Loading ...Author’s Note: This is a true story. I have changed “Lena’s” name and certain details to protect her privacy.
I was just walking into the A&P when I spotted Lena at the express line having some kind of dispute with the clerk. We lived in the same apartment complex and I knew that Lena was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. Had she forgotten something, I wondered?
She had. "Denise," she exclaimed when she saw me, "It's the darndest thing. I didn't bring my purse."
The clerk and the two people in back of Lena were trying not to look impatient.
I saw that the few items she had were not expensive, so I took a $20 bill out of my own purse. "Here, Lena, use this," I said.
"Oh, Denise –"
"It's just a loan. You'll pay me back later," I told her.
Lena handed the money to the clerk.
"Bye," I said, turning to get a cart.
"Tonight, Denise. I'll pay you back tonight. Come to my apartment."
"Sure."
I knocked on Lena’s door later that evening. She invited me in, paid me back, and we visited for awhile.
That was that, I thought, until a few days later when we met on the way to the elevator.
"Denise, you owe me twenty dollars," Lena said sharply.
"What?" I asked, startled.
"I loaned you twenty dollars," she explained as we got into the elevator.
Luckily, the elevator was empty except for us. I thought I might be able to jog her memory when I explained, "No, no, Lena. I loaned you twenty dollars in the A&P because you forgot your purse. Then you paid me back that night. Remember?"
"That is such hogwash," Lena said with disgust.
As we both exited the elevator I promised I would discuss this with her later.
We did. She was very angry. "Are you going to give me back the money you owe me or not?" she demanded.
I didn't want to lose a friend so I took a $20 out of my purse and handed it to her. "Anyway, Lena, how have — "
"I don't want to talk to you," she said coldly and looked the other way.
Heartsick, I walked away. Lena gave me the deep freeze every time we saw each other and we ran into each other quite regularly. I didn't blame Lena since I knew her memory was faulty but I was very disturbed: I had lost her friendship after all.
Until one day we were in the elevator. "What time is it?" Lena asked, smiling sweetly. We chatted like we used to do and I realized, with relief, that she no longer held my "debt" or supposed attempt to weasel out of it against me anymore.
She has forgotten that, too, so I’m out twenty dollars but I’ve got a friend back.
amfortas said,
I was going to join in the discussion you started on base income but things got past me. This lady is one of many people who are quite unable to 'pay their way' or earn anything. The cities, and in some parts of OZ, the countryside, are getting littered with people who are lacking basic competencies and quite unable to manage even the day to day transactions. 'Institutions' used to take care of them and provide a home of sorts, but the lefties have successfully disestablished them and even made some mental issues criminal.
I haven't mentioned it before but for the past 6 months or so I have had a chap living with me. I take care of him. In his fifties, he is very high IQ but totally incompetent and can't do the simplest of things. Give him a complex intellectual problem and he is happy as a sand-boy but ask him to wash the dishes and he is just a total failure. I have to almost frog-march him to the washing machine and the number of times I have demonstrated how to use it are past counting. He loves ground coffee but after showing him how to grind the coffee beans and use the plunger a dozen times, he still can't get the order right! He would fail to eat if I didn't cook the food and place it infront of him and shops scare him. (he thinks that everyone is talking about him).
He is paranoid and 'strange' in his behaviours, putting most people offside. He has a law degree and has had a career in teaching law. He spent some years in China teaching English but that was more a way of hiding his 'strangeness' than due to any love of literature or language.
He was driven out of his neighbourhood by accusations of being a paedophile and a 'poofter' although he is neither. He just 'looks' odd and 'looks' oddly. In fact he has little interest in anything, let alone children. Children confuse him with their activity. Unable to be employed, he lives on a tiny social security pension and needs constant care. His personal hygene is a task he can manage but frankly only with frequent hints.
He spends part of every day in a local church, presumably praying for some respite from the world and thankfully goes to bed at 7 pm. I have given up asking him questions as he gets uncomfortable and defensive about the most innocuous matters.
It takes effort, as I said. I am glad you are there, even in just a 'nearby' position, to help that old lady, Denise.
Take a few smarty points and keep them safe.
August 1, 2007 at 2:12 am