A Funny Kind of Paradise by Jo Owens

Author:Jo Owens [Owens, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House of Canada
Published: 2021-03-09T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

I wake up groggy and I can feel how wet my brief is. I must have slept through breakfast. Molly is getting Tiny up, and from what I can hear, she’s a different person on days. She knows where she is, she knows it’s September and she accepts the lift without making a peep. I hear Molly praising her for how well she stands at the bar, and when Molly washes her bits, Tiny thanks her and tells her how nice it is to be clean. Then she sits at her bedside table in her wheelchair, brushing her own teeth and fussing with her curly hair. She looks just like an older, miniature version of her daughter.

Michiko comes in to do Mary’s care while Molly is making Tiny’s bed.

Ugh. She’s so wet.

Yeah, I expect they’re all wet. Heather told me they did their last round at three, because they didn’t want to risk coming in here and waking everyone up. Apparently they had a hell of a time getting this one settled.

Which one, dear?

You, Tiny. You had a hard time getting to sleep last night.

Nonsense! I slept right through the night. I always do.

We’re going to have to be careful what we say in this room now. Hearing issues, my ass.

What did you say, dear?

We were commenting on how good your hearing is.

Yes, I’m very lucky that way. I should have a headband…

Is this it?

No, a blue one…could it be in the drawer?

This one?

Oh. Well. Maybe that will do. Could you put Teddy at the head of the bed? In the middle? That’s right, he looks quite nice there.

Okay, Tiny, is there anything else?

Could I have a glass of water? It’s very dry…

There you go.

May I have my notebook and pen?

Okay, Tiny. Are you set? I’m going to start my next person…

Ohh. Yes, dear. What should I do now?

Well, Tiny, you can write in your book, or you can wheel yourself down to the sunroom and watch the squirrels in the trees, or there’s a TV in the dining room, if you like TV.

Will you come with me?

No, honey, I have work to do here.

I could help you.

I’m sorry, lovey, this is something I need to do by myself.

I used to be a nurse, you know.

I did know that. Now, lovey, I’m going to push you down to the sunroom and you can sit there for a bit.

Molly is back in a minute.

Her care is easy, I guess we can be grateful for that.

But she’s going to be a huge energy suck. I bet she sundowns big time.

Oh Lord. I can just imagine.

Well, you must be glad it’s almost group change.

Do you think that group shuffle we did helped?

It’s hard to say…no matter how you cut it, 105 is a piece of work.

Harrumph. As if I didn’t know who that is!

You said it yourself: mentally, you just have to put on your protective all-weather gear when you go in that room.

I said it and I meant it. She’s hard on me.

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