Brenda

I want to write about the many different people in my life. Here's the first one.

I met Brenda in the hospital about two days after the old maid, my former roomate, had left. She came in all doped put, wearing a white and blue hospital gown. I was glad to have a junkie roomate instead of a depressed one. The junkies are more interesting.

Brenda had bleached blonde hair with long bangs that hung over her eyebrows, and she appeared to be in her mid-to-late thirties. Despite the downers they fed her three to four times a day, Brenda still had a mischievious quality about her. Even though she was bit thick headed, Brenda was amusing. She spoke with a soft sing-songy voice occasionally accompanied by a merriful giggle, and she used it to try and seduce the men. Because any sort of touching or stroking was strictly prohibited, her efforts were in vain. She ultimately caused herself unnesessary misery and embarrassment.

Smoke breaks were of course the highlight of every day. There were 4 through out the day, one after each of the three meals and one before bed. I have never seen anyone try to smoke so many cigarettes at once in a 15 minute period. These people are hardcore smokers used to smoking nonstop throughout the day, and 4 breaks is just not enough.

Anyway Brenda decided that she would change this rule and stole the lighter from the nurse station. It was a real serious offense, the culprit was hunted down as if a murderer was on the loose. All privledges were taken away until the lighter turned up. Privledges included smoke breaks.

In our room that night I noticed the scent of cigarrette smoke lingering in the air. I shut the door quickly, even though that was also against the rules. I saw a blonde head slowly peak out from the shower door. Brenda whispered loudly, "Hey! You can't smell it out there can you?" I walked into the shower room and saw Brenda standing on our desk chair blowing the cigarette smoke into the vent about the shower. She then grabbed two towels and gave one to me.

"Help me out!" She was still whispering, even though the volume was probably louder than her speaking voice.
She waved the towels about, trying to fan out the smoke. I have to admit it was hilarious, mostly because of the seriousness in her voice. Her seriousness was understandable; if she was caught she would lose her smoking privledges.

Miraculously she did not get caught. The smoking breaks were eventually returned. No one could stand a hospitable full of people without their cigarettes.

That was Brenda.