The Key of The Door

sheilanewton on Dec 22, 2011

Tags: 21st birthday, balloons, Bed, bell, birthday, Dressing Gown, Gift Boxes, nurse, Nurses Home, shower, Student Nurse

Birthday Morning in the Nurses’ Home in the 1970’s.

My ears were accosted by the sound of a clanging bell and my eyes widened onto a dirty-white cracked ceiling. Confused, I toppled out of bed, my feet getting snarled in the frayed holes of a blue coverlet and cellular blankets. Gazing around the tiny room, bare-walled, sparsely-furnished with bed, dresser and wardrobe, reality dawned and I grinned.

A bit like a nun’s cell without the crucifix. And that bell! Clatters every morning, even on my days off.

“Am I on duty this morning?” I mumbled, trying to work out what day of the week it was, counting in my head. And then I remembered.

“Yep…split shift on my twenty-first. Damn Sister’s eyes.”

I threw on a dressing gown, grabbing my soap bag from the drawer of my dresser, untangling my hair at a fractured mirror, its splinters radiating like a spider’s web. All set to dash to the shower block, I heard a knock on the door – three sharp raps.

“What the…?” I yelled, waiting for the “Open up. Police!” command. Nothing. Not another sound. So I flung open the door, angry and prepared for battle.

Great start to my birthday, this is.

Nobody there. I glared up the bleak-green walled corridor with a dozen or so doors on either side, spotting a fellow student nurse appearing from her room.

“You see anybody knocking on my door?” I asked, my voice echoing in the gloom.

She giggled.

Somebody grabbed my shoulders and twisted me around.

At least two dozen of them, armed with boxes and balloons, shrieked, “Happy Birthday!”

“I’ve got the key of the door…never been twenty-one before!” I answered.

If you enjoyed this story, perhaps you’d like to read (or even subscribe to) my blog and website.

My blog, WRITING FOR MY LIFE is a week-by-week diary of events – and a fun look at my writing week.

http://sheilanewton.blogspot.com

My website, WRITE ANGLES WITH SHEILA provides information about – and links to – my numerous online published works.

www.writeangleswithsheila.wordpress.com

Thank you so much for visiting this post.

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Comments (75)

ashan1614 on Dec 22, 2011
I vaguely remember 21…. I was taking a year off from college and working a piddly little part-time job with a children’s educational book publisher….. Ahh…. those were the days.
Buzz J on Dec 22, 2011
Wow, Sheila, loved this article of yours! Hugs!
Thell Stars on Dec 22, 2011
Good article
FX777222999 on Dec 22, 2011
Liked this article.
stonecutter on Dec 22, 2011
wow. it must have made you feel really special.
AmosTheCat on Dec 22, 2011
Nice story. I do remember my 21st birthday. No surprises there.
Wrath Warbone on Dec 22, 2011
That’s real nice. Did it really happen? To you? I hope so!
sheilanewton on Dec 22, 2011
Yes, my dear Terry – it really did happen. And the nurses home was like a jail!!!!! Maybe your mother has similar memories. What was a life in nursing like in the USA in those days??
V rank on Dec 22, 2011
Cool… A nun without a crucifix… That is the coolest word I ever heard to refer to a nurse… Your artistic soul is evident in this article..!
A Bromley on Dec 22, 2011
Cool! Really enjoyed this story. Aw, to be 21 again, Na, I take that back. I wouldn’t want to go back and relive the past. You are really a good writer and your analogy of a nurse is superb.
sheilanewton on Dec 22, 2011
Not just an analogy, A Bromley, it’s a little bit of my autobiography!
ittech on Dec 22, 2011
Good information nice thanks for this
dazzlejazz on Dec 23, 2011
Wonderfully written Sheila! You don’t look old enough for this to be about you
ittech on Dec 23, 2011
“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole World

