Channeling Elvis

BETH'S VIEW

SUMMER OF 2020

The outside world was unknown to her, but she would see a glimpse of it through the window in his room. Now that she was allowed out of her room, the house seemed full of strangers, and Brian rarely asked her leave the staff room ("his room") like he used to do. The staff room had the only window that faced the driveway so Beth could see the cars pull up at staff changes. Her heart leapt when Brian's old green Toyota Camry arrived. It sank when Angie's white SUV parked,

SPRING 2020

Beth shared a small house with two other ladies in wheelchairs and various staff workers would come in and take care of them. Kathleen liked to talk and hated it when staff rearranged the things in her room. She liked to watch game shows all the time and boss everyone around. Pam was sweet and watched whatever Beth chose, usually Elvis movies and handsome young male ballet dancers. Pam also collected international dolls and displayed them in her room.

Bill always played Beth's Elvis albums for her during bathing time, and Nicole would curl Beth's dark tresses and use beautiful barrettes in them whereas Angie would ignore Beth's concerns and threaten to report any behavior infractions to Beth's mother. However, Beth's favorite staff person of all was the handsome young athlete, Brian. She liked to say he was her boyfriend even though he regularly explained to her that he had a wife at home. She always ate better when Brian fed her and was more cooperative in the shower chair for him.

Suddenly the staff no longer strapped Beth's wheelchair and those of her housemates down in the white van and took them to the big program room in town. They no longer left that program on outings to places like the bowling alley, local coffee shops, and the farmers market. Her residential staff began wearing white face masks, which Beth hated because she understood facial expressions, tone, and gestures more than all the words staff used. Everyone was talking about Covid.

Then Kathleen started coughing and running a fever. Beth and Pam had to stay in their rooms, and staff started looking like alien creatures from a scary movie, wearing white aprons and goggles and washing and disinfecting everything. Staff came into Beth's room and fed her meals and gave her her meds there. They kept saying Beth needed to "stay safe."

Then, late in the day Beth heard lots of voices in the living room, talking about transferring Kathleen with the lift and taking her to the hospital. She heard the sound of a big vehicle pull away, muttering in the staff room, and then... silence.

The next day staff staff explained to Beth that Kathleen needed to go to the hospital where the doctors would take good care of her. Beth sensed their anxiety despite their words. Throughout the day she heard Pam say, "Hospital?" and knew that Pam would be anxiously pointing to Kathleen's room. Whenever a staff person did not arrive as expected, Beth would hear Pam say, "Hospital?" ..one of the few word phrases she knew.

A few days passed and Beth heard the muttering in the staff room again. She hadn't seen Nicole with her long black wavy hair and pleasant smile, but the dreaded Angie filled in for her. Angie had red eyes with the remnants of tears on her cheeks and was unusually patient with Beth. However, when Beth asked about Kathleen and Nicole, she merely said, "They aren't here today."

Finally, big and tall Bill was working the daytime shift and the big boss Tina's voice was heard. They came into Beth's room and said they had sad news...that Kathleen's body was too weak and that she had died. "Kathleen has gone to Heaven and is not coming back. It's okay to be sad and miss her and have good memories of her. Staff are here if you need to talk about your feelings."

Beth was silent for a moment, understanding the seriousness of the situation. Then she looked up at Bill and asked, "Where Kathleen lunchbox?"

A slight smile crossed Bill's lips as he said, "Her sister will take care of her clothes, DVD's, and lunchbox."

Days passed and Nicole's black jeep did not arrive even though Beth was now allowed in the kitchen and living room. She would also sneak into the forbidden staff room for a view of the driveway. Brian explained to Beth, "Nicole has to be at her house to take care of her children. The schools were closed to keep the children safe from Covid."

Then sweet Pam started to cough. Bill checked her temperature and found she had a fever. Beth had to stay in her room again. The next day she heard staff's muffled but worried words and then the commotion in the living room as they asked Pam to lay down on the special bed and let the nice EMTs keep her safe. The front door closed and the big vehicle drove away. Then the silence again.

A week later Tina arrived with the sad news that Pam had also died and gone to Heaven. This time Beth teared up in the silence for a moment..and then asked about Pam's red-haired Ireland doll.

