The Other Ward.

     In order to get to the smoking area you had to go through a door to another section.  It was noisy, loud, crazy, and cramped.  Many of the rooms had 2 or 3 beds.  And some had to be just plain nightmares.  This area I felt was a general dumping area.  People who had no other place to go, no family.  These people were to spend the rest of their lives here.

     There was one woman, an oddball. Name of Susan.  She was friendly with my sister for a bit.  When my sister had smokes to share.  When it became a habit and she said no the so called pleasantries stopped.  I will say that I never saw a  person inhale a smoke so quickly.  Susan was an oddball.  She'd run anyone over to get outside quickly.

     There were other regulars.  I can see who I wish to introduce you to as I go along.  

     Now in this ward, was another turn.  Small corridor, tiny eating room.  Cannot call it anything but.  It looked directly across the courtyard at the smokers.  

     Another turn and you could tell this was the original wing of the place.  Very nice wooden floors.  Rooms were multiples here too.  People here seemed to be easier going that the smoking ward.  And they were quieter.  Another turn then you saw at the end of the corridor was another locked unit.  That may have been the violent ward, I don't know.  I say that because you never saw anyone walking around.

     Another turn and it brought you to the front.  And a second event room.  Spacious, but you could tell it wasn't used as much.  Here was the the second set of vending machines as well.  I got to know the place pretty well.  My sister told me in fact that one night she wheeled herself down there about 1 in the morning.  Because the vending machines near her didn't have what she wanted.  She saw not one single person.  She described it as very creepy.  We both agreed that she shouldn't do that again.