Another dream, another story

I had a dream last night - finally something different. It's no fun to dream if it becomes monotonous. Anyway, I had just started working in a hospital. My responsibilities remain to be explained to me, but I liked working there. My new boss, we'll call him Todd, wants to meet with me several times throughout my first week. At the end of the week, apparently, I'll have to complete a 'love survey'. I'm curious & intrigued to reach the end of the week. But there's plenty to keep me busy until then. Like Tuesday night - that was crazy - the paramedics were arguing over a patient's head with the nurses & doctors on duty. A few of us stepped in, got the patient to a bed in the ER, & tried to calm everyone down. Paramedic #1 (just got home from Iraq): "Stand down! We have the situation under control!"
Head Nurse: "Look! You're not in the field! You're in my ER! You've done your part, now let us do ours!"
Paramedic #2 gets Paramedic/Vet calmed down & back to their rig.
I go over to the Head Nurse: "You got brothers, right?"
HN: "Huh?"
me: "Do you have any brothers?"
HN: "Yeah. Two."
me: "Older?"
HN: "Yeah. I'm the youngest."
me: "They made you pretty tough."
HN: "Ha, yeah I guess you're right."
me: "I have one older brother & he tells me all the time how he failed trying to toughen me up."
HN: "I don't know. You've been here two days & you've already got Todd worshiping the ground you walk on.
me: "What? Worshiping?!"
HN: "Easy - it's a good, non-sexual thing. He responds well to confidence. You've got power, girl. Just walking around the ER, patients know you're somebody around here."
me: "Talk about an ego boost."
HN: "Hey now. Take it with a grain of salt - please. The last thing we need is another cocky higher-up around here."
me: "No worries. My feet are nailed to the ground."
Toward the end of the day, I find a phone to call Mom - I need a ride home. Todd walks by - "Hey. Everything alright? Heard about the rumble in the ER. Who won?"
me: "Rumble? Well...the Jets stood their ground. The Sharks took the forfeit & went back to their turf."
Todd: "That's got to be the nerdiest answer I've heard in this hospital."
me: "A. I'm happy you got the reference - it would have been tragic if you hadn't. B. Isn't that why you hired me?"
I make the call to Mom.
Mom: "Can I come in? Or would that make you feel like you're in grade school?"
me: "You can come in, Mom. I promise I won't be embarrassed."
Toni - the hospital's PR rep - comes over: "Were you just flirting with Todd?"
me: "Whoa! What? He just asked me about the ER battle."
Toni: "Which you cleaned up very nicely. But I've only seen him flirt once & that's what it looked like."
me: "I just started here! And he's my boss!!"
Toni: "Down girl - you'll start a riot."
me: "I don't need to be the kiss-ass who wants to sleep with the boss."
Mom walks up to the ER desk - "I'm looking for - "
me: "Hi, Mom. Cheryl (the nurse sitting at the desk), this is my Mom. She's an R.N."
So I introduce my mom to the rest of my new work friends. Mom hasn't worked in a hospital since I was a little kid - she's remembering.
I clock out for the night & go to meet Mom at the door.
"Don't I get an introduction?"
Todd has a smug but laid-back look on his face.
me: "Oh. Sure, sorry about that."
Mom: "You ready, kiddo? Oh - who is this?"
me: "This is Todd - my boss."
Todd: "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Kelly. Your daughter is fitting in very well around here. You should be very proud."
Mom: "That's always music to a mother's ears. It was very nice meeting you, Todd."
me: "Have a good night."
Todd: "I'll be seeing you."
Walking to the car, Mom is thrilled how well I am settling in. Finally.
Mom: "I hope you're not too tired."
me: "I'll be alright. Why?"
Mom: "The party is tonight. Everyone's already at the house."
me: "Oops. Forgot about that."
Pulling up to our house, I see that the already limited parking on our block is completely hopeless.
Inside my 30 first cousins, their spouses, & their kids are squeezed into my living room. It's winter but the windows have been mercifully thrown open.
I'm greeted by Beth - my mother's older sister.
Beth: "Hi, honey! How are you?! Mom tells me you have a new job! You're working at a hospital? How exciting, Bridgee!!"
I cringe. Only three people can get away with calling me Bridgee - & Beth is not one of them.
She reaches for me, aiming to hug me - I say nothing & walk away.
Beth: "Oh, Bridgee's still not talking to Aunt Beth."
me: "Nope, and that's not changing either. Hi, Fiona! How are ya?! Let's go find your sister."
I haven't spoken to Beth in almost two years. She may never understand why.
I'm happy to see the rest of my family - it's not everyday you can cram over 100 people into a twin in northeast Philly.
The usual questions - "How's work?" "Seeing anyone special?" - fly around the room.

*To Be Continued*