By Jynaki
Copyright © 2006 Jynaki
All Rights Reserved
Teela and Thumper turned into the drive marked Pine Ridge AFC home. Each time she pulled in, Teela marveled at the
wonderful landscaping with beautiful flowers and expertly trimmed bushes. It was the best home in the area she could find and
still keep Bess close. She had looked at so many until they began to blur together. Teela finally began asking her colleagues in
the field what their recommendation were for Adult Foster Care's. Several had suggested Pine Ridge.
First, Teela wanted to know about their reputation. She found out that not only did they have an exceptional one in the
industry, but that it was run by a couple former Long Term Care Director Of Nurses turned State Surveyors. With that, Teela
was confident and reassured as to the quality of care they would provide. She was just thankful that Bess had invested in
Long Term Care Insurance as a part of her Health Care coverage through the airline not to mention her pension. If balanced
just right, she should have enough money to pay for Bess' care for another 5-6 years at best. Sure, there were lesser
expensive places that could provide for what Bess needed, but she was not ready to risk it. She knew as well as anyone that
being private pay opened up a lot more options when it came to the Long Term Care Industry.
Feeling a little guilty as she did not make visitations last week, Teela hesitated a little before getting out of the car. It was
unavoidable. It was 'strongly suggested' by Eerie Warden that she attend a marketing dinner at Ramoni's for Heartfull Home
Health Care and Hospice. They were actively marketing to the ARCC for an in-house Hospice contract.
Nica had a date and Eerie Warden would only attend these things if they contained some level of prestige. So she was it. For
three hours she smiled and networked with the other Director of Nurses or Care Coordinators from other facilities and
hospitals in the tri-county area. A free meal was a free meal, and she did not have to cook, but it would mean not seeing Bess
on their scheduled night.
"Okay girl. Settle down now. I can't get your lead snapped on if you keep flitting around like that. I know that you are
excited."
Teela latched the retractable lead through the metal hook on the back of Thumper's blue chest harness and they emerged from
the car. She braced for Thumper’s initial pull as she only has a very short line with which to work with. Thumper was prancing
all about her short area while Teela opened the back door of the car. She was balancing the jumping arm with the lead with
grabbing the small white bag and the bouquet of lavender and white carnations she brought for Bess. They were her favorite.
They entered through the large white double doors of the ranch style building. All of the private or semi-private rooms were
located on a single floor. It was a great design since the general population was elderly with the exception of one or two
younger like Bess. Teela and Thumper stepped into the small vestibule and through the sitting area or lobby. It was pleasantly
decorated with floral curtains and furniture. Cherry wood end tables and book cases invited visitors and resident alike to stop,
relax and enjoy themselves reading or conversing.
By now, Thumper had channeled her excitement and walked obediently beside Teela. They walked through that room and
into another monstrous area that contained only the nursing station. Much bigger than the ones to which she was used to at
the ARCC, the imposing circular nurses' desk sat in the middle of the floor. The high sides and top were cherry veneer that
shone brightly beneath the fluorescent lights. There was a counter on the other side of the cherry veneer that ran the
circumference of the desk where the nurses actually did their writing. Built-in chart racks held the clinical records neatly
labeled in four different sections. There were at least four telephones, at the station and a multitude of nursing paraphernalia
scattered about from stethoscopes to portable blood pressure machines. Forgotten records were opened to the progress
notes section and an overturned cup of pens that had spilled out.
Shooting off in different directions were four brightly lit halls in festive colors to appeal to the eye. Each was distinct in their
major color scheme. When she had initially arrived for a tour of the place, it was the cheerfulness of the staff and the
atmosphere to which she was drawn. Each hall was named after a street. Teela loved that concept. It took away the
institutionalization that most of the larger Adult Foster Cares tend to assimilate. Maple Street, Elm Street, Oak Street, and
Pine Street extended off of the desk making it easy for a person at the station to simply look up and scan the streets. Each
street contained 12 private or semi private rooms. Because some of the bathrooms connected between rooms, one side of the
street was generally for males, the other for females. Couples rarely roomed together at Pine Ridge.
Teela spotted her favorite nurse coming down Pine Street and smiled. Annie had been there the day Bess was admitted. She
was a very kind and compassionate nurse who went the extra mile to help a family or resident. Teela felt she was an ideal for
the nursing profession.
"Hello Annie. How are things?"
"Hi Teela." She bent down towards the dog. "And how is Thumper today?" In response, T-Dog rolled over on her back
wanting her belly to be rubbed.
"You have no shame, do you dog?" She grinned. "So how is Bess today?"
