Short Opening Chapter to COMFORT CARE

He met her at a dance in Pittsburgh. They both worked at the same steel mill. For the past month, she’d been going to the dance hall every Friday night. He’d been going almost every weekend for the past year. It was the only dance hall in town.

He wasn’t shy and she was pretty. He glided up and asked her if she’d like to do what people do at dances. He held out his hand. She accepted it and followed him onto the floor.

They danced, they talked, they got married. They had kids, they had barbecues, they went on vacation to Florida once a year.

They had a happy life.

Their first born became a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns. Friends asked them if it was hard to give up their allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They said no, our son is a Cleveland Brown.

Then their son got traded to the Patriots and friends asked if they’d give up their allegiance to the Browns. They said yes, their son was a New England Patriot. It was harder for them to root for the Pats, but they did it with love, for their boy.

Two years later, their boy blew out his knee, retired early, and became a broadcaster. Friends asked them if it was hard and if they felt their son got a bad break, so to speak. They’d laugh and say they were just happy they’d never have to root for the Cowboys.

Before their little linebacker was born, they both worked at the steel mill until she became pregnant. She left the mill late in her pregnancy. He picked up extra shifts, she prepared to become a stay at home housewife. That was the way it was supposed to go, and that’s the way it went.

Their son was born at…

He was born in…

“Why can’t I- …Where was he born?” He thought.

He felt the memory was not where it’s supposed to be. He knew the other part. He saw the maternity ward waiting room, but the feeling was washed out

“It’ll come. …Wait where did. …- Why do I feel confused? I can’t find the- Why is that memory not there? Where….? Where, why, …why …I can’t think of anything? Am I old? I don’t know who you are. Do I know… Do I …Am I …I don’t know. I don’t…” He thought this without being able to form the words in his mind. The thoughts may have been muddled, but his feelings were clear.

He felt panicked. He had to get out. “Get your hands off of me!” He screamed. He didn’t know where the man came from. Why was he here?

Will he forget himself? Has he?

It’s going to get worse. He felt it, but couldn’t form the thought. No matter, he knew.
___________________________—

This is a work that is in progress and in early stages. It helps for me to post it because it takes on life up here... I get to see what kind of life and what kind of help it needs.