Absolute Reality

Lockdown

Sister Jude was late for the Monday afternoon staff meeting. She hustled up the Stairway to Heaven, habit rustling around her sore feet. Briskly, she slipped into the meeting room, frowning apology. "I'm sorry," she told the faces at the table. "I was caught up with the lock company."

"Understandable, Sister." Timothy Howard smiled at her, gesturing to her chair beside him. "Busy day."

"Quite." She sat, catching her breath as she opened up her planner. "First order of business? The new locking system is officially installed."

"Finally." Frank grumbled at her other side.

"No more slippery locks?" Carl asked.

"Thankfully, no." Jude assured. "The new system is completely automated. Controlled from three secure stations."

Frank picked up seamlessly, showing diagrams printed on thick paper. "One mechanism is in the security office. That's the main switch. It can control all doors, or go floor by floor. A second similar device is in Sister Jude's office. In the kitchen is a backup device that only controls patient rooms. In the event of an emergency, these three switches will lock down all of Briarcliff."

"Remarkable." The Monsignor approved. "Technology is progressing at an impressive rate."

"Scary." Carl offered, nodding.

"Not at all." Dr. Arden - new to the staff meetings - offered his first opinion. "I think if it lends itself to protecting the patients and staff of our institution, it should progress even faster."

"Agreed." Timothy agreed.

"Well. All progressives present will be pleased to know you each have a small key now." Jude produced her key ring. "This one. It fits each box. There are no backups to these keys so guard them closely. If you lose one, all the locks will have to be changed. So...don't lose them."

"Easy enough." Frank tapped the table. "What's next?"

"I have something, actually." Timothy spoke again. It was rare he brought anything to the table. Typically, he was only involved in Briarcliff from an administrative perspective, and typically through his right hand - Sister Jude. So every face turned to him expectantly. "I propose we move these weekly staff meetings. To Tuesday."

Blinks around the table. It was Mary Eunice who spoke. "I like that idea."

Jude hesitantly agreed. "I see no objections to moving the staff meetings. Is there any particular reasoning behind the idea?"

The priest shrugged. "Nothing happens on Tuesday."

"Ain't that the damn truth?" Carl snorted. "It's just Monday's bastard baby."

"Language, Carl." Jude reminded.

"It's a boring day." Eunice shook her head, clearly sympathizing with Tuesday.

Timothy winced. "It's more about strategy." He explained, elegant fingers growing animated. He reached for Jude's planner. "Example. Last Monday. Deliveries. Medications. Linens. Dry foodstuffs. Wednesday. Pickups. Laundry. Bakery goods. Bollocks. Wait." He squinted at the paper. Snickers traveled the table. Jude bit her lips. "That can't be right. What's this word, Sister?"

Jude looked, head close to his. "Oh. Ballasts." She whispered. "The broken light fixtures."

"Yes. Ballasts. Much better." A side smirk at Jude. "Dodgy handwriting, Sister."

"Eunice wrote that."

"I wrote that," Eunice confessed quietly. "I was in a hurry."

"Well." Timothy continued. "Thursday. Deep clean. Kitchen. Hydrotherapy. Friday. Security checks all wards." He slid the planner back to Jude. "Tuesday is the only clear day on the docket. Makes sense."