Duane and Darlene

“Ryan, wake up! Grandpa Duane had a first date,” said Jameela in a tender voice to her half-asleep husband.

Ryan gave his wife a pleading look. “I’ve barely slept since the news. Please turn off the lights!”

“Oh, come on, I will read for you,” Jameela insisted.

Ryan recognized the signs of ‘this is happening now’ in her voice. He wearily replied, “Okay, my love!”

Jameela smiled and began to read his grandfather’s journal.

February 28, 2020

We all sat to eat our early dinner. I was following her every move. I saw her delicate hand holding the spoon with grace. Darlene moved, talked and did everything with grace. We had soup that night. I was so entirely absorbed by her that I neglected to eat mine. Darlene was popular among all the seniors. Everyone wanted to sit at her table except for me; I was content sitting across the room and enjoying her warmth from a distance. I was still able to eavesdrop.

We the seniors speak loudly. Some of us served our country and lost our hearing honorably on the battlefield. Some of us lived wildly and lost our hearing at concerts. I did not fall into either category. During the Vietnam war, I was stationed in Utah. I also never got into loud music. I only had ears for classical music, and you don’t turn up the volume for a gourmet serving of music.

Randy interrupted my daydream. “Are you still lost in your Lady D. dreams?”

I responded with a stern look. “Randy, show some respect! Darlene is a lady like no other.”

Randy put his arm on my shoulders. “Alright, alright, don’t get your panties in a bunch. I am sure your darling Darlene was pretty – like forty-five years ago. For sure, I wouldn’t have minded hitting that back then.” I stood up in protest but Randy just dismissed my scowl with a wave of his hand. “Don’t be a big baby! Sit down and eat your cold soup.”

Frank, the nurse, came to the table. “Is everything alright, Randy?” He saw me standing and came to check on Randy. Of course, he did. Randy is the most loveable creature who believed in tipping everyone. Randy is a banker who has never married. He told me once that he loved women so much, he couldn’t commit to just one.

“Hey man, everything is swell. I owe my friend here an apology. Now you could be our witness. In fact, when I die, I need you to do me a favor Frank.

"Select a couple of my Merlot bottles and give them to Duane."

"You can keep the rest of my monthly collection,” Randy added with a big smile. Then he motioned to Frank to lean close and whispered to him.

“So, what did you tell Frank now?” I asked Randy.

“Relax man, I told him that you would also get my Viagra pills. You know, it’s a cardinal sin to let a dead man’s Viagra go to waste.”

I laughed. “What if I die first?”

“Highly unlikely, you haven’t lived yet, and you need to woo Miss Darlene.”

He was right. Randy can write the book on joie de vivre and now he is leaving me his exotic wine from Bright Cellars. Randy is everything I am not, and I love him like a brother.

March 1, 2020

Today, we all got the new rules for our assisted living facility. Because of Covid 19 we were restricted to our rooms. No more walking outside. No more visitors. The food will be brought to us in our individual rooms. All FOR YOUR SAFETY, they say. God, I hate those words.

Why can’t we receive visitors? I live for my grandson’s visit on Saturdays. Ryan lost his father before he turned 16. I am not just his grandfather; he is my bonus son. He still sends me a ‘goodnight’ text every night before he goes to bed. At least, I will still have his messages at night. God! I miss him already.

Jameela glanced at Ryan as she read the entry in his grandfather’s journal. His face said all that he couldn’t. His lips were tightly drawn and his eyes held back tears. She continued.

I am an introvert. I always have been and always will be. I will miss Randy and Darlene. It feels like we were inmates who misbehaved and now we are confined in isolation.

March 11, 2020

I hate waking up to sirens blaring. Who is it this time? It seems like every other day one of us gets hospitalized. I wonder if we are really dying from the pandemic, or is it the isolation that is killing us, one by one? Frank just brought my food.

At least Darlene and Randy are safe. I hate this. Frank gets to see Darlene. Frank gets to see Randy. What’s the difference? I am sure Frank still lives in his apartment with family, buys his groceries and comes to work. Aren’t we all exposed because we see Frank?

April 1, 2020

Frank came to see me. Randy was taken to the hospital.

April 6, 2020

Randy died.

April 7, 2020

This is a bad idea. I can’t write. How could Randy be dead? Is he now just a number? A statistic? He would’ve hated that. He isn’t even getting cremated. His body has to stay in a refrigerated truck. He would have hated that too.

April 8, 2020

Frank fulfilled his promise to Randy. He brought me two bottles of Merlot and Randy’s Viagra pill bottle – with seven pills left. Randy left me a note: “live a little.” Frank told me he sanitized everything. I thanked him and had nothing else to say.

April 30, 2020

Frank told me Randy will be cremated on May 11. I asked Frank to give one bottle of the Merlot to Darlene.

May 1, 2020

I called Darlene. I know she didn’t remember me, but she was nice. She pretended that she knew who I was. I don’t know why I couldn’t talk to her earlier. She was not in a good mood. She told me that she lost her friend, Betty. I told her about Randy. Of course, she remembered him. He was larger than life.

Our shared grief made us connect. I told her stories about Randy. She laughed. I was able to picture her eyes sparkling. They always did when she laughed. Randy, you made one more woman laugh, my friend.

May 11, 2020

Today is our official first date. In honor of Randy, we agreed to sip our Merlot while we talked on our daily phone call. Maybe it was the wine, but I suddenly told her, “What wouldn’t I give to hold you tonight.”

Darlene didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure if my remark upset her. That was not my intention.

There’s a knock on my door. It’s Darlene.

It’s two hours later and now I’m watching her sleep as I write this entry. I should wake her up soon so we do not get caught.

Jameela stopped reading.

Ryan said, “Please continue, my love.”

“Oh babe, that was the last entry.” Jameela embraced him. They shared a silent moment of grief.

She turned away and plucked something out of his grandfather’s box of belongings. “Oh, guess what else I found?”

Ryan didn’t have to guess. Her sly smile gave it away. Jameela was holding Randy’s Viagra bottle – with six pills left.