A Gretchen Gift ||Selfie
It didn’t seem like long ago Felicity was being screamed at by a woman about how she liked her tea. The nurse that normally took care of these things was back, but Gretchen specifically asked to have Felicity moved to her group of doctors and nurses to aid in her care. Why, she would never know, but Felicity wasn’t going to complain. Part of the job she wanted would be people like Gretchen, the ones that were hard to hate, but really drove a nail under the skin.
Felicity had taken some time off from her internship to focus more on final papers, and assignments that were piling up before the winter break. Which she didn’t think would be much of a problem until she was trying to enjoy lunch.
A red envelope was seen coming into the hall. Felicity had never once in her life ever been given a howler before. It just wasn’t like her parents to put on a show to express any sort of unhappiness with their daughter. So of course her heart didn’t flutter in fear - who would ever want to send Felicity Darnell a howler?
With that thought she put her head down. It would simply just be rude to watch the poor student that had to listen to that. Just as she let her mind drift back into her studies of how to successfully work with dittany , in the healing matters more so than wand cores. If she was planning on making a life out of healing, and working in the hospital might as well get an early start. As she read across the words small scraps of red papers started to sprinkle over the pages.
With confusion, Felicity looked to her right, no one was seated there with a howler eating it’s self, and to her left the same. Which could only mean one thing. Felicity looked up and was faced with the horror of a scorching red howler about to completely unravel it’s spit fire at her.
Felicity Darnell!
It was Gretchen McKeen’s voice. A voice she certainly couldn’t ever forget with the constant, to the very tip of a quill point, instructions to every aspect of her life. Why in Merlin’s name would she be sending Felicity a howler. After Gretchen had requested her on her services she took that as a sign that the elderly woman liked her.
Is it great manners of a woman to inform all important affairs in her life when one should take a leave of absence. I was woken to a face that was not yours with no warning what so ever. A woman of my age, and my health shouldn’t be given that sort of surprise. I am hurt that you don’t find that important enough to tell me. I expect to see you tomorrow morning, do not if and or but me Felicity Darnell. This is the life in which are you are choosing. Good...
The letter started to hiss and fizzle out and all Felicity could manage was a very hard eye roll. The woman assumed nothing but the world to fall at her feet and circle around her.
...Day.
Looking around she didn’t miss the younger students that looked at her with a look of complete shock. It was Felicity, the girl that never missed a class and would offer anyone a warm meal and advice at any given moment. Looking at them she tilted her head with a small rise of her brow to let them know now wasn’t the time, and it was incredibly rude to be staring at her. Sighing she reached out and collected the pieces of the Howler that had frizzled and frazzled at all ends. It only mean she would have to make a quick visit tomorrow to ensure the woman at least had her tea the right way. Gretchen was much more manageable when she had the right kick start of the day.
Felicity smoother out the wrinkles of her hurry that morning to get to St. Mungo’s. A few of the nurses gave her snarky side eyes as she was once again, going above and beyond to ensure the happiness and comfort of another patient. While a few others admired her sweet personality and compassion to them. Even if it was Gretchen McKeen, the one no one wanted to try and handle. She would nod and give a small smile, moving with hurry to ensure the tea wasn’t a minute late to get too cold, or a second early to be too hot. The woman was very particular.
As she entered she was already tossed a ball of sass from her. “Ah ha! I see you received my letter.” Felicity just gave a small smile while on the inside she was telling here right where she could put her letter, and keep it there. Felicity never really thought Gretchen had anything wrong with her. They say after her husband passed away two years ago, the woman just sorta acted like things were wrong here and there to stay for the company. Felicity didn’t blame her. Had she be left alone by the love of her life she’d want company around too.
“Sit, Felicity.” She said extending a hand to the chair to the right of her bed. One in which was decorated with different quilts her sister-in- law “From Hell” as she would put it, made her since her brother passed. “I have a favor I need to ask of you to get done while you’re on break from school of course.” Gretchen paused to take a sip of her tea, a sigh of satisfaction helped Felicity ease and relax into the chair. At least she got that right. “I need you to make a little trip for me to my home. I didn’t sell the thing, and I have most of my belongings locked up. I need an old photo book, if you wouldn’t mind. I’d like to look through them on my spare time.” A smile graced her lips as she took a trip down memory lane. Felicity could understand this request. It would help the staff have a better mental picture to her stories if they could put faces to the names.
With a nod Felicity smiled over at her. “That wouldn’t be asking for too much at all. I’d be happy to get that for you. I’m sure it’d be nice to see some familiar faces besides our own around here.” She said softly. It broke her heart a little when some of the people that were kept up in here - didn’t really have any visitors. Gretchen approved with a small nod. “Alright then dear, next week when you are here, because you will be - I’ll give you the address that can be your daily task for me.”
“Of course, Gretchen.”