belongs to you”
Yvhes P. on Dec 23, 2011
that is such an amazing story. glad you shared it with us here =)
erwinkennythomas on Dec 23, 2011
intriguing post!
Fika Thiana on Dec 23, 2011
Sheila… You made another awesome post again. Please don’t stop writing, i really like your writing, and really enjoy to read it.
PHILLY DREAMER on Dec 23, 2011
It’s nice to have such good friends, even if they are rude LOL.
PHILLY DREAMER on Dec 23, 2011
It\’s nice to have such good friends, even if they are rude LOL.
Fika Thiana on Dec 23, 2011
Sheila… You made another awesome post again. Please do not stop writing, i really like your writing, and really enjoy to read it.
Aroosa Gloomy on Dec 23, 2011
I like it.
castleboundbook on Dec 24, 2011
Excellent!
FX777222999 on Dec 24, 2011
Great Sheila! Merry Christmas!
ittech on Dec 25, 2011
very good work thanks
pruelpo on Dec 25, 2011
Happy birthday and Merry Christmas Ms. Sheila.
Vinaya says good bye on Dec 26, 2011
I enjoyed your story, I’m going to follow your blog
Elove Poetry on Dec 26, 2011
it’s such memories/moments that mke our lives a history worth writing down
Jsqc Writer on Dec 27, 2011
What a memorable birthday experience. I absolutely enjoyed reading this wonderful piece
ittech on Dec 27, 2011
interesting post
Lady Sunshine on Dec 28, 2011
A fun piece of your personal history retold. Thank you for sharing.
Val Mills on Dec 28, 2011
Loved this! Brought back lots of memories. My 21st photo shows mini skirts shorter than any self respecting girl should wear – no leggings under them like today. Those were the days my friend
papaleng on Dec 30, 2011
I like your post, quite intriguing.
Martin Kloess on Dec 30, 2011
Just dropped by.
ittech on Dec 31, 2011
nice MSG
MJRapp on Jan 4, 2012
That was really fun! I liked it.
realityspeaks on Jan 5, 2012
Enjoyable read
tonyleather on Jan 5, 2012
This was great. Thanks
Kristie Claar on Jan 6, 2012
Great read. I remember mine as well. I was disappointed when I did not get carded when walking into a bar I had never been in before and the guy told me he recognized me because I was always there. Confusion, do I have a twin????
sheilanewton on Jan 6, 2012
Excellent, Kristie. What a great story. you should write it up and post it. ‘Twould make an excellent piece for Triond.
Christine Ramsay on Jan 8, 2012
A wonderful read, Sheila. I remember getting an old Austin A30 for my twenty first. I was living in Southport at the time and I went out for a drive with a friend, and as I turned into our driveway on our return, I collided with the gate post and the big stone ball on top of the post landed on the bonnet of the car. So much damage. I was heart broken.
sheilanewton on Jan 8, 2012
Christine – you should put pen to paper and write this super story. I remember those old Austin A30’s. Gorgeous. Hope your heart’s mended now!
ittech on Jan 9, 2012
I express I had a trick hand

Which with a motion could do

All the drilling speculates more or less the house

And make it look into like brand-new.
Siti cholifah on Jan 9, 2012
Nice one,,,I like
FX777222999 on Jan 10, 2012
Loved it and revisiting this article.
Jay F. Samson on Jan 11, 2012
Haha, how funny! Great story.
girishpuri on Jan 12, 2012
very enjoyable story.
Fika Thiana on Jan 15, 2012
Is it about you? I love this… ^_*
sheilanewton on Jan 15, 2012
Yep – it’s about me all those years ago!
Rosettaartist1 on Jan 15, 2012
I left home just before my 18th birthday and had my own place since then. Good writing skills here and the pics make it look cute too.
Leah on Jan 16, 2012
Lovely story about your birthday in the ’70’s
Lisa Marie Mottert on Jan 16, 2012
Love this story… excellent article, with plenty of strong verbs:)
Love the pictures!
Kept me wanting to read more… that’s a good thing:0
ittech on Jan 20, 2012
I thank you. It is nice to see it.
ittech on Jan 22, 2012
interesting writing again . Thnx for sharing .
vladimire popovski on Jan 25, 2012
nice share. keep it up.
ittech on Jan 25, 2012
Very well stated
Nidhi Rai on Jan 26, 2012
Very well written.
Jsqc Writer on Jan 28, 2012
Enjoyed revisiting, this is a fantastic and memorable piece
Nidhi Rai on Jan 28, 2012
Good article.
Fran DeLauraSmith on Jan 30, 2012
Great stuff, I love your writing, wonderful!
prsol46 on Jan 31, 2012
LOL, nice story, I quite enjoyed it!
Dora77 on Feb 7, 2012
Sheila,
Just Superb!
I’m happy to meet you.Thanks!
Safa on Feb 10, 2012
Wow…real life story of Sheila huh…glad to know…enjoyed it
Dora77 on Feb 10, 2012
Revisited to click “I LIKE IT”
Nidhi Rai on Feb 11, 2012
Great share.
ittech on Feb 19, 2012
Wonderful piece of writing. This is mind-blowing stuff, my friend.
nita kusuma dewi on Feb 19, 2012
great article
observer1 on Feb 20, 2012
Lovely story – deserves all the good comments!
Nayan Basu on Feb 21, 2012
great piece
Angelji on Feb 22, 2012
21 years ago when white uniforms need to be well pressed and hard. Nurses cares..
yes me on Feb 23, 2012
Seems some work some don’t cheers
Safa on Mar 8, 2012
I like it
lauralu on May 1, 2012
Great article being a nurse as well I can relate
Eiddwen on May 17, 2012
Thank you so much for this one;you are a very inspiring writer.
Eddy.
momofplenty on May 17, 2012
Very enjoyable story, it was weel written, I could follow with my mind’s eye… and loved it. Great imagery and tone.
Lisa Marie Mottert on May 27, 2012
Enjoyable piece, Thanks!

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