August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (8 page)

Visiting the Elderly

Huh? It happened again. My eyes opened to the morning light streaming through the doorway. What was going on? I sat up and looked around. Everything was as it should be, except for the fact that I sat amid my shoes in the huge walk-in closet. Still a little stiff from the hike four days ago, I struggled to my knees. Or maybe the pain was from sleeping on the hard wood, I wasn't sure. The drapes on the back window were shoved to the side and light spilled across the floor.

Today, the painters would finish up. They were a day behind because of what I did to Zach. I’ll be so glad when they’re done and out of my life forever.

Yesterday, I watched from Destiny’s room as they spray painted the side of the house. There weren’t as many windows, so it went fairly quickly. They moved the scaffolding to the back yard. I made sure the back window was securely closed and latched three times last night before I could relax and get comfortable in bed. For almost an hour I stared at my new canopy. Dad brought home a small box fan for when the windows had to be closed. It made a light breeze that rippled the sheers ever so slightly, just enough to move the sequins and they glittered from the light of the small lamp by my bed.

I never knew it could be fun rummaging through old stuff. Yesterday at the thrift stores was an eye opener.  Sue would never do something like that. I was surprised she even let us bring used sheers into the house. It had been fun turning them into a canopy for my bed. I now itched to try my hand at another project.
But what?
The Petersons would have some good ideas.

The backside of the house wouldn’t take very long, but there was always the possibility The Change would leak through the window and someone, or many someones, would become affected. It was best I be driven from my sanctuary.

From the side of my bed, where I put on my shoes, I could see my Eli wall and wished I had someone like him to share my beautiful canopy with. By the time I did find someone, I wouldn’t be living here. Tam would probably have them hanging over her bed, if Sue didn’t throw them away first. Crossing to Eli's wall, I reached out and touched the picture I drew of him last night. I still didn't understand the yearning for him that was growing and twisting inside me. It was like the quick, growing vine weed that had rushed each summer to take over Gramps’ tool shed. I'd seen Eli, for real, only once, but there was something about him. I wanted that something. Maybe he had a younger brother.

The front yard was clear of guys, so I made a dash for the neighbor’s porch. As I reached their front door, a utility truck with two men pulled up. The first guy who got out was short with sandy hair. He unloaded a metal detector. The other guy, much taller and lanky, meandered to the back of the truck, and reminded me of a walking scarecrow as he pulled out a handful of little flags. The short one waved the detector over the ground and the taller one stuck a flag wherever the first pointed.

“Ah, shoot.” Destiny stared over my shoulder at the men. “They’re too old.”

Cara peered around Destiny and smiled. Her eyes trailed after the shorter one when he veered away from the other one. She looked him up and down with a sigh.

Destiny may have been disappointed the flaggers weren’t young, but Cara smiled. It was weird to think of someone as old as her mom ogling some man. It was almost creepy. Old people shouldn’t do that. Although, he was kind of cute in an ancient sort of way.

Unlike Destiny, I didn’t mind they weren’t young. I was just glad they hadn’t noticed me.

I pushed past and closed the door. If I didn’t hide, with my luck, Zach would come around the side yard and bust a gut trying to get away from me. I would keep my promise to Dad and do my best not to torture him.

Today, Emma planned another outing for us. There were a number of shut-ins she visited on a regular basis and we were going with her on her usual stops. This activity was perfect for me because shut-ins meant no young guys to contend with.

Destiny didn’t seem to mind going, probably because she liked doing things with her grandmother, but her usual excitement level was almost non-existent. I doubted old people were her idea of a good time. Young guys to contend with were more her style. On my mental list of things to do next year, Destiny and I would contend with as many boys as she wanted, although Richard might blow a gasket.

We helped Emma load boxes and baskets with food and things for the people we would visit. My grandparents always took me when they went on such outings. As a little kid I enjoyed the attention I received, although I became bored quickly. Now that I was older, I was pretty sure I could sit still longer.

Emma pushed the garage door remote and I ducked down in the back seat of their Suburban so I wouldn’t frighten Zach if he came around to the front. From the floorboard, I imagined poor Zach if he saw me. The image in my mind made me cringe. Emma looked over the seat and chuckled as she backed the car out.

Destiny kept watch until we were far enough down the street. "The coast is clear, Sylv. He'd need binoculars to see you now."

"Thanks, Dest." I sat up, but glanced back just in case. Paranoid was becoming my normal state of mind these days.

At the first house, a pair of glasses squinted up at us through a slit, allowed by the chain on the door, as Emma yelled her greeting.

"Hello, Clara!"

When the woman realized, or remembered, she knew Emma, she slammed the door and the chain rattled. The door opened and to my surprise, there stood a gray haired gnome. I’d scoffed many times, as a child, when I’d been told they were real, but here one was, all four-foot-nothing of her. All I could do was gawk at the woman.

Beckoning for us to follow, she lead the way to the small, musty living room that had no less than a dozen lit lamps. Her round body shook as she laughed at the calico kitten curled up on her knitting.

Picking up the kitty, she yelled in a heavy German accent, "I'll be right back!" Her head, covered with a bright yellow bandana, bob away, down a short hall, as her long, thick braid swayed back and forth.

When she was out of the room, Emma chuckled as she placed the basket of goodies by her feet and lowered to the love seat. "Clara is hard of hearing and forgets to wear her hearing aids."

