Day 27: Intercom, Afternoon
The intercom clicked on amongst the sound of conversation and eating in the cafeteria.
"I hope you all enjoyed that hearty lunch and are ready for our next shift!" The Head Doctor said cheerily. "Our next activity will be in the Library, as our schedule is going to be changed in lieu of our expanding patient population, and I'm pleased to announce that all of our new patients' files have been cleared, and that the nurses will be introducing Group 4 of our new patients to all of you shortly.
"However," the doctor began a new sentence, his chair squeaking from under him as he seemed to lean back in it. He seemed pleased, content. "Tomorrow will be a fun day indeed, and something new will happen that will give greater--if temporary--freedom to all of you and give all our patients a break from the admitted tedium of daily shifts. Why yes--tomorrow, we'll be having an Institution-wide trip to Doyleton, the nearby town outside of the valley and hills that this institution is surrounded by. Of course, the field trip isn't mandatory, and patients should feel free to stay here and enjoy a special day of special recreation should they desire."
The Head Doctor paused, as if weighing how much he could reveal about the events of the next day, and then seemed to decide that a quiet tease was better than nothing at all.
"I should let you know, patients, that I too will be attending the field trip! Oh, yes, indeed, and as I'll be personally chaperoning one of the buses into town, I do hope to meet some of you in person and become familiar with the faces that I'm always so busy taking care of but never really becoming friendly with. Yes, tomorrow will certainly be an interesting day..."
He trailed off, then finished the announcement:
"In any case: Next shift will be in the Patient Library, though, of course, the option of staying in the Sun Room is always available. And that's all for now!"
The intercom clicked off, though conversation had now dwindled to hushed and excited chatter.
"I hope you all enjoyed that hearty lunch and are ready for our next shift!" The Head Doctor said cheerily. "Our next activity will be in the Library, as our schedule is going to be changed in lieu of our expanding patient population, and I'm pleased to announce that all of our new patients' files have been cleared, and that the nurses will be introducing Group 4 of our new patients to all of you shortly.
"However," the doctor began a new sentence, his chair squeaking from under him as he seemed to lean back in it. He seemed pleased, content. "Tomorrow will be a fun day indeed, and something new will happen that will give greater--if temporary--freedom to all of you and give all our patients a break from the admitted tedium of daily shifts. Why yes--tomorrow, we'll be having an Institution-wide trip to Doyleton, the nearby town outside of the valley and hills that this institution is surrounded by. Of course, the field trip isn't mandatory, and patients should feel free to stay here and enjoy a special day of special recreation should they desire."
The Head Doctor paused, as if weighing how much he could reveal about the events of the next day, and then seemed to decide that a quiet tease was better than nothing at all.
"I should let you know, patients, that I too will be attending the field trip! Oh, yes, indeed, and as I'll be personally chaperoning one of the buses into town, I do hope to meet some of you in person and become familiar with the faces that I'm always so busy taking care of but never really becoming friendly with. Yes, tomorrow will certainly be an interesting day..."
He trailed off, then finished the announcement:
"In any case: Next shift will be in the Patient Library, though, of course, the option of staying in the Sun Room is always available. And that's all for now!"
The intercom clicked off, though conversation had now dwindled to hushed and excited chatter.