and responded, “About three days, I think.”

”That’s not good,” came the response from Zoe. “You probably have a great case of constipation. Have you taken anything for it?”

”No, well, that is,” Barbara said quietly, “The chicken soup is helping.”

”I hope so,” said Zoe, but you really need to consider a laxative to get yourself moving.”

”I never take those things,” answered Barbara, “They don’t work for me very well. I try too just let nature take its course. Everything moves eventually.”

”Maybe, maybe not,” responded Zoe. “Thee chicken soup was a good start. That’s what my mom would have given me, usually followed by one hell of an enema.”

Barbara looked over at Zoe, and said, “I hated those things as a kid. She would pump as much soapy water into me as she thought I needed, cramped up a lot, and felt even worse afterwards.”

“Mine was very different, Barbara,” answered Zoe. “My mom filled me with chicken soup, and I usually got an enema afterwards, and they were very gentle. In some ways, I think it was her care of me when I was sick that encouraged me to become a nurse.”

”Look,” she added, “Let me stretch our new friendship a bit and suggest you need an enema badly, and right now. If you want, I will give you one . Do you have an enema bag in the apartment? Otherwise, I will go get mine.”

”Zoe, pleaded Barbara, “I don’t think, that is, I mean, ah, you don’t have to trouble yourself here. I will be fine.”

”Whatever you want to do, Barbara,” responded Zoe, “You can continue to feel bad or get a simple enema. The choice is yours. You can even do it yourself, if you wish. The need is there and how it happens is up to you. It is the simple thing to do and you will feel much better.”

”OK, Zoe,” Barbara answered, You are right, of course, and I do feel lousy. I guess the enema is the smart decision here.”

”Great,” said Zoe, “Where is your enema bag then?”

”Under the sink in the bathroom,” came the reply from Barbara.

”You rest, and I take care of you,” said Zoe, rising to head toward the bathroom.

”That door over there,” offered Barbara.

Zoe walked over toward the bathroom, entered, and found the sink. She looked in the cupboard under it, and saw the enema bag with the hose coiled atop. It was a large, red closed-top bag, red hose, and a black nozzle attached. Picking u p the bag and hose, Zoe also found a large colon tube underneath. She wondered how Barbara got that tube up into herself when she self-administered. It would take a lot of twisting and turning.

She decided to leave the colon tube where it wears, toook the bag, and went up to the sink to start warming water, and also found some Ivory soap on the counter. She would use that as well.

”Get undressed a bit Barbara. I will bring the bag and a towel. We can do it there, if you like.

”OK,“ came a meek reply.

[Continuing Story]