"Cherish is the word..." - T.Kirkman/The Association

By Angel O'Hare

...Mrs. Brown informed me that she had made an appointment for the both of us, but that we should eat first. I asked her what kind of an appointment and all she would say was that it was a surprise. (Oh no! But, I was getting to eat!) She then took out a small hairbrush from her purse and handed it to me...

She told me to pull down the window visor. I did and saw a mirror! Cool! I brushed my hair back to its normal state and handed her the brush back. She told me to put it back in her purse so I did. She just looked at me for a moment and I realized, oops, ah, thank you Mrs. Brown for the use of your brush. She smiled and said your welcome Ricky.

Mrs. Brown informed me that we were going to one of her favorite places to dine. I was to mind my manners and if I had a question about anything to ask her in a low soft voice, and to never use a loud tone of voice. I should consider using quieter and softer tones of voice for all my interactions with others. It is the proper way to talk with people. She went on to inform me that my voice was too loud at Betty's store and to use only enough volume to be heard comfortably. That was why every time I spoke, others in the store looked at me. (I bet! That was not the only reason I am sure!)

We pulled up to this nice looking place and Mrs. Brown stopped the car, but left the engine running. A uniformed man came and opened her door; she stepped out and gave him something. (I don't know, but I think it was money.)

I got out then and waited for her. We walked up to the entrance and she waited while another man opened the door for us. We went inside and WOW! What a place, fancy! Another man dressed very nicely was standing behind a small podium type desk. He greeted Mrs. Brown by name and told her that her table for two was ready. (When had she made this reservation? Something did not seem right to me and I started to try and go over the events of the day.)

I followed Mrs. Brown and tried to think. (Not a smart thing to do.) I almost ran into a table I was thinking so hard and the looks I received from them both almost stopped my heart! I apologized and we were then seated. Now I got a shock! The man took the cloth napkin from my place setting and put it on my lap! I jumped and Mrs. Brown chuckled! The man just looked at me with a smile and said.
"Your first time dining with us young sir?

Red again! "Um, yes, sir it is," I answered. He chuckled and waved to a young uniformed lady and told Mrs. Brown that he hoped she would enjoy her meal. He then left patting me on my shoulder as he went by.

Ok, where was the menu? I know I should have a menu somewhere nearby. NOPE! One menu and Mrs. Brown had it. The young lady walked up and asked Mrs. Brown if we would like to start with liquid refreshment. Mrs. Brown said "Thank you, Gloria. I believe Ricky and I will start with an iced tea." (I don't like iced tea!) I knew better than to mention this so I just smiled. (I am learning!)

Gloria left to get our teas and Mrs. Brown informed me that she would be ordering our food. She said that I would not understand the menu. Gloria came back with our tea and paused. Mrs. Brown told her we would have something light and that we both would have the chef's salad. (RABBIT FOOD!) Ok, I smiled, and Mrs. Brown nodded to Gloria and off she went.

"One thing that you will learn a lot about, Ricky, is diet and nutrition," Mrs. Brown said. "It is very important especially for a young and growing boy like you. You look healthy enough, but I bet your eating habits need a lot of work." She told me to look at the silverware and then asked me which fork I would use for my salad. What? She chuckled and told me to watch what she did closely. Ok.

I looked at her and while I did, I made the stupid mistake of putting my elbow on the table and started to rest my head on my hand. OOPS! The look I received was enough! She told me to always keep one hand on my lap unless I was going to use a knife to cut with. Ok.

Next, Mrs. Brown asked me when was the last time I had gotten my hair at least trimmed. She put the emphasis on the "at least" part. I told her that it had been awhile and she just smiled and nodded. (Ok, I now knew what the surprise was!)

Thank goodness, Gloria was back with our salads! Ok, where was the salad dressing? I wanted to drown this rabbit food with Italian, but, the dressing now on the salad was something clear and oily. Ok. What is in this salad? Ok, I will just watch her and do what she does... That is exactly what I did and I got through the salad with only 2 comments. "Smaller bites, Ricky," and, "Chew your salad more before you swallow." Ok.

Thank the Lord that was over! NOPE! After dining, we had hot tea. BLACK, YUCK! Conversation turned to my personal life. Oh, no!

We talked (She asked questions and I talked really.) In a "soft voice,” I must add. The topic; MY HYGIENE AND MY APPEARANCE! How I took care of my self.

First, she asked me how often I bathed! I told her every morning, but not always on Saturdays. She shook her head in the negative with that answer. "How about your hair?" she asked.

"What about my hair?" I answered.

"How often do you shampoo and condition your hair?"

"I shampoo it every time I shower. Condition, what's that?"

Mrs. Brown gave another negative shake of the head. She asked to see my hands then. (What? Why?) Ok, I showed her my hands and she examined each of them closely. Mrs. Brown gave another negative shake of the head. (I was getting nervous again!) She asked me if I ever took a soaking bath.

“A bath, like lay in a tub of hot water forever?" I answered.

She laughed at that and I started to feel better again. She asked me about hobbies and I had to tell her I read a lot. I read to my brother and sister especially to my brother because he could not read yet. I told her I exercised and used different things as weights. She gave me one of those questioning looks so I added that I used a 5-pound bag of sugar wrapped in a scarf as hand and leg weights. I also used water filled gallon milk jugs. I had a backpack my father had left me which I stuffed with stones and then did push ups and other exercise's with. I also took my brother and sister on walks and I wore the pack then as well. She looked impressed! COOL!