Tina replied, "I will ask Pam's mother about her things. Maybe Mrs. Colton would let you keep something in remembrance of your friend Pam."

Weeks passed and Bill disappeared for a long time, only to return tired all the time. Familiar people worked for days at time, and many new staff faces were sent from other group homes. The two empty bedrooms were quickly filled. Sandy-haired Tammy arrived spewing obscenities and shaking her canes at staff. Silver-haired and quiet Mildred pooped her pants frequently, causing rooms in the house to stink. Beth felt her house had been taken over by strangers. She grew quiet and reserved and started refusing to eat for anyone other than her beloved Brian.

BILL'S VIEW

LATE SUMMER 2020

The doctor was growing concerned about Beth not getting enough nutrition as she routinely refused to eat for many of the staff. Despite Bill's best efforts to cook tasty meals (Bill had worked part time for a caterer in the past), even pureed lasagna did not tempt Beth. The doctors had increased her anti-depressants and were threatening a feeding tube. Beth's family was firmly against her having even a temporary nasal feeding tube.

Bill, being middle-aged with a bit of a belly and receding hairline, was very creative and knew he could not compete with handsome, well-chiseled Brian's "boyfriend" status, so he asked Beth what she needed in order to eat for him.

"Elvis feed me!" was Beth's emphatic reply.

Bill spoke gently, "I'm sorry Beth, but Elvis went to be with Jesus before you were born."

The idea seemed to float in the air above her, unable to permeate her mind. "Elvis feed me!" she insisted.

Bill's compassionate heart reflected on Beth recently losing two housemates to Covid, and he tried a different approach. "Elvis would have to go through a week's staff training before he would be allowed to feed you and it's already dinner time. I made you delicious baked macaroni and cheese."

She clamped her mouth shut and refused to eat. He had to document the refusal and inform Tina. Her favorite Brian was going to be out for an extended time as he and his wife needed to care for two aged parents, and an ultimatum of Beth gaining weight was set before other measures had to be pursued. Things looked rather dismal for Beth.

BETH'S VIEW

Brian was getting his coat on when Beth saw a fancy old red car drive up the driveway from the staff room window. Elvis was behind the wheel!!! She screamed with excitement as he exited the car and entered the house. She extended her spastic arms as Elvis donned a mask and reminded her to fist bump. "Hey Beth, I'm gonna make you some fried banana and peanut butter sandwiches. May I feed you some of those?"

Beth screamed and giggled the rest of the night while eating those pureed sandwiches and having the legendary King of Rock and Roll help her bathe and get into her pajamas.

The curtains were drawn in the staff room the next few weeks and Beth could not discern the sound of Elvis's shiny red car, but he showed up every night in either his white jump suit or jeans and a shirt. He had those funky 70's black sideburns and lightly-tinted sunglasses and cooked up his favorite fatty foods and pureed them for her. Beth gained weight and her mood improved despite Brian's absence, Tammy's angry outbursts, and Mildred's frequent explosive and smelly bowel movements.

Funny, Beth never noticed before that Elvis's voice sounded like Bill's when he spoke. He never sang to her without playing his CDs at the same time. She wondered why she seldom saw Bill anymore...only once in awhile on day shift.

BRIAN'S VIEW

Tina had previously been talking about moving Brian from Beth's house as Beth had been developing quite a crush upon him and refusing to eat for anyone else. However, Beth had begun eating and bathing for evening shift after Brian's extended leave. In fact, when Brian returned to the group home, he was the one now having trouble getting Beth to eat.

"Elvis feed me!" Beth demanded.

"You won't eat for your old friend, Brian?? What if I make you peanut butter and banana sandwiches?" Brian almost pleaded with Beth.

Beth clamped her jaws shut in defiance.

Bill's gray eyes twinkled above his mask. "I think she likes Russian ballet dancers, Brian. You would look good in tights and a tunic, especially with those calf muscles you are always boasting about. I can wear my daughter's Girl Scout sash with my perfect attendance Sunday school pin and Library volunteer star and play the Russian ambassador who drives you, the expert ballet dancer, here on my motorcycle. What do you say???"