Emma motioned to the other love seat and we sat. The kitten bounded in and leapt into my lap. Stretching, it nuzzled my face before climbing on my shoulder where it lay and closed its eyes. The purr that soon emanated from the small animal filled the room. Not knowing what to say, I studied the bright space instead of meeting Destiny's curious stare. The room was stuffed with photos of other gnomes, all smiling. The huge array of knick-knacks needed dusting after being thinned out.

Clara returned with a thick layer of red lipstick glaring in contrast to her pale, papery skin. She smiled, showing off half as many teeth as there should have been.

"Poindexter sure likes you!" She patted the kitten as she passed.

"Most animals do." I nuzzled his fur.

She leaned forward. "What?"

"MOST ANIMALS DO!" Poindexter jerked, but didn’t jump down.

She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "Emma, I'm so sorry, I forgot you were coming!"

Emma took a deep breath and shouted. "Clara, where are your hearing aids?"

Clara scrunched up her nose as Emma pointed to her ears.

“Grandmother goes through this every time she visits." Destiny sighed through smiling lips.

"What?!" Clara cupped her ear.

"Clara, your hearing aids!"

"What?!"

Emma patted the seat next to her and the old woman sat down. Gently Emma looked and prodded around the old woman's head and shoulders until she found a thin cord and pulled it up.

"What is she doing?" I whispered to Destiny, not that Clara would’ve heard me.

"Wait for it." Destiny grinned.

"Huh?"

"It happens every time." Destiny's smile slid to the side. "That's why grandmother attached a string to it and tied it to her bra."

A small crescent shaped object popped out of the older woman's ample cleavage.

Clara covered her mouth and blushed. "I was wondering what I did with that!"

She caught the swinging object and shoved it into her ear. It squeaked and squawked as she fought with it. The cord hung out at an odd angle and Emma smoothed it behind Clara's ear. The noise stopped and the little woman grinned up at us.

"If I can give you two young ladies a piece of advice, it would be ... don't grow old ... it sucks"

Hearing this little old gnome say 'sucks' threw me off guard. A laugh burst out before I could smother it with my hands.

Clara beamed. I must’ve reacted just like she wanted me to.

"So, Emma, you have a new granddaughter?"

"No, I am not fortunate enough to have two perfect granddaughters. This is Sylvia, our new next door neighbor."

"The Stuttermans moved?"

"No, the other house."

Clara's eyes shot wide. "You rented the Graneros' house?!!"

Emma patted her arm. "They bought the house."

Clara sputtered as she looked from me to Emma and back a few times. "I can't believe anyone would buy a haunted house."

"Haunted?" I just about choked getting the word out. I looked at Emma and she slightly shook her head.

"Now, Clara, you do not believe in ghosts, do you?"

"I didn't until my second cousin's niece by marriage's sister-in-law stayed overnight once. She said she had awful dreams." She blinked at me. "How are your dreams, honey?"

"Well ... uh ..." I couldn't tell her about my dreams.

"Clara, people have bad dreams all the time."

"Not like these, plus there were the weird noises."

"Old houses make all kinds of weird noises. It is the nature of growing old."

The two women laughed.

Our monster didn't have that many weird noises, but our house in Oklahoma made a ghastly racket whenever the water heater and the house heater started up at the same time, or when we had air in the pipes.

"Emma, I know you don't believe in ghosts and I'm not sure I believe in them either, but you won't get me in that house." She turned on me. "You should get the house exorcised."

"I'll suggest that to my parents." Yeah, right after I suggest Sue take up belly dancing.

"You do that."

Emma cleared her throat. "So, Clara, what have you been doing this week?"

"Oh, not that much. I went to the doctor about my leg."

"Is it still bothering you?"

"Oh my, yes. It swelled up and last week I got a sore on the back of my knee that oozed and oozed puss for two days, so I called my grandson and he drove me to the doctor."

Ugh!

"What did the doctor say?"

"Infection, so he gave me pills that turned my stools green. Oh, that reminds me, I have some of that green tea you brought me last time, you want some?"

Double Ugh!

"That sounds wonderful and it will go nicely with the brownies I brought."

Brownies! My stomach wasn’t easily grossed out.

Clara lumbered from her seat and went to the kitchen.

"Ew." Destiny shivered.

Emma raised a brow. "Now, Destiny."

I agreed with Destiny, Ew, but my stomach heard brownies.

"Grandmother, I don't know how you can offer brownies after that discussion." Destiny rubbed her belly.

"It is just bodily functions."

"Ew." Destiny shivered again.

Emma pulled out a plastic container with a bright blue lid.

Brownies
! My stomach crowed.

When Clara returned, Emma was careful to keep the conversation away from my
haunted
house. Unfortunately, the subject matter that most interested our hostess was worse.

The older woman rummaged through the basket of things Emma brought and pulled out a small container. "What's this?"

"That is the cream I said I would bring you."

"Oh yeah, for my hemorrhoids?"

"Yes."

Destiny gagged quietly and put down her brownie. She picked up her tea.

"What's this?" Clara held another small container.

"That is the ointment I told you about."

"For my big toe?"

"Yes."

"Oh, good, it's really gotten green."

There was that color. The memory of Sue being sick the whole three days we were on the Alaska Marine Highway was still fresh in my mind.

Destiny let the tea slide back into the cup. I studied her face and, uh-oh, there was that color, again.

I took another brownie since my stomach refused to be queasy and miss out on one crumb of Emma's great baking. What was I saying? It wouldn't miss out on really bad baking either.

Destiny leaned back and breathed deeply with her eyes closed. I kept quiet and watched the two older women as they conversed, just like my Gram used to do with the ladies she visited. The talk brought back dear memories. I soaked in every word and relished the bygone joy of a better time of my life.