Train Ride (story by R.C. Peris)

Oh, I did not like that nurse. They assigned her to me. She was hired by the hospital administrator. She was his niece’s friend and “very attractive. That’s what he said. One day on the job and it was clear she was not qualified to be a nurse. She made mistakes. One mistake could have been fatal if I hadn’t caught it. The doctors enjoyed her but knew better than to ask to have her assigned to them. So they assigned her to me. The only female doctor on staff. It was 1935 and I was a circus amusement in possession of a medical degree. I got the worst employees assigned to me.

I was in love with Doctor Green. He was a three years older than me. He had a passion for baseball, opera and surgery. I invited him places. One time I bought tickets to the symphony, Vivaldi, but he politely declined. He said he was leaving for a golf trip up north. Another time I invited him to dinner to discuss the latest advancements in heart surgery but he also declined. He had to take his mother to visit an aunt.

Fine. Doctor Green was not interested in me. Not yet.

Three weeks after the nurse got assigned to me, I saw her in the hospital corridor laughing with Doctor Green.

I’ll pick you up after work,” he said. I decided to follow the nurse after her shift. Doctor Green picked her up in his car and I followed in mine. They stopped at an Italian restaurant. Two hours eating messy noodles. Then they went to the park, crossed the bridge over the lake and kissed.

Oh, I do not like that nurse. A week later I went to her home. It was her day off. I got her address from administration. When she opened the door I sprayed her with mace. She screamed. I pushed her inside, stabbed her twice. Each one fatal. I went to my car and got a suitcase and surgery saw. I cut up her body and managed to arrange her so her whole body fit in the case. I then drove to Union Station, bought a train ticket, boarded the train, placed the suitcase in the luggage rack and then exited. I waited to watch the train pull away. The nurse was now on a train ride to Chicago.

Now. Doctor Green. I have tickets to Wagner. I will insist he got with me. I will insist.

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