Moon-time

Moon Time
by Margaret Yeo

It was that time of the month

I awoke feeling uneasy
a sense of foreboding
wanting to stay in bed
Wishing it was this time tomorrow.
Tonight is the time I dread.

I arrive at work for my late shift
all seems quiet and peaceful,
how wrong  could I be
screams and shouting
from room number six.

As I entered the room, I note
the walls splattered with a 
murky brown sludge
Mavis ranting and raving
eyes wild and staring
her once beautiful red hair now
dull, thin, knotted covering her face.

What do you call that? She manically screams
pointing a dirty plastic knife in my face
pointing to a dirty crumpled paper plate
that had once contained tonight’s supper
Hungarian Goulash.

I remain silent knowing that 
Mavis in this state is completely irrational.
She starts to ransack her bed,
a bare mattress on the floor. 
With an unknown strength
hacks at pillow and blanket tearing them to shreds. 
White feathers cascading across the room 
I press the red button.

My colleague appears with a kidney shaped dish
containing a very large syringe filled with Paraldehyde.
Sorry Mavis she says, finding her target.
Minutes later Mavis calm and subdued,
put in a straight jacket is at peace in the cell.

How I dread a new moon.



Copyright ©  Written by Margaret Yeo ~ All rights reserved

Image from the net ~