Violett's Diary

First Day!

 "August 16, 1976

Hellooooooo!!!

Hi, Kira!

So nice to be talking to you again.

Yes, it was my first day of work.

Turns out it is a clinic for old people. This Doctor Olive is as old as most of his patients, if not older. He looks 65 at least.

Anyway, I arrived early, ten minutes before eight and I was already outside waiting for the office to open.

At 8:02 (I saw the time), the grouchy lady (Her name is America. "hat a funny name!) came and looked at me like she was looking at a street dog.

We both went in and she said, "Doctor Olive will be here any minute. Put the water for coffee in the meantime."

They have this old (everything in that clinic is old) coffee machine. I filled it with water, put a bag of coffee in it and plugged it in. Pretty proud of myself for knowing how to do that.

At about 8:20, Dr. Mummy (sorry but he looks VERY old) came in. He was walking with a cane. I didn't notice that last week.

He saw me, smiled at me (old guys are so nice sometimes, aren't they?), and motioned for me to follow him.

He took off his hat and coat and sat behind this large wooden desk. I sat in front of the desk.

"So, ... I'm sorry. What did you say your name was?"

"Viol.. Vicky!"

Again I had made the same stupid mistake. I couldn't believe it!

"So, ... Vicky, you look pretty young. How old are you?" he asked.

I breathed in deep and said, "18."

"Really? My, my! You look younger than that. Genes, I guess. Anyway, has America told you what you have to do for me?"

"No. She said you would tell me."

"Right. Right."

He got up from his desk and went to a cabinet near the window.

"Come here," he said.

I went to him and he opened one of the drawers.

"See this? These are all my files and notes on all my patients. Now, America is a very nice person, but she... well, let's just say tidiness isn't exactly one of her qualities."

He closed the drawer.

"So what I want you to do is to put a little order in my files. Organize them in alphabetical order or chronological, or whatever. I leave it up to you. What I want is to be able to find a file without having to move heaven and earth first, you got that?"

"Yes," I replied. The truth it didn't look too hard to do.

"Once in a while, I may send you on an errand. Do you drive? Do you have a driver's license?"

"Shoot!" I thought. I don't even have a learner's permit yet.

"Yes!" I lied.

"Good. Good."

At that moment, Grumpy America came in.

"Your 9 o'clock appointment is here, Doctor," she announced.

"We'll pick this up later," he said to me and I got up and went out.

All morning I mostly just sat around waiting for them to give me things to do. They did send me out to the store a couple of times, but that was it.

Maybe tomorrow will be better"