Storytelling Poll Round 3

Eva

THE TOUCH OF GRACE


Charles Roland parked his '87 Buick in the almost-empty lot. Strange, he thought, how few people visited their family members at Sherwood Manor during the holidays. Charles glanced in the rear view mirror and smoothed the remaining few gray hairs over the top of his head. He wanted to look nice for Lucille, just in case she remembered him today. It was December 24, Christmas Eve.

Lucille and Charles' three daughters and their families were spread out all across the country now. They had all sent greetings and Christmas gifts to Charles. He hoped they had sent something to Lucille, too, even if she couldn't comprehend it. Lucille was in the advanced stages of Alzheimers now.

As Charles passed the nursing home's cafeteria, he saw another patient struggling with an attendant. The attendant was trying to force her to go back to her room. It was a real game of tug-of-war, and the frail, white-haired lady was putting up quite a fight. Suddenly the woman turned, and Charles recognized her. It was Mary, an old friend of Lucille's. She, too, had Alzheimers.

Charles went into the cafeteria, walked over to the woman being held by the attendant, and gallantly held out his arm.

"Mary, may I have the pleasure of escorting you to your room?" he asked, smiling.

The woman looked up at him as though his was the most welcome face she had ever seen. She slowly straightened up and took hold of his arm lightly. He walked her down the hallway in the same manner he had walked each of his own three daughters down the aisle on her wedding day…with love, with dignity and with grace.

When they reached her room, the attendant who had been following them wisely said, "Mary, may I help you into bed?"

"Why, yes, you certainly may. Thank you!" she returned.

And as Charles released her arm to the attendant, the old gentleman took Mary's hand...and kissed it.

Mary beamed, and Charles wished her, "Merry Christmas!" Then he turned to go, jingling the change in his pocket. Lucille would be waiting.