"Bess has a bit of the sniffles, but she is generally alright." she commented from the floor where her hands were busy stroking
the shameless animal. "Ooh those are pretty." She said indicating the flowers.
"Bess' favorite. I brought us in some fruit punch. Can you we get some cups and ice?"
"Sure Teela. I'll bring it to her room when I'm done making this note."
"Great. Thanks." Satisfied, Teela turned and headed down Elm Street. Teela giggled and looked down at her companion,
"You know Thumper, Bess hates scary movies and for her to be living on Elm street it's kind of funny. She would have a
conniption fit if she knew."
They stopped outside of the door marked "5." She delicately touched the 5x7 picture upon the door. A smiling Bess at the
campground sitting at the picnic table playing Scrabble. Only Boney's elbow and right side of her body could be seen, but it
was a good picture of Bess. The filthy Australian Outback hat she loved so much was tipped back on her head and her black
hair flew wildly sticking out of the sides. 'The dirt adds to the coloring and characteristic of the hat' Bess used to say to
justify it's continued existence and keep it out of the trash. Teela thought smiling. Then she remembered. It was the last
time they were there as a couple before the stroke.
The one large bedroom was Spartan in furnishings with a dresser and mirror against the far wall. On the surface were Bess'
favored trinkets, pictures of her Thumper, Teela, Boney and Jo. On the wall were other eight by tens or five by seven's Teela
had enlarged for Bess' room including a copy of Bess standing in the control tower at the airline where she used to work and
one from the trip they took to the Bahamas six years ago. Two recliner chairs were placed in front of the TV/VCR combo
sitting on the TV stand, a small end table placed between them.
Bess was lying on the bed with a colorfully knitted lap blanket thrown over her. Uncertain if she was sleeping, Teela spoke,
"Bess?" The figure on the bed lightly stirred. Stepping to the side of the bed Teela waited for her eyes to open before touching
her. She didn't want to startle or frighten Bess coming out of a dreamscape.
"Bess. You're best girl is here to see you."
After calling her name few more times, sleepy gray eyes blinked open and focused on her. Teela waved at her lover. The
right eye slightly drooped along with the right side of her mouth. They have not been bright since the stroke. She missed their
sparkle. She gently sat down upon the bed.
"Hi sweetheart. It's Teela and Thumper. We've come to see you." She smiled and slowly reached out her hand to brush some
of the wooly hair back from her face. We've missed you and wanted to see how things are going."
Teela gazed upon the confused dull gray eyes and then slowly bent over and gave her girl a kiss upon her forehead. She does
feel a little warm. I'll need to tell Annie when she comes. Teela tapped the side of her leg loudly and soon the brown head
appeared by her side. Teela watches Bess eyes twinkle in an instant and her lips turn upward into a crooked half smile. The
left side of her face and body was unaffected by the stroke, but Teela knew when her girl was smiling and apparently so did T-
Dog. Bess reached out her left arm and wrapped it around the dog’s neck. Thinking that it was welcomed, Thumper
proceeded to bathe Bess in kisses.
"Did you have a good nap?" Teela knew there would not be a verbal response as the lifeless eyes stared back at her. The
smile turned back into a tilting flat line.
She set Thumper free from the lead to wander around the room as she always did. Even though she has been here hundred of
times, Thumper had to check out every scent and piece of furniture each time. Teela stroked Bess' hand and watched
Thumper investigate. After a while, she finally slumped in front of the doorway, sighing heavily from the exertion.
"So, I thought we could watch a movie tonight, but I bet you have to go potty first. Don't you?"
She stood and went to the door. Tapping the dog on the side with her foot and she lazily stood and moved to Bess' side
again. Thumper sat on her hunches not phased by Bess' hard pats on the head. You are truly an amazing dog Thumper.
Teela thought to herself. You seem to know that Bess can't control how hard she pets you and it's okay. Isn't it girl?
Teela stuck her head out the door, seeing Annie and calling to her for some help. Annie came and Teela told her what she
wanted to do. Teela stood on Bess' left. Annie brought over the modified roller walker. There was an arm stray with a cloth-
covered handle at the end. When walking, Bess' affected right arm rested in the tray and was loosely Velcroed in place. The
handle or short pole at the end was so that her fingers could wrap around to help her steer it. She retained a surprising amount
of strength and regained mobility in her right leg. Although she limped, she was still able to walk smoothly for the most part.
Together they got Bess upright but her nose ran immediately. Teela used a Kleenex to clean her nose then kisses her on the
forehead.
