Crystal II

Crystal stepped through the sliding door into the lobby and surveyed the area. This was unlike any hospital she had seen before The lobby looked like a magazine spread. The entry's waiting area had beautifully carved and upholstered high back chairs and leather love seats with end tables and lamps on a giant oriental rug. Oil pantings of landscapes and lilies hung on the panelled walls, fresh cut flowers in a crystal vase and in the corner was a seven foot spruce Christmas tree trimmed with wrapped presents tucked around the skirt. On her left was an alcove with what Crystal guessed was a replica of a French antique desk. Sitting behind the desk was a petite elderly women with bright white hair in a little pink and white striped camisole. The women was talking on the phone and, after smiling at Crystal, held a a finger, as if to say, one moment.

The women set the receiver back in it's cradle and looked up with a warm smile. "Can I help you my dear?"

Crystal smiled back, "Hi, I'm Crystal De, um, Olson". She still had to catch herself, often forgetting to use her maiden name. "I'm her to see Jane Hengen in Human Resources. I think she's expecting me."

"Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you, i'm Gwen Baker, welcome, let me buzz Jane for you," Gwen said with warm grandmotherly smile.

No sooner than Gwen hung up the phone, a petite and very attractive woman came around the corner. Dressed in a navy knit dress with brass buttons, the woman extended her hand with a professional air and said, "Welcome Crystal, I'm Jane Hengen the Director of Human Resources for the hospital. Let's go back to my office and we can get things started."

Crystal followed Jane down a short hallway and into a small but very comfortable office. Crystal took her seat facing Jane's desk.

"I have everything ready for you," Jane said as she produced a printed folder with multiple documents inside. "Everything should be filled out with your information from the agency. It's all ready for your signatures." Crystal could see about a dozen little sticky flags protruding from the documents, each marked "Sign Here." Jane started laying the documents out across the desk and said, "Hiring from the agency certainly makes my life easier; saves me the trouble of all the back ground checks and references."

Jane took Crystal through the stack of documents and had her sign each one. As Crystal was signing each document, she commented to Jane, "This is a lovely hospital, nothing like my prior assignments."

Jane took each original as Crystal signed and left a copy in Crystal's file, and replied, "Yes, I know you will like it here. We are a very close community and this is a one-of-a-kind facility. While we only have eight six beds, our level of service rivals anything you would find in the Bay Area. We are very fortunate to have a generous client base. Just across the road is Pebble Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea, some of the most expensive real estate, and for many of the people this is not their primary home. Over the years, many former patients have given generously to the hospital. In fact, we are one, of only a seven hospitals in the country that has an endowment fund. This gives our board a great deal of flexibility."

After finishing Crystal had a good feeling. There was something about Gwen that made Crystal feel she was good at her job.