Read Online Few Kinds of Wrong by Tina Chaulk - Free Book Online

when I tried to explain she got so mad.” Mom turned to Dad. “Oh, Jack, I didn’t know she was this bad. I don’t know how she stayed on her own this long.”
    Dad stared into his tea. He hadn’t looked up from it since Mom placed it in front of him.
    Maisie reached over and laid her hand on Mom’s. “Nighttime is the worst,” Maisie said. “Sundown Syndrome, it’s called. Moving somewhere new might have set it off so it might not always be as bad as this. First night might be the worst. But other nights could be hard.” She turned to Dad. “Maybe you could consider getting home care.”
    Dad shook his head, still not moving his eyes from his cup. “We can do it. Like you said, it’s just the first night. She’ll be all right.”
    Maisie stared at Dad. She opened her mouth twice to say something but didn’t.
    â€œI can’t do this,” Mom said, before Maisie could decide on whatever she wanted to say. “I didn’t know what I was getting into. I’ll try with some help from home care but I don’t think I can do this.”
    â€œMaybe you can’t, my love,” Maisie said. Her prophetic words would linger in the house, and I thought of them often when I helped Mom with Nan, especially at night.
    After I leave Mom at the restaurant, I go straight to the seniors’ home to visit Nan. I don’t even make it to Nan’s door, when a nurse, Carrie, runs up to me.
    â€œBad night,” she says, “and not a much better day.”
    â€œOh.” I don’t want to ask. The details always seem worse than the summary. “So, best not to go in?”
    She shakes her head.
    But I want to see her. Just let me look at her.
    â€œMaybe I could try.”
    â€œUp to you. But she’s not remembering much now. She might remember you. She thinks she got a baby in there with her today. It’s the pillow, mind you, but she’s after putting a towel around its bottom twice now, cleaning it with a facecloth first and asking us for baby powder.
    â€œThen she’s not aggressive?”
    â€œNo, no, not at all so far today. Now, last night. Well, last night was bad but today she’s all about the baby.” Carrie lowers her voice, as if she’s telling me some secret only she and I must know. “Says it’s her boy, Jack.”
    I decide to go in there. Most of the time I listen to the nurses. I don’t go in when they tell me it’s best not to. I know they’re trying to protect me as well as her. They understand that I’ll remember what happens with each visit, while her cruel, yet kind memory will let her lose it once I’m gone. But some days I don’t listen. Some days I think I know better.
    â€œHello,” I say, knocking on Nan’s door. “Mrs. Collins?”
    â€œYes?” She looks at me without a trace of recognition.
    â€œI’m a volunteer here. Would you like a visit?” I know the routine.
    â€œOh my God, my dear. I needs a nap. That youngster won’t let me sleep for two minutes. He’s after soaking through six cloths today. I can’t hardly keep up.”
    â€œWell, I can help. I can watch him while you have a nap if you like.”
    â€œYou sure?”
    I nod.
    Nan touches my face as her eyes roam over it. “You’re a pretty little thing. Do you have any of your own?”
    â€œNo,” I say softly.
    â€œBest get going then, my love. You’re getting up there, aren’t
you?”
    I nod and touch her hand, keeping it on my face perhaps a bit longer than she would have. I tell her to go ahead and take the nap. She lies on the bed, pulling the duvet over her rail-thin body. Her wide blue eyes stare at me from just over the top of the blanket. I pick up a pillow with a towel tied around one end for a diaper.
    â€œHis name is Jack,” she says, her eyes closing for a minute.
    â€œHi, Jack,” I say