Give Me a Break

Give Me a Break

“They can’t be trusted, as this proves.” Sister Wilson indignantly.  “Give some people an inch and they will take a yard.”

Sister Mildred Wilson had never been keen on afternoon breaks for her  staff. She knew that most of them would turn a ten minute break  into fifteen. There was work to be done, and she needed her nurses to do it. Not for them to be away sipping tea and gossiping. She ran a tight ship.
She stood at one end and surveyed her ward. Eleven pairs of beds, all neatly made, lined the long room. Her ward was immaculate, as was demanded. Nobody dared shirk on Sister Wilson’s ward.

“Cleanliness costs nothing,” she would say, and “I not an idler be,” was another favourite. She had managed an excellent unit for many years, and had trained some excellent nursing staff. Now she was tired. Thirty years as ward sister had taken their toll on her.

Something was missing. Where were her nurses? A couple of auxiliaries tended patients, but where were her staff nurses? She would definitely have something to say about this.

As they entered the ward, she rounded on them. “I want to see you all in the office, NOW.” then led them in.
Cheers erupted as she entered, and for a minute Sister Wilson was fazed. “What the blazes?” she gasped.

“Here’s to another thirty years,” they chanted.

Streamers adorned the walls, and glasses of bubbly, (only a little one each of course), awaited them.  Presents from colleagues, and some patients, were presented to her. Even her bosses were there! She never expected this. Hoping there’d be no fuss.

“No chance!” she laughed.
“Still want to see us sister?”

“What do you think?”


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