Working a Wing

There were three wings at the veterans home.C wing was for the seriously ill .B wing was for those Who were relatively without relatives.Not really unwell just unwanted.Finally the wing I worked on for seven years A wing.A wing was for individuals with dementia. When first assigned there as the schedule rotated I was scared to be honest.Soon I came to prefer it as every day was an adventure. I told the administrator I was fine with permanent placement as the changing of the guard as it were was very unsettling to the men who resided there.As there was no debate among the other staff members,he said it was my spot. Every week just like clock work when a local preacher came to sing gospel songs this old fella named Glen would sidle up almost cheek to cheek In front of the microphone though he never made a sound.When the nurses assistant would come and lead him away he would return wearing nothing but black rubber gloves and lay down in the floor.Everyone would act as if this was somehow O.k. as he would lay there skinny little butt in the air till he got tired of it. Another old man named Harold I really loved.He was full of pee and vinegar but a kind word or two and he mellowed right out.One day he cornered me in a room railing at me about a wood stove he wanted me to either commit to buying or tell him outright it was a no go! "I sure am Harold I said ,let me go and get my wallet so I can pay you now." It don't have to be now if your short he says,nice as pie, as I inch past him. The day Harold arrived his son accompanied him.Seeing that grown man crying like a boy as he left told me that sometimes in life there are no choices . The tears he shed were a testament to his love for his father and his coming to terms with this fact. One day the local district attorney's wife came to feed her daddy lunch.Her daddy kept sticking his fork over in Harolds plate and helping himself.Harold had been raised an orphan in Father Flanagans home for boys in Nebraska.Any way Harold Was a real scrapper to say the least.He eyeballs the old man and says you reach over here again and I am putting a fork in your hand. This chick really lacked in brains what she had in looks cause in an outraged voice she says to a man with dementia this.Do you know who you are talking to ? This is Morley Swingles father inlaw. Well ,says old Harold ,you tell Morley Swingles father in law he puts his paw back in my plate I'm forking it.LOL