"What am I supposed to do, weave them in my curly tresses? I hate flowers, lace frills and long hair! The best thing that you can give me is a suicide pill!!"

"Look," she said in sudden anger, "if you're looking for sympathy from me forget it, I only get paid to help you, not to take your abuse. Yes it was a damn shame that you got shot up, but you damn well have a good life ahead of you. If you want to commit suicide or something do it now, but get it overwith, I don't want to waste my time and your precious pride." Suddenly she started crying and ran out of the room.

I sat there, stunned. I didn't realize that she had so many personal feelings about this. I could hear her in the next room banging doors and crying. Slowly I got up, pulled on the hospital robe and opened the adjoining door.

She had her suitcase out and was stuffing her clothes that she had yanked out of the closets in every which way.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm getting the hell out of here "Mr." Stevens, if its any of your business! I don't have to stay here and take this abuse. If the command- er wants to send someone else to help you he can, but I'm going to recommend that he doesn't bother!" At this she crumpled onto the floor next to her suitcase, in a fit of hysterical tears.

I moved over next to her, bent down and tried to put my arm around her. She angrily pulled away, struggled to her feet and ran across the

room.

"Stay away from me, you freak!! You can't be a man either so don't try to act like one. I wanted to make you something besides a nothing, I was trying so hard, and I thought that you really cared about this too, when you asked me to name you, I didn't just pick one off a list, I gave you the name of my sister, who would have been a lovely young woman now, if she hadn't been hurt, too and crippled for life. I don't know why I thought it, but I guess I was just female and stupid, I really believed that you could be the sister to me that I had always wanted. I've had a dozen patients, but I've never let myself get this attached before. And I won't ever again, excuse me, I'm getting out of here!!"

"Jean!"