The Kansas Boy and Texas Girl

Chapter 1 : The Night Shift

Alice P.O.V.

January 12, 2018

Finally it is two a.m. only four more hours, and it will be the start of my first day off since the last day of Fall Semester. Just in time for the Spring Semester of college.

I look down the hall and I see my best friend Heather going outside for her smoke break, she looks my way and nods her head. That means she wants me to watch her hall.

I hear my phone chirp from down the hall. I walk past my patient's rooms making sure they are still asleep before I go grab my phone. I take a sip of my coffee that I have had since midnight. I check my phone it says I have one new message from some app my friend downloaded on my phone called KIK. She said it is time I start meeting new people, and get my mind off of my ex.

Mason Wayne: Hey !! I got your username from the site, figured it is a long shot, but thought I would see if you would respond.

Alice Lee: Hey?? Why do you say it would be a long shot?

I go looking at his profile to find a little bit out about him. His bio says he is stationed over in Japan for the Air Force. Hmmm ... I wonder how old he is?

I start playing music from my phone as I get everything together to do a round on my people. My phone chirps again

Mason Wayne: Because I am all the way in Japan, and stateside right now it would be about three thirty in the morning .. but what's up?

Me: Oh that makes sense, I looked at your profile and seen you were stationed overseas ... Do you like it? And I am getting everything together to do my last rounds on my patients.

I look back at his profile picture and he has good facial features he looks like he would be fun to talk to. I start my rounds forgetting about my phone I begin changing my people. After I make sure all of my geriatric patients are in bed, buffed, puffed, and fluffed I go back to my desk to make sure my charting is all done.

I look over my patient's charts and see everything has been charted. I know that's Heather's doing I better go see what she needs. She always finishes my charting when she wants help changing her people.

I go down the other hall and hear Heather talking with a dementia patient. Ms. Ellen is the sweetest dementia patient I have met, but Heather never ceases to stir her up anytime she works.

"Hey Mr. Ellen how are you darling?"

I see Heather's face relax knowing I have her, so she can go finish changing her people.

"That hussy would not let me go find you babe," says Mr. Ellen huffing.

I smile realizing she thinks I am her granddaughter again.

"Well come on Ms. Ellen, and you can tell me all about it over some coffee,"

She follows beside me holding onto my arm, this is why I decided to work with geriatric and dementia patients because most days all they need you to do is play along with their version of reality.

I feel my phone vibrate in the jacket of my hoodie. My thoughts wonder if it could be that guy Mason. I set Ms. Ellen and tell her I will be back with her coffee. I grab my phone and see a new message.

Mason Wayne: Yes, I have loved Japan, so far I have been stationed over here for six months, and I only have six months left before I come back stateside. What do you do for a living ?

I ponder my thoughts wonder where this conversation could go, because any other guy that has messaged me from this site have been nothing, but jackasses.

Me: I bet it is beautiful over there .. And I work as a CNA for a nursing home, but I start back to school in a few days for nursing school.

I put my phone back in my pocket, as I take Ms. Ellen her coffee she just smiles, seems as if she forgot the altercations in the hallway five minutes prior to.

I give her a hug around her shoulders and kiss her cheek, she just smiles even bigger. I walk out of the dining room because it is nearly five forty-five, and day shift will be here any minute. I clean up my station, so it is nice and neat.

Right on time I see Myranda walk in, and I give her the rundown on all of the patients, and I pick up my stuff and go and clock-out. I look down at my phone and see two new messages

Mason Wayne: That sounds hard and sad .. Do you like what you do?

Mason Wayne: Well it is probably close to getting off, and I bet you are tired. I will text you later if you want?

Me: Yes!! I love it .. I like making my patient's day go by better, and giving them a reason to smile and get out of bed. Okay, I will text you when I wake up.

I walk out the backdoor into the employee parking lot; walking up to my truck

I get in my truck waiting for it to warm up, it is one of the cold Texas mornings 21 degrees Fahrenheit , my phone dings that I have a new message.

Mason Wayne: That's understandable, I like working on the jets that come through, but I am ready to be state side.

I smile and don't respond. I finally start heading home by the time I get home the sun is already rising. As soon as I get out of my truck I can hear my baby girl whining at the front door ready to be let out. When I open the door Grace comes running out ready to go do her morning business. Grace is my dog she is a pit mix and I absolutely adore her she is all brown with a white face and paws with brown surrounding her eye she is five years old, but acts like she is still a puppy.

I finally get her back inside and take myself a shower I let my hair air dry as I get breakfast ready for Grace, and climb into bed to sleep until my next shift.