Intensive Care8

She let him off her lap, pulled up his pyjamas and settled him back in bed. Then she handed him a tissue and tenderly stroked his tear-stained face. Now her voice was gentle again. “Going to be a good boy for us from now on?” Jimmy was still too tearful to speak, but he nodded his head vigorously. He had never been more sure of anything in his whole life. “Good. Well, I must get ready for visiting time.” Alice moved back the curtains and unveiled the repentant, naughty boy to the hushed ward. Sue returned from her lunch break to find the desk unattended. Suddenly Alice reappeared. “Where have you been?” Sue asked her. For answer, Alice held up her right hand, its palm an angry red. “No prizes for guessing whose bottom that matches?” grinned Sue. “No prizes whatsoever,” Alice replied.