The Haunting Registered Nurse

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Woodruff highlighting a ghostly appearance focused her attention on the National landmark protected reserve. Like it was close to an anniversary she remembered the peaceful resting arrival day when her excited life and spirit presented a caring persona. Only days until being pinned a registered nurse during the University’s annual ceremony she decided to head out into the real world with her boyfriend James B Williams.

Only a short hike up the path was North Lake and the boat house where Woodruff was getting ready to receive an early graduation present. Only problem was the weirdest event occurred preparing for the surprise. Still wearing the white uniform from work, a bald eagle looking for revenge swooped down and for no reason at all started to peck the student, attacking the innocent body until she quit and fell helplessly returning to earth.

After a political hired ranger found the corpse, the proper burial was staged back on campus and James B Williams who was studying to be a Medical Doctor was mortified spending his residency weeping. Unlike the living Woodruff never left the engagement scene, in fact the inspiring health care worker set up her eternal existence inside the vacation spot owned by her future fiancé and lit the candle.

“Dooley,” she turned her head to see a skeleton prop Dr. Williams abandoned on that tragic day, “he will come back, I know he will.”

Haygood Hopkins guarded the entrance when a car owned by a successful rural primary physician drove up with his coworker wearing scrubs occupying the passenger seat.

“Can I have your name?” Haygood inquired.

“Dr. James B Williams,” he replied, “I am here to check on that property my family has owned for years up by the North Lake.”

“Oh, yes, the world famous, Dr. Williams,” Haygood found the name on the clipboard list, “you wrote that rural doctor book that was made into a movie.”

Shaking his head affirmatively, “and who is your copilot there Dr. Williams?”

“Well, that is the future Mrs. Williams,” she gave a friendly wave wearing pink scrubs, “but right now Miss Rollins Hodgson is my nurse practitioner assistant.”

“Nurse practitioner assistant,” Haygood replied, “must have taken many years of study to do that, I assume.”

And the blonde senior answered with a smile that would be acceptable on any cover magazine near a hospital.

“Well, go ahead, Doc,” and the car slowly moved forward and Haygood returned to the post where there was an eagle sitting inside, “well, Swoop, Doc brought up another one.”

A few minutes later the expensive automobile toy was put into park and Dr. Williams stepped out, “It is so quaint,” Rollins expressed, “and such a pleasant view.”

“And the inside my dear, the inside.”

Grasping hand and hand the two walked up in unison to the front when a red fox jumped out before venturing into the woods.

“Oh wow,” Rollins exclaimed “I must follow him.”

“Well, you do that,” Dr. Williams suggested jingling his keys.

Up the two steps Dr. Williams went and in a reflective second noticed a candle’s luring brightness. Unlocking the door, he slowly entered his past.

“So,” a voice seated at the table, “you decided to come back.”

“Woodruff?”

“It’s Nurse Woodruff, Dr. James B Williams, remember I finished all my academic requirements before getting attacked by the American Bald Eagle system,” Woodruff stated her case, “who is the young chickadee? In the colorful ensemble.”

“My nurse practitioner assistant,”

“Nurse practical what?”

“Woodruff, it is innovative words for a new generation.”

“Yeah,” Woodruff rebutted back, “they do not even have time to properly get dressed up in the morning.”

“Those are called scrubs,” Dr. Williams explained, “they did away with the uniform years ago.”

Dr Williams watched Woodruff’s eyes turn red and her mouth let out a growl that shook the small house. “Apparently, it saves on dry cleaning bills, or something,”

“Or something?” Woodruff angrily questioned.

Getting up the dead image proceeded over to the candle and blew it out, “now that you are here, well we do not need St Elmo's Fire seen on the North Lake.”

Observing the flame extinguish Dr. Williams watched Woodruff close the blinds preventing the sunset from ruining the moment, “is there something you wanted to ask me?”

Feeling around his white lab coat pockets Dr. Williams quickly was inspired when he touched the ring intended for Rollins.

“You know besides, ‘how many we want on the pediatrics floor?’,”

Getting on his knees Woodruff smiled when suddenly the door flung open, and Rollins looked like she just finished a twelve-hour rotating shift in the operating room. Collapsing on the floor caked with blood the youngster could not breath. Not even the word.

“Well, there goes the moment,” Woodruff reported showing frustration, “go Dr. Williams, go tend to her.”

When Dr. Williams reached the body, realizing another one was promoted to the other side, “what happened?”

“That American Bald Eagle system will peck you to death in this profession,” Woodruff proclaimed.

“But why?” Dr. Williams shed a tear.

“Why, you say, I need help here, Dr. Williams, I have this staffing shortage problem that would make someone want to strike,” Woodruff lectured, “now tell her to get a white uniform and join me in the back,”

“White uniform, Woodruff?”

“Yes, the white uniform she wore in the fourth grade Halloween parade where she said, ‘I want to be a nurse when I grow up’”

Having the shaken stirred sensation Dr. Williams stumbled out to his car, turned on the engine and the high beams scaring a deer wanting to be hunted.

It was then Rollins joined Woodruff at the window, “first job I have for you is get the matches we need to get the candle burning again until he gets back.”

“Yes, Nurse Woodruff.”

Dr. Williams was able to find composure slowing down when arriving next to Haygood’s gate,

“Good evening, Dr. Williams, where is the future bride?”

“Well, she found this fox and they both ran off into the woods.”

“Really,”

“You know kids these days, they see something they want, and boom disappear,” Dr. Williams mentioned, “his name was Michael Jay something, so hard to keep good help these days.”

Then right before leaving the park Dr. Williams headlight captured an American Bald Eagle and fox in salute formation and the good health care provider nodded his head before heading back to the competitive city.