The next morning Russ finished washing up and was about to check to see what time it was and find out if breakfast was being served. When he stood at the end of the hallway, he witnessed four uniformed men were escorting a handsome man towards him and the nurses’ station. Russ wasn’t the only patient to stop and stare. Knowing he had an open bed in his room, Russ had a feeling this guy was going to be his roommate. He hoped the four men escorting him were his admirers because Russ did not need someone violent or aggressive near him. As the man was brought into an office, Russ and he met gazes. For a flash of a moment in time, the rage on the man’s face vanished. They instantly connected in very strange exchange of…Russ didn’t know what…and then it evaporated. Patients resumed their activity, and Russ, again, headed to his room. What did he do? Russ sat on his bed and picked up a journal to jot notes into. As he did, he wrote, ‘Hope he likes me,’ and took a worried look at the door of his room. ~ Joe was taken into a locked room. When the door opened he could see it was a bathroom with a shower and toilet. The door shut behind him and one of the two men who entered with him, said, “Take off all your clothing. We have to inspect it, and you.” “Are you kidding me?” One of the men stated, “We’ll only ask you once.” “Jesus.” Joe began undressing and took off his socks, working on removing his pants and briefs. Each item was taken, checked for…weapons? Dope? He didn’t know. Once he was naked, he was handed a hospital gown. Joe grabbed it and covered up. “Turn around.” Joe did. “Show us your back.” He lowered the cotton top. “Why?” “We want to know if you have any open sores.” “Unreal.” Joe looked up at the white ceiling. “I’m in hell.” “Show us the bottoms of your feet.” Joe did, counting to ten so he did not explode and attack these men. “Do you have lice?” “Fuck no!” “Okay.” Joe tied the limp gown around him and was given scrubs bottoms; pants, pale blue. He put them on and was offered socks which had rubber lines on them to prevent slipping. Joe sat down to put the socks on, and asked, “What are you going to do with my clothing?” “We’ll wash it for you. You can wear them after.” Throwing up his hands, he stood and said, “Yeah. Whatever.” The men opened the door and one led Joe to a locked closet. It was opened and he could see a stacked washer-dryer. They placed his clothing into the washer, and told him, “There’s the soap.” He took a scoop, imagined throwing it into the guy’s face, but dumped it into the washing machine’s soap dispenser. “We’re taking your other personal belongings. They’ll be locked up.” “Like I have any choice?” Joe tensed his jaw. “There are two phones if you need to make a call.” “I need to go home, not waste my time here.” One of the men gestured for Joe to keep walking, towards a counter where several nurses were sitting behind computers. “Sit. We need to take your temperature and blood pressure.” About to complain he had just done that in the ride over, Joe sat heavily in a chair in a nook where a scale was located. A nurse took his BP rating and temperature. Then she said, “Can you stand on the scale?” Joe stood, looking down at the numbers which were metric, not pounds. She then brought him to another spot and asked him, “Back against the wall, stand straight.” She recorded his height as well. “Now we’re going to photograph you. The picture is for the medication distribution.” “This is absurd.” Joe glanced over his shoulder. Two of the big men who had dragged his ass in were watching him, making sure he didn’t give the nurse a hard time. He glared at the woman who took a photo, and then folded his arms over his chest. “Now what? Fingerprint me and swab for DNA?” “That’s it for now. I’ll show you to your room.” “Oh, goody.” Joe shot a sneer to the two men and walked with the nurse down a hall. She said to the men, “He’s fine. I have it now.” They nodded and left through a secure door, the one in which Joe was first brought inside. “How do you know I’m fine?” He stared down at the petite woman. “Because you want to get out of here.” She knocked lightly on a door and then opened it. From behind, Joe peered over her shoulder. A man, wearing jeans and a cotton shirt, sat on his bed, writing in a notebook. “Russ? We have a new roommate for you. This is Joe.” Joe stopped at the doorway. He had no idea what this guy was in for but the glance they exchanged at first sight was passive, if not a little friendly. “Hi.” Russ appeared as nervous as Joe felt. “Hi.” Joe waited as the nurse showed him a door. “This is your bathroom. You share it with Russ and two other men whose door is on the opposite side.” “Wonderful.” Joe couldn’t be any sicker to his stomach than he was now. “We’ll come and get you so you can have your first consultation with the doctor. And…keep an eye on the time. Your clothing should be done in the wash in around a half hour, and then you can put it into the dryer.” Joe didn’t answer, looking at the nurse like she was his mortal enemy. She lowered her eyes and left. Russ placed his notebook on a nightstand which separated the two beds. Joe stood at the foot of Russ’ bed and asked, “What are you here for?” “Danger to self.” Joe nodded. “They labeled me, danger to others.” He sat on his bed, feeling a thin, but firm mattress. “My head is all over the place at the moment.” “That’s the meds. They dosed me up too when I first got here.” “Fucking sucks. I can’t think straight.” Joe fell back on the bed. “I can’t believe I’m here. Why?” He heard a soft chuckle from Russ. “You think this is funny?” “Fuck no. I’m on the same page as you, buddy. I can’t think straight and have no idea why I had to be dragged here.” Joe shifted on the bed so he was lying on his side, his head held up by his palm on the pillow. He stared at Russ and smiled. “At least I have a normal roommate.” “Ha. Normal.” Russ smiled shyly. “Not so sure about that but I’m easy going.” “How long have you been here?” “Just since yesterday. Now the bastards have me for a week. Believe me, I’m not happy about that.” “A week?” Joe sat up, clenching his fists. “That’s for me. I’m not saying you will be held that long.” “Oh, Christ. I really fucked up.” Joe rubbed his face and yawned. “Yup. I think you and I have a lot in common.” They both stopped talking when they heard screaming coming from somewhere down the hall. Joe sat up in alarm, but Russ explained, “One patient here, Arnold, is pretty severely disabled. He screams like that whether he’s happy or sad.” “I have to get out of here.” Joe stood and looked around the room. “Can I give you a piece of advice?” Joe met Russ’ gaze. Russ said, “The more you fight it, the longer you will be here.” “Great.” Joe sat heavily on the bed. “I know. Believe me. I know.”
