“Into bed, then.” Nurse Janice prompted her when Piggy hesitated just inside the door to her room.
“I want my clothes back.”
“Get in the bed first, and I’ll hand them to you.” The women stared at each other in a silent battle of wills. Janice resorted to reason. “Come now, there’s no point in wearing yourself out. You’re obviously exhausted.”
Piggy frowned at the nurse, then defiantly snatched up the bag of clothing before climbing onto her rather discombobulated bed. Janice smiled tightly as she pulled the sheets up around her charge, tucking Piggy in with practiced efficiency.
“Stubborn pig.” Piggy ignored Janice and began pulling her clothing out of the bag.
“Hang on a minute. I need to get your IV’s back in,again.” Although she didn’t think much of the old bat’s tone, Piggy let the bag rest in her lap so she could proffer up her already pin-cushioned arm. Janice whistled low. “Well, you’ve certainly made a mess of yourself.”
Piggy looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a wonderful bedside manner?”
“Not while they were under my care. Has anyone ever told you that you have the personality of a truck driver?”
“Not if they wanted to live.” Another cool glare went unheeded as Janice stuck her with the IV needle.
“Good, so we understand each other then.” She was smiling again, and Piggy gradually smiled back.
“We do.”
Nurse Janice looked over Piggy’s arm. “I’m going to get you Band-Aids for those extra holes. Do you still have that headache?”
She shrugged. “Yes, but the room has stopped spinning.”
The silver-haired woman tsked quietly. “If you become dizzy again you’ll have to tell me right away. I’ll check with the doctor to see if I can give you something for the headache as well. Sit tight.”
Piggy waited until the nurse had gone before she gingerly touched the sore areas around the cuts. “I had better not scar from this or there’s gonna be a pig to pay.” She reached into the bag Rizzo had brought her and drew out the skirt she’d changed into between acts a thousand years ago. It was in good shape and neatly folded, making Piggy feel better instantly. She continued to dig out other items, her thigh-highs, her undergarments, her beloved shoes. They’d gotten scuffed at some point but it was nothing a little polish wouldn’t fix. “Better still, I can buy new ones.” Her blouse was not with her other clothing and Piggy puzzled over why that was until the nurse returned moments later.
Janice set down the tray she was carrying and picked up a syringe.
“Oh, yay, just what I need, another hole in moi’s arm.” The nurse smiled.
“This isn’t going in your arm, Miss Piggy.” She laughed softly at Piggy’s shocked indignation. “Relax, it’s not going in anywhere else either. I’m going to add it to your IV.” Piggy tried to recover her dignity as Janice made the injection and set the syringe back down. “Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Janice cooed sweetly, teasingly patronizing.
“I think moi prefers it when you’re being an ogress,” Piggy muttered.
“Most people do,” Janice replied sardonically, brusquely swabbing the cuts with a cotton ball. The cool sterilizing alcohol stung, but not enough to distract her from her newest concern.
“Where are the rest of moi’s clothes?”
“Everything’s in the bag on your lap.”
“My blouse is missing.” Janice finished putting the last of the bandages on and straightened.
