One Blue Stripe Part 1

One Blue Stripe Part 1

As she takes a deep breath, packing the last remaining bits in her suitcase it dawns on her, this is it, Sandra couldn’t believe she was really doing this. Well, the careers teacher said she could do it and she got through the interview at all three hospitals, but this is the one that starts now. Finally, to be away from home all grown up, with a salary, some accommodation and training for a career. Funny the one person who didn’t say she should do it was her Mum, a bastion of the profession. Recognised as some sort of celebrity as she walks the streets of the town with people coming up to her say “oh Mrs Peckover this is Jonathan, you remember him, he was the breach baby you delivered in Fairbank Street” “ah yes, I do, he was a little devil with that cord but we got him into this world didn’t we, look at him now“ as she brushed her hand through his shiny blonde hairline. How she could remember any of the 365 home births was beyond me, but all kudos to her.

It was her time now and Sandra just couldn’t wait to put a uniform on. That pre-nursing course had set her straight, she knew it was going to be hard, but it made her want to do it even more. Still all this talk of boldness and being on her own didn’t stop the tears as she got on the bus to Our Lady’s hospital in a small suburb outside London. The lights were calling. Outside she was strong but inside she felt like a tub of jelly and ice cream, melting by the moment. She couldn’t afford to fall asleep for fear of missing her stop, so the coke went down a treat with her little pack of sandwiches her Mum had made. As they waved goodbye she was on her way and on her own. Hopefully seeing them in a week.

Sandra was in put in a dorm house called Beckett, the TV lounge was spotless and looked like it had never been used. There were six rooms to each side of the corridor each floor with a shared bathroom, kitchen, and toilet. With only two floors Sandra thought it must be a quiet house. How wrong she was going to be. The room was a little bigger than her bedroom at home, with a sink, double cupboard, bed, a desk, and a chair. No real home comforts but room 5a was to be her new sanctuary. From a short distance Sandra heard, “Hello, you must be a newbie”, Sharon from 1A said as she opened the door. ” Yes, I am” she squeaked, “have you been here a while?” “Yep, I’m in my final year” she said with an air of seniority as the door creaked back, Sandra could see that she had her entire wall covered in David Essex posters, and she meant covered. “So, you’re a fan of David Essex I see.” “Oh yes, I’ve been to see Mutiny on the Bounty five times, are you a fan?” “Not really“ Sandra said as she tried to make her way back into her room. “One thing, follow me” she said, taking me into the kitchen. The smell of fresh orange paint on the pine cupboards was a bit overwhelming, and the table for 2 looked very ‘Habitat’. She opened a lower cupboard door marked Sharon in bold letters. “This is my cupboard and I know exactly what’s in there” she said. The tins looked like they were an army of soldiers lined up for parade in alphabetical order. She then progressed to the fridge and opened the door. “See this?” presenting a glass bottle of silver top milk with her name on it also, “Don’t take my milk!”, as she placed it gently back in the door. Like an air hostess she waved her hands with ease identifying the upper cupboard, pointing out the general pots, pans, and crockery. “If I were you, I’d buy your own and keep them in your room”, she said with a smirk, seemed like wise words from an old hand. As she graced the kitchen door she turned and pointed to the bathroom, “Do make sure you clean the bath after you use it!” and with that she was back in her room, with David Essex blaring at top audio, unfortunately on repeat.

The telephone box was on the second floor, tucked away for privacy. She lifted the receiver and called Mark, on what seemed and endless number now having to dial a code. His first words were “I miss you already, and it’s only been a few hours”. She hurriedly pushed in a few more coins. She could see she was going to need a bag of coins, or he would have to call from home. They were smitten and this would certainly have to be a long-distance love affair, for three and a half years, who knew if it could last? It was just so settling to hear his voice. “I know, and I opened your card when I got here as promised, the words are lovely” “Good” he said, “You can do this! I know you can”. They agreed they’d call each other the next day at 6pm, with a bit of a signal, two rings then stop and phone again that way she knew when to be standing by the phone. She picked up the receiver and called home ”how are you doing” said Dad, “your Mother cried all the way home, but don’t tell her I told you. Is this the number to call you on?” Yes Dad, will you still be coming next week?, “We wouldn’t miss it for the world” Well do you think you could add a kettle to the list of things? “Sure love“ and with that the phone line went dead.

What a day, Sandra needed food and she had spotted a Co-op outside the local station, so she popped over to get a basket full, sourced from her mere savings. Ensuring she had her own milk and a few chocolate biscuits, she was back in no time. No TV yet that was coming next week, she pulled the curtains and fell almost instantly asleep. David Essex still blaring, she couldn’t care less.

Waking early, Sandra was pleased to have cleaned the bath and cooked a little breakfast without seeing a soul. She could see this would be a game of dodge in the mornings, so decided that a fridge would definitely have to go on her room list of purchases with her first set of wages.