Twenty One
Dan had left Sue alone in the Day Room. She seemed to be having no trouble with communicating to the elderly patients who were already in there. Some had been reading, others knitting, a few watching the mid-day news. Whatever they had been doing, they all had stopped to come meet Levi.
Sue quickly realized after conversing with a few of the elderly, that they were extremely difficult to understand. Many were missing teeth, which distorted their lip movements. One gentleman had a wad of chewing tobacco in his cheek; another gnawed on a coffee stirrer. Sue chuckled to herself, as she pulled out her Blackberry, clicking on the recorder. Well I'll ask the questions and Tara can transcribe it – seems only fair, since I lip read the non-audio tapes .
Sue continued to mingle with the elderly, all of them seeming ecstatic to have company. Making her way around the room, she noticed a woman sitting in a far corner, she had a book in her lap, but didn't appear to be engrossed in what the text had to say. Sue made her way to the woman.
Back at the Bullpen, Alice Dotson continued her story. "Oh, hell no, the center never admitted guilt. They blamed the insurance company. The family was so disgusted that they moved Mildred out of Sunnyside. If she'd had the tests she needed, she wouldn't have broken her hip...that poor woman. Well, she's moved in with her niece now, so I can rest easy."
Jack stood and helped Mrs. Dotson to her feet. "Thank you for your help, we appreciate all we can get."
"I'm glad I could be of assistance. I hope you nail that place to the wall for everything they put dear Mildred through."
Jack chucked. "We'll do our best. Thanks again."
Lucy took hold of her grandmother's arm. "Well Grandma, where shall we eat?"
"I think I feel like a nice big juicy burger."
Lucy looked shocked. "Grandma! I thought you were watching your cholesterol levels."
"No, my kids are watching my cholesterol levels. I'm old child; I deserve to eat what I want, and I want a burger. Are you with me?"
Lucy grinned as Jack started laughing behind his computer. "Sure, Grandma. Whatever you say."