Well, so much for the theory that this facility will remain basically empty until the Fourth weekend is over. We are full. Over the last 48 hours, about 10 guys came in, giving us a population of about 18, which, I believe, is maxed out. It sure feels that way. The dynamics have gone from mellow to tense.
The VA police brought in a guy last night who was clearly trouble. His BAC was probably through the roof, and he was combative. Now, the best thing to hope for is that he will calm down, sleep it off. Not this guy. He was hollering all night, even from his bed, demanding that the duty nurse bring him ice cream - bedside. "Get off your lazy ass and get it yourself," I heard from the nurse. This guy is a real piece of work.
This morning, apparently he decided to limp into the bathroom on his crutches to take a shower. One of the other patients was in there, a solid dude who has been here a week. (Someone else I have known from years gone by). The new guy started spitting on the floor, the other guy told him to cut it out. An argument ensued, whereupon my friend grabbed one of the guys crutches and walloped him across his head. My friend immediately then went to the nurse's station, told the nurse that he had been attacked by the drunk, who had subsequently slipped and hit his head. Moments later, the drunk came roaring out, yelling that he had been attacked. The duty nurse told him to shut the hell up and go back to his room. After a confused moment, the drunk did just that.
Awesome. My buddy told me the story, furtively watching the scene behind him, asking me if he thought he was going to get in trouble. "No worries," I told him. "I was there, saw the whole thing. It went down exactly as you said." My friend smiled. "Want an ice cream?"
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