(no subject)

Today, when Guppy wandered upstairs on his lunch break, one of the patients was outside Crombie Ward, on a chair, painting a 'Z' over the 'Cr'.

"Back are you? Good sign I suppose." he says to Guppy, without looking around. "I stepped out for a bit, never like watching the crash team working on someone you spoke to. If you're thinking it's never going to get hectic up here you're wrong. We've got enough going on between us to make up for the razzle dazzle you'd be missing down there."

Guppy, not knowing quite what to say to that, just nods.

"If I transfer up here, it's not because I think the job's a pushover."

The man looks around, revealing paralysis down the left side of his face, and a lifeless left arm.

"You worked out why we keep changing the sign yet?"

Guppy hesitates, then nods.

"Zombies beat death, and then adapt to make the best of what they have left."

The man smirks with the half of his face that still moves.

"Give the boy a coconut. People think geriatrics is boring, full of the same things day in and out. But giving a man back his ability to communicate, to walk, to care for himself, s'got a reward that you don't get in A+E, when you just patch 'em up and send 'em on.
We don't want someone who just wants an easier life. But someone who's fighting demons too strong to control where they are, but still wants to make a difference, would be right at home around this place."

Guppy nods.

"Is it that obvious? My demons I mean?"

The man shakes his head.

"Even psychologists get strokes, lad. Seriously, come work with us, some of the gang have a cracking sense of humour, and if we don't get rid of these locums soon we're all going on strike. Or at least come up and see us once in a while."

Guppy smiles. "Thanks. I'm strongly considering the move. What's your name again?"

"Jasper. And good. Now help me off this chair, will you?"