Chapter 6: A Turning Point
Present Day
Charles Deetz rocked in his chair as Delia Deetz spoke quietly on her phone.
"Otho, it is what it is. He has good days and bad… The bad ones he just shuts down. He doesn't talk or eat, he doesn't move from his chair. This is one of the bad ones I suppose." She glanced at her husband with tear filled eyes, hoping for some sort of response.
"I don't know, I'm thinking of moving some things around here, redecorating. Maybe that will snap him out of it. I just have to keep busy." she sighed, moving her hand through her short, now platinum blonde hair.
Delia said goodbye to Otho, promising to talk again soon. She hung up the call and walked into her studio, looking around at her body of work.
Her eyes landed on the bust she had made years ago. While well received by critics, it had never sold, and a part of her was happy that it had not. She had put an exorbitant price tag on it, as she was strangely attached to the work. She never delved too deeply into her psyche as to why.
She picked up the heavy sculpture and shouldered the studio door open. Charles, of course, remained the in the same position in his chair. She brought the piece into the living room and placed it on the large marble coffee table, stood back with a tilted head to assess its impact on the room's decor, and decided it was a good job.
Picking up her cell and looking at the screen in her hand, she noticed a missed call and voicemail message from Charles' doctor.
"Hello Mrs. Deetz, this is Doctor Khatri's office calling to let you know that Charles' prescription for Donepezil was approved by your insurance. We'll call it in to your pharmacy and…" Delia ended the voicemail.
"Oh, Charles." Delia sighed, looking down at her husband, rocking in his chair. She walked out of the room.
Charles rocked back and forth, back and forth. His eyes slid from their usual spot - Lydia's photo. They slowly moved to the bust of Beetlejuice, his old antagonist.
"Beetlejuice…" his voice cracked from disuse. "Beetlejuice… BEETLEJUICE."