Submitted by Millie on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 23:22
(the arrival)
It was a beautiful spring day as Mildred walked down her sidewalk one last time.
"Oh look Joyce, my flowers are going to be full this year. I sure hope my neighbors come over and dig up anything they want. Be a different story if you were going to live her but I didn't spend all that time caring for them just so strangers could enjoy them." Mildred voice was very sad and crackling as she spoke.
"Mother, you are getting too old to live here. Besides, you aren't fit enough to be getting down on your knee's and tending to the flowers."
Mildred could almost hear a defiant tone in her daughters voice as she spoke. Her heart was breaking with each step she took and the lack of consideration from her daughter only made her feel worse. She paused on last time to look at the home she and her husband had shared from shortly after they married, right up to when he died only seven years before.
Stopping at her daughters car, Mildred held on to her walker while waiting for her daughter to come and open the door. Deep in her mind, she said good bye to her house, the memories and the neighbors she had come to love for so many years. She didn't dare to look back anymore as she could not hold back the tears if she did.
Her daughter finally opened the passenger door for her to get in the car. Mildred lowered her frail body into the front seat. Her 78 year old body just didn't seem to have the strength it once had and Mildred had to be very careful on how she moved.
"See mom. You haven't taken care of yourself properly since dad died. You were thin before and now you are almost starved to death. You're just lucky I haven't put you in a nursing home rather than this seniors community living. You only have a few months to prove to me you can care for yourself in there or I will put you in a constant care facility." Joyce was continually harping on her mother and it was hard to determine who was the mother and who was the child.
Mildred sat in the car but tuned her daughter out. She smoothed out the skirt portion of her dress as they drove away. Trying hard to pre occupy her mind, Mildred began thinking about dying and wondered if she could will her body to stop living.
Twenty minutes after Mildred had gotten into the car, it was time for her to get out. Her daughter had pulled up to the front curb of a very large, single floor apartment building and had made her way around the car before Mildred had even realized they were there.
"Mom, you need help getting our or do you think you can manage that on your own?" Even before Mildred could answer, Joyce walked away and went to the trunk to get out the walker.
Seemed like it took forever to reach the front door of the building. With each passing minute, Mildred hoped her daughter would change her mind but reality sat in after they were inside.
"Now mom, you remember you will be here in room 122. You will eat your meals in the open kitchen with all the other residents. Only light cooking is allowed in your apartment but the kitchen is open till around nine. Oh and look, they have a nice common room for you to come and visit with your new friends." Joyce's tone of voice was like she that of a person talking to a four year old child.
"Hubba, hubba. Another hot dame for me to score with," said a burly voice from just up the hall.
Joyce blushed. "Well I don't think you will score with me but you can do me a favor and look in on my mother."
The man moved closer now and Mildred could see he was a bit younger than she and also in very good shape for his age.
"Hello ladies, my name is Earl. Although you are a beautiful woman, I was referring to the sexy woman you escorted into the building. She's thin, beautiful and will look just stunning while sitting on top of me."
Joyce was flabbergasted and couldn't speak. Mildred couldn't help but to see the look on her daughter face and she began to laugh.
"Mother, show some class. Get in your room and begin to unpack. As for you Earl, do yourself a favor an stay away from my mother. If she complains just once about you, I'll do what ever it takes to have you removed from this building." On the end of that note, Joyce stomped off to the office to sign the paper work for her mothers rent payments to be taken automatically from the pension check.
Earl tipped his hat and whispered, "I'll be back after the coast is clear toots." Slowly strolling down the hall, he glanced back at Mildred and winked.
Mildred went inside her apartment and began to unpack the one suitcase and two small boxes she had. She looked at the few possessions she had and thought about the many years and many treasures she acquired, all to be reduced to such a little pile.
"Kay mom, you're all set. Rent is paid the beginning of the month, they took the last months rent already. If you need anything, the building manager will make certain that you get it but it will cost a few dollars. She also said something about a few of the residents here go shopping together once in a while. Maybe you can get one of them to pick some things up for you."