GOLDEN POND

Chapter 5 Nurse Betty "Where's Nurse Betty! I need her now! Where the hell is she?" Dr. Christian doesn't want to operate without her. Sure she annoyed him by saying stat 50 or more times a day, but she was the best nurse he had ever worked with. And he considered her his good luck charm! Nurse Betty had come from humble beginnings. Her mom ( Virginia ) and pop ( Barney ) met at Folly Beach during the Nam conflict. Her mom worked at Cheatam and Howe, a law firm and a prestigious one at that, headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. She was an executive secretary, along the lines of a Della Street Her sailor pop had been a cook. And served his tour of duty on the Indianapolis. He served three years but had never seen combat. His fellow sailors called him "Spuds," never Barney. He didn't like it. Now, he was a free man so he decided to stay in Charleston for a few days. He wanted to see Fort Sumter, drink some mint juleps, and check out the southern belles! And see one he did. She was stunning. Long Brown hair, an exquisite figure, and a big smile. He had a thing for teeth- they must be white! No gaps and no protusions. Nary a one. While sun tanning at Folly, he was ogling the women as any sailor or man would. He paid special attention to their bodies but most of all their teeth. While applying Coppertone- because tan don't burn- one particular woman caught his eye, as she emerged from the waters. Her teeth glistened in the sun! It was Virginia and it was love at first sight! He was alway shy around women. He was never a ladies man. It didn't help on dates when he asked questions like "how many cavities do you have; how many have you had; do you have your wisdom teeth; any crowns; do you floss and how often; and how frequently do you get a check up; and how did you happen to have such magnificent canines?" He had never had a second date, and he always wondered why! He had been rejected so many times, but he was determined to meet her. In a bold move- for him anyway- he walked up to her and said: "Nice teeth you have!" Virginia replied, "Well thank you! I do get regular checkups at the dentist and floss two or three times a day. I've been fortunate-never had a cavity. And I use an electric toothbrush! " Barney knew he had met the woman he would marry. And marry they did after a short 6-month courtship. It was a beautiful ceremony. And everyone attending complimented Virginia on her wedding gown and teeth! Nurse Betty was born 2 years later. They lived the idyllic life. Betty was the apple of their eye. She made good grades in school and got her nursing degree at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. She didn't date much because, like her father, she always studied men's teeth. Her dad wanted her to become a dental hygienist, but she was born to be a nurse. After graduation, she got a job at General Hospital in Chattanooga. It was close to Cherokee, North Carolina where she frequented quite often on her off days. Some thought she had a gambling problem, but they were haters with bad teeth. She enjoyed craps, Blackjack, and poker. Sometimes she would win and sometimes she would lose. Barney and Virginia were concerned with her gambling. But to no avail as Betty lived her life, and no one was going to tell her how to live it. "Spuds, I love you but nursing and gambling is my life!" She endearingly called him Spuds. She was the only one who was allowed to call him that. Dr. Christian is beside himself, but sees Nurse Betty enter the operating room. "Where have you been?" She wanted to lie but couldn't. "I placed a bet on Purple Rain at Belmont in the third race. And Raspberry Beret in the fourth. And Party Like It's 1999 in the 6th! My sincere apologies, but it's time to save this man's life! Stat!!!" End of Chapter 5