Kristen Barrow pulled her chair close to her husband’s
hospital bed. She set her brown paper bag on her lap.
“It’s Kris, Ben. Time to have us some lunch. I see, looks
like, you have meatloaf and a baked potato and some carrots. I think that’s
apple spice cake. Maybe.”
Ben, knees bent to his chest, thin arms wrapped around
his legs, stared at the ceiling.
“I’m having tuna fish. I know, I know, always tuna fish.
And some cottage cheese. No, no yogurt today.”
Kristen set her sandwich on a napkin on her lap.
“I guess that coffee is for me. Yes, I see the two
creams. The girls here are so nice. Did I tell you Bill called?”
A low groan came from Ben, and he seemed to be gulping
air, one, two, three gulps and then his mouth closed.
“Yes, Bill called. Benny is going to Carolina. Of course,
he knows you will be pleased. Of course, going up to Knoxville was going to be
too expensive. Much too much if you ask me.”
Kristen looked out the window. Spring flowers were potted
around the central courtyard. One of the workers was watering one of the larger
pots.
“Oh those geraniums look really pretty. Remember how we
lined the back patio with geraniums that one year?”
Ben leaned away from her, his head and shoulder touching
the wall. Again, a low groan.
“I started the tomatoes and cucumbers yesterday. I don’t
think I am going to bother with squash this season. Of course, local squash
will be in soon enough, so no reason to be concerned with that.
“Susan called. She’s taking the twins to Carowinds for
their 12th birthday. Ed is going to be in Memphis. Some kind of
presentation. I don’t know what really. Of course, his work is important.”
Kristen set her sandwich down. She took up the cake and his
fork.
“Yes, I was right, right on the mark. Apple spice. Pretty
good, if I do say so myself. Pretty good, Ben.”
She too another bite and then set the small dish down.
“I got my lunch at Chick-fil-A yesterday. You know how I
love that sandwich. Of course, not with a pickle. You know how I—I don’t want
to say the word hate—how I dislike pickles.
“Haven’t heard much from Sandy. Of course, you know how
she is. Not a chatterbox. You know she is a reader like you. Rather have a book
in front of her rather than another person. But she’s a good person. She really
is.
“I think all our children are good people, Ben. Of
course, as you know, there were some challenges. But that’s to be expected,
isn’t it?”
Ben turned his head back to the ceiling and gulped, once,
twice.
“Life is going to provide some challenges. Lots of people
have challenges."
“I’m not sure I like this cottage cheese. They didn’t
have my usual brand. Ben, you would be surprised at how many things are in
short supply. Some things have just gone completely missing. I don’t know why
we can’t get those little mint cookies we liked to have in the evenings.
“Well, we just make do, don’t we? That’s what we have
always done, haven’t we?"
“Oh, the Cordes asked about you the other day. I told
them you were doing okay.”
Ben groaned.
“Yes, Ben, I know. That’s what I’ve been saying. We just
make do.”
Greer
2023
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