Penni returns from New York, revitalized, renewed, rejuvenated. She has slept only a couple of hours but feels great. Old age isn't so bad. So-she's now the wise old crone of DAR. THere are surely perks to the job. She can say and do whatever she likes. She can demand respect. Command homage. And this weekend has proved there's not much she still can't do anyway, aged or not. Heehee.
Singing New York, New York and tapdancing up the driveway, she pulls the flask of chardonnay from her purse. Why-the party may still be going on! A couple of years ago one ran for days before the police and fire depts. came. She stops in the middle of a shuffle, heel-toe, step ball change and stares horrified at DAR--the lights are out, the doors closed, silence reigns....What's going on here? HAs everyone been carted off to jail for disturbing the peace??
And who's that asleep in a rocking chair on the front porch? She doesn't recognize him; his teeth are in a glass of lemonade next to him and his wig has slid over his eyes. She moves a walker away from the door and enters. Jeff and Gaugie are playing wheelchair shuffleboard on the oiled floors. They peer at her over their bi-focals and squint, trying to figure out if they know her.
In the kitchen Janice and Holly offer her a cup of Ovaltine.
"What's going on!" penni demands, aghast that the stylish Janice is wearing support hose. "What's wrong with everyone???"
"Shhhh!" Holly admonishes. "Several people are taking naps. We were up til 9 playing canasta last night!"
"WHere's Lexa-girl?" surely Lexa couldn't have given up so quickly-why, she could party for days without a break.
Holly snorted. "Dunno. Doubt she knows. Why do you think she calls herself X now? She can't remember her own name... damn Alzheimers. She hasn't been home in days."
Penni reaches for her flask. "Freddy! What about Freddy? He's the one who taught me how to party SI style!" Freddy has got to be passed out here somewhere, wrapped in a Confederate flag or a black velvet Elvis.
"What's she saying?" Janice cups a hand to her ear.
"Where's Freddy!!" penni screams.
"Freddy who?" Janice leans over to tie the laces of her therapeutic shoes. She can't get back up and remains bent in half staring at the floor.
"What about jp? No way would she miss a party." This can't be happening.
Janice cackles. "Jp was here, yep, but she and Bill were trying to dance and she fell and couldn't get up. I told Randy she put too much damn oil on that wood."
"That's terrible! Were they doing the twist? The Limbo? "
"Naw--I think they were just standing there swaying to "Cherish" and jp swayed too far and keeled over."
"It can happen," said Janice to the floor.
"What about Randy?" penni asks desperately. Randy-yeah-now she was a partygirl. She must be around here somewhere.
Holly tries to lift Janice up but falls off her own chair, chortling uncontrollably. "Heeeeee--Pete took her up to see his etchings. Haven't seen them since."
Janice is dribbling Ovaltine on her shoes. "Who's Randy?"
Holly says, "I want more Ovaltine. Hell of a recipe Alex came up with. Got a real kick." She seems to forget about penni and starts crawling to the stove.
"Thomas! I need to find Thomas!" Penni leaves them and heads up the stairs. Where was Thomas? He of all people must be there with the champagne on ice and perhaps some new lingerie. Maybe they could go out-the symphony, the opera, dancing, plan a trip to Rio....She hears Janice faintly as she exits, mumbling, "Who's Thomas?"
THomas is sitting at the desk working on something. Thank god. Perhaps a new chapter in his brilliant Beethoven dissertation, or a wonderful poem in her honor! She looks over his shoulder.
APPLICATION TO SHADY ACRES MANAGED CARE NURSING HOME
"Thomas!" she sobs. "How could you!"
He pats her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry. I had them send an application for you too. We may be able to get a whole wing for the gang. I've heard the Bingo prizes are topnotch."
Penni contemplates hitting him over the head with her flask and wonders if a jury would acquit her on grounds of senile dementia. The flask is empty. She sighs and leaves Thomas trying to remember the date they took his driver's license away. Maybe Holly would share the Ovaltine. |
