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- Herausgeber: Black Cat Weekly
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
Minnie and Brenna Smith return once more, to investigate a possible murder during the outbreak of the Spanish Flu. This time though the sleuthing sisters are at odds on what really happened.
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Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
A SLICE OF LIFE, by Veronica Leigh
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 2024 by Veronica Leigh.
Original publication by Black Cat Weekly.
blackcatweekly.com
A SLICE OF LIFE,by Veronica Leigh
January 1919
Providence, Indiana
Minnie Smith tightened the bow on her mask, which was securely tied over her mouth and nose, before entering the empty hospital room. Despite the winter weather, she opened the window to air out the room, ridding it of the stagnant sickness. A bitter breeze swept in, causing her to shiver.
She sniffed, but not too deeply, lest the dreaded Spanish Influenza seep through her mask. A bit of cloth fashioned out of a cast-off apron; it was the only means of protection that she had. The world had experienced outbreaks of sickness in the past, but this Influenza was unlike anything her generation experienced. Just when it was beginning to die down, folks gathered together to celebrate the end of the Great War and it was running now rampant throughout the country. Schools, businesses, churches, movie theaters, and libraries were closed. Stores were left open, to buy provisions.
Minnie fetched the laundry basket she left in the hall and stripped the bed. Using her foot, she nudged the basket outside the door. Next, she got a bucket of lye and water and scrubbed every surface within reach. Afterwards, she retrieved a new set of bedding from the linen closet and was making up the bed when the hall nurse entered the room.
“Is it ready?” Mrs. Grey inquired. She looked proud in her crisp, white uniform. Minnie couldn’t help but envy the nurse’s precise appearance, when she had to make do with an old worn dress that had seen better days.
“Almost.” Minnie spread out the final blanket. The previous patient died the night before and it felt wrong to purge the room of her existence. I don’t want to die! The poor woman had wailed, clinging to her hand, desperate for someone to listen to her. She swore she could still feel the woman’s icy fingers digging into her raw skin. There was no time for sentimentality, not when another poor soul required the room. “Just finishing the bed.”
“Good.” Mrs. Grey smoothed out the wrinkles. When she straightened up, Minnie was stunned to see the nurse not wearing a mask. “We have a new admit. The mayor’s wife.” She touched her cheek and gasped, and snatching the mask out of her apron pocket she tied it over her face. “Sorry, I was alone and just wanted a moment to breathe. Anyway, Mrs. Fields had eaten a hearty meal, and an hour later, she was having abdominal pains.”
“Is it... ?” Minnie left the question unfinished, already knowing the answer.
Mrs. Grey nodded. “Unfortunately.” Her eyes were brimming with tears, but no droplets fell. If tending to the ill and working around the Influenza wasn’t enough, this sickness claimed her husband a week ago. “Such a travesty, all of this. The world won’t be the same when it ends.”
“If it ends.” Minnie grumbled under her breath. Thankfully, Mrs. Grey had gone to close the window, or she might have heard.
Every passing day was worse than the previous one. There seemed to be no end in sight. Her greatest fear was bringing it home to her family. More than once she was tempted to quit. But she couldn’t. Her family was dependent on her wages. And while she was just a housekeeper, she felt she was doing something unique and useful during this time that tried the soul.
