Beyond the Pain

I was napping. The phone rang. I limped to the kitchen to answer it.

“Hi, Lyle”

I recognized Nancy’s voice. “I think I left my Day Planner there. Can you check?”

I limped to the living room Didn’t see the planner. Then I looked under the sofa. Voila! The wallet must have fallen out of Nancy’s purse. Lodged beneath the sofa.

I limped back to the phone. “Found it. It was underneath the sofa.”

“Thank you. Thank you. The planner has my life in it. My appointments. Everything. Can I come by on Saturday. In the morning.”

“Sure. I will be here. Ain’t goin nowhere.”

“I will come by about 10. Or, 11. Goodbye”

“Goodbye.” Nancy hung up. Then I did.

Then I started thinking about groceries. About how I was going to get to the Safeway. Planning my route. Planning contingencies. How I would carry them. Like money.

But first. Laundry. How was I going to get the dirty clothes down the stairs. To the laundry room. And, how was I going to get them back again. Up the stairs. How?

A knock sounded at the door. Like a starved woodpecker. Like a hestitant Jehovah’s Witness.

I limped to the door. Peeked through the spy hole. I saw two women. Like Jehovah’s Witnesses. But they weren’t carrying satchels. Or, huge purses.

I opened the door. Two brunettes. One about five two. The other five six. One medium. The other smaller. The medium one spoke, “Hi. My name is Nancy. This is my boss Fay. We’re here from Alberta Health. We’re following up on your hospital visit. Can we come in?”

I thought for a second. I could use the company. I had gone from a very busy hospital unit, with frequent visitors, to my empty apartment. I said, “sure”.

I stepped back from the door. Into my tiny galley kitchen.

“The living room is to your left. Please have a seat on the sofa.”

I closed the apartment door. I limped into the living room. I pulled a wooden, folding chair out from its place, tucked under the matching, wooden table. I unfolded the chair. Put it down on the rug. Across from the two women on the sofa.

The one called Nancy said, “The Social Worker from Unit 59 contacted us. Florence said you might like some assistance.”

“What kind of assistance?” I said.

“Help with getting to appointments like your doctor. To the bank. Things like that.” Nancy said.

“Oh. Thanks. Is this going to cost anything? Cause I don’t have a lot of money.”

“No. It’s a free service for patients who need it.”

“Let’s make our first appointment. We’ll go for coffee and you can get out of the apartment. And, you can get to know me better. And, ask any questions you may have at the time.”

“Okay.”

“Are you available at nine thirty, October twenty eighth?”

“I’m available pretty much any time.”

“So, yes. It’s a date.” I wrote the appointment on a wall calendar.

“Do you have any other questions?” Nancy asked.

“Nope.”

“Okay. I will see you on the twenty eighth.”

Nancy and Fay got up from the sofa. Walked to the apartment door.

I followed them to the door. Let them out.

Nancy turned and said, “See you on the twenty eighth.”

“Sure. See you then.” I said.

But I was to hear from Nancy long before the twenty eighth.