"Ok darlin' let's get you up and to the bathroom." Once upright, Teela chuckled. "Ooh Bess, you have such a lovely hairdo
this evening." Her hair was imitating Don King and sticking straight into the air at all angles. The lower half of her hair was
plastered straight down causing an obvious open spot in the center of her cranium. "I do wish I could invent something to
prevent bed head. Don't you Bess?" She chuckled trying to smooth the unruly mass.
"You would make a fortune." Annie snickered.
"We'll fix it after you get out of the bathroom. Ok?"
"Okay Bess. We want you to stand on the count of three." She gently took Bess' left hand and placed it on the walker making
sure her fingers had a firmly wrapped grip. Annie placed her arm underneath the elbow of the partially functioning right.
"Ready?"
Bess' face instantly darkened and she removed her left hand from the walker and began to using it to lightly bat at Annie.
Annie immediately stepped away from Bess.
"Now Bess. That was not a nice thing to do to Annie." Teela gently scolded. "She needs your help to get you to stand. Then
you can go to the bathroom." Bess batted at Teela's leg several times. Teela stood there not budging. "You can hit me all you
want Bess, but we still need you to stand and go to the bathroom."
"She has been doing this for a few days now."
"Is it all the time or what?" She felt her social worker mode rising above the role of lover.
"No, with standing and moving really. She gives us this evil mean look though."
She chuckled, "I know the one. I used to get it all the time I called it the 'I'm not amused' look."
"Once we get her up and moving, she stops. I think we need to look at her Tylenol."
"That's a good idea, but she may just not be feeling well too."
"True."
"She hasn't hurt anyone has she?"
"No. She just slaps a bit."
After another try and some more slapping, Teela and Annie got Bess standing. Annie took over and led her into the bathroom,
closes the door.
Straightening the bed, Teela listened to Annie talking to Bess, smiling as a result of Bess' occasional "Shit" her favorite word
now and then. She turned on the TV and sets it for the VCR. Scanning the VHS tapes stored below in the cabinet, she
selected what she knew was one of Bess' favorites, Mothra. In fact most all of the tapes in her collection were about some
sort of Japanese monster. Teela chuckled; it was one of the endearing things about Bess. She found Bess' taste in movies
bizarre but fun.
Bess had a huge collection of the monsters, mostly the Godzilla's from 1949 to 2004. So many hours I had endured
watching Godzilla eating nuclear energy, destroying Tokyo or fighting another man in a monster costume, but you
did love laughing at their special effects didn't you baby? How many times had you laughed at those toy models until
you nearly choked on popcorn? I almost dreaded you discovering a new movie, because that meant I had to watch
them with you. She turned the VHS movie over in her hands. Oh you were near tears when we watched Godzilla finally
get heartburn and have a meltdown. I wish those days back now and can't have them.
Teela was lost in her reverie and didn't know that Bess and Annie had left the bathroom. Annie helped Bess get situated in the
recliner.
"Thanks for your help Annie." She kissed Bess on the fore head. She was greeted by a smile from Bess. "Okay ladies and
canines, today's movie is a classic. " She leaned over Bess and snapped the brightly colored clothing protector around Bess'
neck.
Teela placed the Tupperware bowl of Butterscotch pudding in Bess lap. She positioned her right arm around the plastic bowl
to secure it in place. Then she placed the spoon in Bess' left hand. If she had to be thankful for anything about her lover having
a stroke, it would be that it occurred on her right side. Bess was naturally left-handed. She would have had tremendous
difficulty learning to eat with her right given the amount of the cognitive damage she suffered.
Teela sat beside Bess alternating between looking at her lover and the little twin fairies pleading for the gigantic egg to be
returned. Teela gently lifted Bess' left hand, extending the index finger and placed one of then petal shaped butter cookie on
her finger. It was Bess ritual: take the cookie, place it on your finger and nibble around until it nearly fell off. Only now, Bess
lightly bit the cookie and removed her finger before she bit it in half and shoved the other half into her mouth. Every second
cookie, Teela would encourage her to take drink of the fruit punch. Teela helped her with the straw and then would wipe her
mouth. They settled in to watch the movie.
Thumper eased to the door and poked her head out looking at Annie and another nurse. Thumper slowly sneaked out the
door and down to the women.
"I see Teela and Thumper are here."
"Yeah, can you tell?" Said a nurse laughing at the dog seeking attention.
"Have you told Teela about Bess?"
"No and I am not going to tell her. Neither are you. Teela and the other two women are the only ones who come and visit
with Bess. If I told Teela that Bess cries when she leaves, she might not come back. Being a social worker in a nursing home,
she will understand that Bess gets upset and distressed. It will only make Teela feel guilty. She may even stop coming. Where
would Bess be then? At least we can still calm her down afterwards. So what would be the point?"
