DAY FIFTY EIGHT

Joyce Douglas woke with the alarm and punched Harry, “Time to get up sleepy head.”

From the form next to her came nothing more than a groan.  She hated him having to take the night calls.  They were tough.  She knew only too well.  She would allow him to sleep till she had her shower.  She had one advantage,  In her field the night calls were less frequent.  She slid her right leg over the edge of the bed and sat up.  Instinctively her hands went to her stump to massage it.  This was a morning ritual, to give this part of her body its due.  It was almost as if to try to appease the gods of the nerves in it, to placate them so they would allow her a day without phantom pain. 

She picked up her crutches, went to her dresser, pulled out a bra and panties, threw them on her shoulder and went to the bathroom.  She pulled a towel and wash cloth from the closet, threw them over her other shoulder, dropped the bra and briefs at the dressing table and crutched to the shower.  She turned it on and adjusted the water.  While it was getting to temperature she folded down her seat outside the shower. 

When the water was ready she propped the crutches next to the shower and sat down on the seat.  This allowed her to place her right foot inside the shower and then stand up in the stream of water.  It felt great.  With one hand on the rail to steady herself she washed, then adjusted the water lower and sat down on the seat inside to shampoo her hair. 

With that done she turned off the water and grabbed the towel, dried her body, finishing by standing to dry her back and butt.  She dried the seat, sat down and threw the towel over her shoulder.  She turned and stood outside, grabbed her crutches and crutched to her dressing area. 

She had a high stool there that placed her at nearly standing height.  She pulled on her panties and bra, then sat on the stool to fix her hair and makeup.  As she sat down she called to Harry, “Time to get up.”  He groaned and rolled over.  She called again.  On the third call he put his feet on the floor and got to a vertical position.  By the time she was starting her face he was at his bowl in the dressing area shaving.