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Topic: Empty and Full (06/04/09)
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TITLE: The Quiet War | Previous Challenge Entry
By Autumn Ten
06/05/09 -
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"Yes?," the stranger said.
"I'm here to see Jeanette," I answered.
"And you are?"
"I'm her daughter-in-law," I said with a hint of anger.
Reluctantly, I was let in.
Jeanette was sitting at the kitchen table like she always did, looking weary and anxious at the same time.
One of my sister-in-laws had taken it upon herself to hire an aid. The agency sent Tammy, a gruff, petite, red headed, thirtyish woman. I didn't notice her doing anything but sitting and watching TV as my eleven year old son and I visited. She talked up a storm of phony pleasantries at one point. I figured she'd pipe down soon and start the house cleaning and other odds and ends she was hired to do. After an hour or so, I realized I was wrong. And all of Tammy's erroneous chatter was further aggravating Jeanette, who was trying to cope with her recent terminal diagnosis. She was already weak and having trouble focusing. Tammy was like a leech, sucking out whatever Jeanette had left.
Suddenly I noticed the time. We had to get going to my son's doctor appointment. Jeanette said that was ok, because she had to go to the bank. Tammy was to drive her.
"You'll pay me for the week now," Tammy said to Jeanette.
"I wasn't planning on writing a check for that today," Jeanette replied.
"You'll give me cash then."
The red flags went up in my head.
"It's just, the gas...," Tammy added, trying to make excuses.
The next day I found out that Jeanette had been bamboozled into handing over the money.
I was furious. The last thing a dying old woman needs is a con artist harrassing her and taking advantage.
And sure enough, Tammy failed to show for the remainder of the week.
We heard the horrific tale of how the boiling water spilled and burned her foot. Second and third degree burns, she claimed.
The next week, she showed up with a gauze bandage and more tales of woe. Mind you, second degree burns are through to the muscle, and third degree to the bone. But under the gauze was perfectly unscathed skin.
Jeanette was getting more agitated by Tammy's presence by the minute.
I was grateful that I could be there to stave off further trouble. I took it upon myself to show Tammy the door and let her know in no uncertain terms that I had her pegged.
I had the privilege of taking care of Jeanette, along with my sister-in-laws, for three months after that.
I would look at her kitchen table, remembering the countless gatherings with food and family. Now, there were empty chairs and medicine bottles.
Gut wrenching as it was to watch happen, I surprised myself in doing the things that I did. I'd suddenly become a nurse, as well as a friend and a protector.
This could be me one day, I thought.
It could be any one of us.
The old are continuously victimized and written off as disposable. Alot of the younger don't think about it until they're the ones being swindled, or thrown away.
I know that I alone can't fix this, but I wage my own subtle war against it, among other things, winning one minuscule battle at a time in the scheme of things.
Sometimes I am ashamed to call myself a part of the human race as it exists today. I am hard pressed to find decency, kindness or respect, let alone true caring. I feel like the last of a dying breed.
What happened to do unto others as you would have them do unto you?
Injustices to the old are just the tip of the iceberg.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the four horsemen come riding down, considering. Who could blame God for finally getting fed up and passing such judgement?
We don't get the chance to do things over.
So I remain a humble servant, a quiet warrior, until I am called on to roar again.
HE TRAINS MY HANDS FOR WAR, SO THAT MY ARMS CAN BEND A BOW OF BRONZE.
PSALMS 34:22
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