Dr. Feelgood

(I observe at a hospital and i really enjoy the setting and being involved. I'm not sure if schools in the 70s provided their students with such opportunities, but, i'm the author and i can be a little unrealistic.)

June

Usually hospitals had a distinct sterile smell, but Children's Hospital of Birch Falls smelled like cinnamon buns. Kayla passed a room and saw a small blond boy ripping apart a cinnamon bun with his fingers.

That explains it.

"This is the east wing of the Children's Hospital," Melanie, the human resources manager, said, keeping her voice low as she swept through the halls. She was a nice woman in her late twenties, with a pixie haircut and black horn-rimmed glasses, who was responsible for coordinating the volunteers.

The tour group of about six people rounded a corner into a new wing.

"And this is the west," Melanie said. "Each of you will be assigned a department. I'll let you know where you're at when you come in next Monday."

The group moved around a TV cart in the middle of the hallway.

"Oh, sorry, Mel," someone said from behind the group. Everyone turned around to see a guy about their age grabbing hold of the cart. A few girls standing next to Kayla instantly perked up.

"I was just coming to move this," the guy said.

Melanie rolled her eyes. "Sure you were. Everyone, this is Quincy, another volunteer and also my younger brother."

"Quin, please," he said, grinning. "Why do you torture me, Mel?"

Kayla couldn't help but appraise Quin. She was close enough to see he had caramel brown eyes partially hidden behind his over-grown bangs. He was tall, at least six feet, and seemed to have compact shoulders or maybe just a really nice white shirt. His jeans fit just as nicely. He'd used a rubber band to tie back brown hair. When down, Kayla guessed, it probably hit his shoulders. Where did Quin come from? He certainly didn't go to Birch Falls High. And he was close to her age, if not a bit older.

He flicked his eyes to her and Kayla quickly looked away, the blush in her cheeks clearly spelling out the guilt she felt for staring.

"Nice to meet you, guys," Quin said before wheeling the TV cart away.

"Okay," Melanie said, "let's move on."

The group followed Melanie down the hall, but before they rounded the corner, Kayla looked back over a shoulder to catch sight of Quin one last time.

There was something different about him, something intriguing. Kayla just didn't know what it was. She looked away and hurried after the volunteer group.