Old Fogies: Part Ii

But a strange change happens at early nightfall in those stuffy rooms and halls and it suddenly becomes clear all was not as it seemed old folks transformed so cunning and keen sparkling iridescent playful, plucky, pleasant flagrantly libertine! Like children slowly scampering out of bed to play they saunter, skip and stumble out every one in their own way finally rested up personalities awake each still in their own heyday in those magical overnight hours when time stands still and they become themselves in varied and magnificent array Thankfully, their favorite nurse knows this and accommodates their craziness with shockingly inappropriate story-time reading aloud scandalous books full of sensuous stuff enjoying the looks of giddy gladness and childlike delight that someone is sharing these forbidden secrets with them in the night The fuddy-duddy nurses only give them a sour glance shaking heads from a distance wondering what is so special about a reading group that it draws half the building every night? She's doing something right... And then... the off-the-wall nightly antics begin with Jonesy and his buddy Mac cavorting with the twins (the things they do in late-night trysts both shocking and outrageous- too numerous to list) And often setting off smoke alarms a stubborn girl, old Harriet in the toilet, stealthily smoking her contraband cigarettes she's ninety-one and feels she's done so she tokes with no regrets Prankster Ralph roams 'round the wing his boyhood-self restored with puckish grin on grizzled face he keeps from getting bored misplacing everyone's needed things (such as crutches, charts, and Peg's key ring) and poker-faced, denies everything... “Polly's still a pistol!” her husband, Walt, saucily confides he gleams and gloats as other men stare at his still-vivacious bride eighty-four year old, a teasing temptress his life, his joy, his pride Nola and Louie are in cahoots we know 'cause they take turns in pulling off heists of cookies and snacks food being their main concern And 'though their liveliness is enchanting- there can be “too much of a good thing”- for on full moons, dear “Crazy Maisie” entertains the entire wing by singing, dancing down the halls while taking off EVERYTHING! But as morning comes... they gradually wilt away tired and tepid no longer intrepid old fogies again youth hidden within just resting and waiting for the next night's play!