Trouble with Mercy – Part III
In Part II of Trouble With Mercy, the prime suspect in the run of thefts in the Mercy Home for Aging Citizens was not, in fact, the culprit. Attention then turned to another resident who was apparently falling ill.
After scouring two rooms for a missing portrait and breaking up a fight, Nurse Moody and student nurses’ aide Ruthie helped one of the combatants to her room. Lou of Room 321 had suddenly doubled over and clutched her stomach. As she had a history of stomach problems, she became prime concern.
When Nurse Moody persuaded Lou to sit down, a rectangular shape formed under her sweater.
“Oh Lou,” Nurse Moody crooned, “Perhaps this is the cause of your discomfort.”
Lou drew away from Nurse Moody’s hand as it reached out.
“It’s okay Lou. Do you want to show me?”
It took some persuading, but Lou pulled a picture frame from under her sweater. Nurse Moody had to plead for a while longer before Lou revealed the image in the frame.
Out of the gold frame smiled the young Lou, her golden locks shining, her perfect white teeth showing in a perfect smile.
“That’s beautiful,” Nurse Moody said. “Where are you going to keep it so it’s safe?”
Lou looked around and hesitated.
Student nurses’ aide Ruthie asked, “How about your hope chest Lou?”
Lou seemed reluctant, but again she gave in to Nurse Moody’s persuasion. She drew out a key that she had suspended on a chain around her neck and unlocked a steamer trunk that sat in the corner of the room.
When she opened the lid, a flood of memories floated out from a sea of treasures and mementos. There were piles of clothing, jewellery, gloves, scarves, and dozens of pictures, in frames and just loose photos. There were dentures and eyeglasses, cups, bits of food and candies, brand new blouses still in their cellophane wrappings and Army and Navy price tickets.
Scattered on top and poking up around the sides were Christmas tree balls, ribbons, silver icicle tinsel and “angel’s hair.”
The oohs and ohs from Nurse Moody and Ruthie drew in a passing pair of aides.
“Hey,” one of them exclaimed with excitement, “that’s my scarf.” She pulled it out of the trunk.
The scarf was bright red and white with tassels and the word Freedom was emblazoned on it in a variety of type styles.
Lou snatched it out of her hands. “Mine.”
To prevent another fracas, Nurse Moody shut the scene down. “We’ll deal with all this later.”
Later, Ruthie asked Nurse Moody, “Do you think Lou takes things because she’s attracted to bright colours?”
“Partly, Ruthie, but mostly I think she’s just hoarding memories.”
CREDITS: The hoarder, top picture – https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/travel-blog/things-you-didnt-know-about-cruise
Bottom picture: https://pixabay.com/en/dependent-dementia-woman-old-age-63611/