She then asked me how I helped my mother out at home. Well, the list was long and my mother had taught me many things so I could help my brother, sister, and her. I added that I could take care of myself as well. She pressed me for particulars so I had to get specific. She then motioned to Gloria for more tea for us both, (YUCK!) then she looked at her watch. She smiled and said we had time, so on it went.

I cooked, and not just easy stuff either; I knew how to cook well. I prepared and cooked full meals and even cooked the holiday meals. I hardly ever used instant anything, knew my spices and helped with the food shopping and menu planning. I kept the house clean, vacuumed, dusted, washed the floors and windows as well as all the mirrors. I did the laundry, which included knowing how to sort the clothes by color and the temperatures used for each. What needed to be hand washed, dry-cleaned and when and what to use bleach with. I also know when and with what to add the fabric softener. I added that my mother often worked 12-hour days so it was up to me to make sure she could come home and relax with the family. I always had dinner waiting for her when she got home, even when it was late at night. She deserved no less!

Mrs. Brown looked surprised and impressed with me. (WHAT, impressed with me?) Did I score some good points here? COOL!

She looked at her watch again then at me and asked, "You take care of your brother and sister, how do you do that?"

Oh boy! Ok, in a soft voice, almost a whisper I began the day-to-day care of my siblings. I explained that my brother's mental handicapped and how he was more like a three year old than his true age. So I took care of him as such. Playtime was what a three year old would enjoy; lots of playtime, as often as I could manage it. I shared my room with my little brother so I was able to help him a lot.

Then there was Mrs. Smith who gave me things to help with his education and development. She helped me a lot as well by taking care of and teaching my brother during the week while I was at school.

Mrs. Brown smiled and then asked about caring for my little sister. Ok, My sister was like any other little girl who liked to play with dolls and make believe she was a mommy by trying to help with dishes and cleaning and baby care. I laughed "softly" and added she made my cleaning chores harder most of the time.

Mrs. Brown asked me about her handicap and I was lost for a second and then realized she was talking about her medical problem. I must have turned red again because Mrs. Brown reminded me she was a nurse while chuckling.

I nodded and told her that my sister was born with something wrong with her bladder and that she had had an operation. The only real problem was when she went to bed for the night and the results from that in the morning. Other than that, she mostly was fine during the day unless her teacher or someone else prevented her from reaching a bathroom in time. That was why she still wore training pants to school.

Once she was home, she could wear regular underwear. I chuckled at that and told Mrs. Brown that it was her favorite time of the day to come home and change into her "REAL PANTIES" as she always exclaimed to me as she ran into her room every afternoon. When she had had an accident at school, which was rare she would come home very quietly and tell me she needed to take a bubble bath. I always treated her to a fun bubble bath after the rare accident. She loved all the bubbles and smelling like flowers. She was always happy after one. If I just had her wash up, she was gloomy the rest of the afternoon.

I also made preparing for bed a fun time as well. I made a big thing about both of them choosing a story for me to read, and let them pick out what they wanted to wear to bed.

Mrs. Brown then asked me about the diapering. Ok, well I remember when I was four and in the hospital. My mother told me I had a serious problem with my glands back then and was in the hospital often. I was potty trained already, but the nurses kept me in diapers and in bed at all times. I had IVs in at least one arm most of the time. I remembered how some of the nurses were kind and friendly while others liked to make fun of me, and talk to me as if I was a baby. I hated that!

So I was extra careful with my little sister. I had her help me as much as possible. I explained what the baby oil and diaper rash cream were for and why we had to use them. I explained to her why we had to use several diapers and how to fold the inner ones and how to pin the outer ones correctly.

I told Mrs. Brown how I had made cloth diapers for my sister's dolls and she picked one each night to diaper and bring to bed with her. She liked that a lot! So now, she prepared everything for me to use before I came to her room. She would have the diapers prepared and the pins and plastic pants right there in easy reach. She handed me the oil and cream when I needed them. Then as I went to wash my hands, she would get the book she wanted me to read from that night. We made it a fun time not a chore or something to be embarrassed about; it was cool. Mrs. Brown looked impressed with me again! COOL!

Mrs. Brown then surprised me by saying, "Ricky, you are much more mature for your age than most young boys are. Your decision to enter the health care field is perfect for someone like you." (What does that mean?) "You have a rare quality in a boy. You put others first and really care about them. You show compassion and have tolerance, but most of all you care from your heart and give of yourself."

WOW! I never, ever have been talked about like that before. Was she really talking about me? ME, the kid who had no friends, but a neighbor's daughter who liked me, the kid who lived mostly secluded at home whose big adventure was to take his siblings for walks? Homework was a cool thing to have to do! Reading books, listening to the radio and playing his recorder was entertainment. RARE? Ok, if she said so. I had nothing really to compare this. The other kids at school all thought I was a momma's boy for doing what had to be done. So who were they to judge anything? She had made me feel good about myself! Maybe I wasn't such a dumb, weird geek after all.

Mrs. Brown looked at her watch again and asked me to come over and help her from her seat. What? Ok, so I got up and went over to her and she whispered that I was to pull her chair back as she got up. Ok. I can do that. She left a small pile of money on a little tray that Gloria must have put there that I did not notice. Mrs. Brown then asked me if I was ready for my surprise. OH GEEZE!

So now it really starts on a big way my life begins to change!

Angel

Note: A continuing story series of teasing scenes, part reminiscence, part fantasy