It'd been a frustrating day at work for Julia Epstein...first, the bus she was on during her morning commute had broken down, then she desperately tried to catch a subway train but couldn't find a space in the rush hour crush, then an old lady collapsed through a lack of air on one train and Julia had to help her medically. In the end she arrived an hour late for work and got chewed out by Dr Murakami. Her day didn't get any easier either; she was assigned all the worst jobs, from changing bedpans, mopping floors and taking people's temperatures....the unpleasant way. To add insult to injury, the canteen failed to provide a kosher lunch option. Her friend and colleague, Francesca Griffith, arranged for a suitable sandwich meal to be delivered to Judith so she wouldn't drop through hunger.
"Ugh, Murakami hates me; that's the only explanation!" said a frustrated Julia to Francesca.
"You need a break...why don't you and me check out that new art installation over at Crawdad Quarter this evening?" said Francesca.
"Won't your family need you?" replied Julia.
"Husband's off with his friends for 'gaming' night and our daughter's with my parents this evening....I was going to catch up on some revision for my promotion exam but I can make up the time later....you need serious cheering up!"
The exhibition at Municipal Muses was "Artifacts of Late Medieval France" and it was hardly a sell out with the two of them the only ones in the place.
"I expected more....more...." said Francesca.
"Gild? I was thinking that as well...I don't think they've labelled the piece properly either: It says on the card that this armour belonged to a duke but looking at the decorations I'd say it was more that of a fairly prosperous knight...not too wealthy as you can see the armour doesn't cover the full body and has chain mail segments" replied a very confident Julia.
"I didn't know you're an expert in medieval armour?" said Francesca.
"More of a passing fancy...I know more about early Renaissance German art than French medieval"
"I think you shouldn't let Murakami get to you, Julia" said Francesca after a while.
"Grrrr, that woman drives me up the wall!" growled Julia. "She has it in for me! I know it!"
"She's strict with all of us...our hospital has the best track record of any in Sim City. You need to be patient, you need to be in control and also you need to demand more respect from others there. For starters, you lay down the law about what food they should serve...they got it wrong because they don't care enough. Make them care." said Francesca.
"Sigh, I'm sure you're right...I'm just so tense right now and that erroneous artifact sign is bugging me as well!"
Francesca smiled and wrinkled her nose. "I know what we should do next!" she said, grabbing Judith by the hand. The next thing she knew she was being dragged two doors down to the Blue Velvet nightclub.
"Dancing?" asked Judith.
"Sure...and maybe you could meet a cute guy as well?" said a beaming Francesca.
"Ugh....I don't want to meet any guys; cute or otherwise" replied a disgusted Judith.
"Oh..." Francesca looked embarrassed for one moment. "I didn't know....well, that's OK by me...I'm not judging"
"And no, I'm not interested in cute girls! I'm not that way inclined either...I have dedicated my life to the pursuit of knowledge and excellence and relationships are a barrier to my goals"
"How about some fun in general then?" smiled Francesca.
"Well....erm....I am not averse to fun if in the pursuit of higher goals" said Judith.
They went into the nightclub but Judith nearly bolted and ran when she saw way too much physical contact between men and women as they danced.
"Francesca" Judith began "You have been a good friend to me since I started at the hospital, let me buy you a drink and some food"
"Thanks, I'll have what you're having"
Judith went to the bar and tried, politely, to gain the bartender's attention...without much luck.
It was very crowded at the bar until a well dressed middle aged man seated right in front of her turned and said "You can't expect to be noticed by being mousey, little lady. What do you want, I'll order it for you"
"Two sweet n' spicys and two of those delicious looking giant pretzels they have as well, thanks"
The man snapped his fingers and got the bartender's attention. He placed the order and turned to Judith. "My treat. By the way, I hope you don't mind me saying but if you took off those glasses and let your hair loose around your shoulders you'd be very beautiful"
"I do mind you saying, and I'll pay for my own round thank you" replied a cold Judith.
"I'm a bit of an expert in what men find desirable. I'm Alan Cuffe, owner and editor of Lothario magazine"
"I've heard of your salubrious publication...it is not to my taste" said Judith.
"It's not meant to be. But it influences fashion, style and looks. You could learn from it."
"I am not influenced by such trivialities and thank you for your help in getting my order...good evening, Mr Cuffe"
Back at the table Judith gave Francesca her drink and pretzel. "Do you see, Francesca, how sleazy men are?" she said.
"Oh I get it all the time from male patients. I tell them my husband's a professional wrestler"
"Is he?"
"Oh no, but they see the wedding ring and what I say is enough to frighten them"
The rest of the evening passed pleasantly. Judith had a little too much to drink by the end of it and it loosened her inhibitions. Seeing a young man attempting to sing "Yeah Yeah"...badly...she couldn't stand it anymore. "Someone needs to accompany him on the piano and that person is me!"
Judith got up and began to play. Francesca smiled....Judith was a young woman of many talents but she was sure hung up over so much!
