So there we are, cozy in his van on the way to a job well done. Odor control is really a big problem in retirement homes. Not the usual house odors but more pungent terribly penetrating urine stench.
However my friend's mood was somehow not on the usual top-notch. What could be the reason ? After all, that kind and gentle man is on a mission, alleviating the respiratory environment of residents and care-givers with a brand new equipment in the cargo area ready to be bolted on and fired up...
About half way to destination he spoke. Has seen many sights, including elderly transvestites in retirement homes. And the place we're going hosts one such a poor soul. Usually in front of the TV silently playing with a deck of cards.
We will have to work in the common room so contact would be unavoidable. A heavy silence ensued for many miles...
Residents enjoyed the show of us spinning tools, drilling, bolting.
White hair in disorder, skinny to the extreme, empty sight coming from deeply retracted eyeballs, a grayish dress, unusually white hands... SHE didn't move nor seemed concerned even when my concrete perforator shook the premises.
Relentlessly laying down cards at a slow pace. She was absent.
Odor control installations operate at night when the premises are empty. They quickly generate a serious quantity of ozone and, after a preset laps of time, ventilate the volume.
So for the test, we kindly asked all souls to leave the common room for a little while and move to the cafeteria.
"Madam, would you please consider to join the cafeteria while we run a short test ?" No reaction.
A nurse showed and manhandled HER to the other room.
I took the abandoned cards and followed. The nurse sat HER at a table and I softly placed the cards in her white skinny hands.
Only those who tried know the effort it takes to control tears. Precisely what I had to do when a spark of warmth suddenly flashed from the dark emptiness of her eyes.
"Thank you madam, god bless you!"
MADAM ... SHE called me madam...
Had SHE seen thru my male clothes ? Decoded my soul ?
The nurse followed me and stated that HE is insane, deranged by age dementia to the point that HE will not be quiet until given a dress. Otherwise perfectly harmless.
That night I had hard time to fall asleep. I was here, in a cozy bed, wearing a pink nightie while there, miles away, a poor soul was deemed deranged, abandoned by all to the authority of a totally unconcerned staff.
"Fairy Dear, I have two favors to ask, please take this poor soul out of her misery and, never ever ever let me age to the point of loosing my independence, would you Fairy Dear ?"
"Cuddle your pillow sweetheart, goes without saying, granted on all counts."
"Really Fairy Dear, would you really ?"
"Good night lovely, I know my business !"
... "thank you Madame, God bless you," indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe story does not end there. After the weekend we motored to that place with my wife. With a bag of presumably useful surprises. The staff let us in and we located HER at the usual table, playing with HER cards.
DeleteWhat ensued is beyond my expression skills. However SHE politely waved all but a Chanel perfume and a floral print simple dress and black tights.
"I won't need all. This sure is a pretty dress, I hope they will don it on me for my last trip. Be blessed both, god bless you."
Then HER eyes faded back to their deep emptiness and SHE resumed with HER cards.