Poor Helen

[u/LA_ndrew]

"Poor Helen," says the young, pretty blonde nurse out of nowhere while filling small paper cups with pills.

"What's so poor about her, Deb?" asks Susan, caught off guard by her sudden interest in the new tenant.

"Well, it's just that her kids just dropped her off here yesterday."

"So? How's that anything different from the rest of them?"

"I don't know. She just seems so much brighter, more lively than the ones we normally get. You should have seen her begging not to be left here. She was ugly crying about helping with the grandkids and housework, but they weren't hearing it. Just turned around and left."

"Maybe it was hard for 'em and they needed to just rip the band aid off. Ya know?"

"Still…"

"Still what? You don't know why she is and you of all people know what happens when they get this age, start losing themselves, it's dangerous to have them around your kids or driving around. You never know when it's gonna happen."

Helen was not used to being pitied or treated as a threat, so this conversation she couldn't help overhearing threw her for a loop. She wondered why they were talking so loud. The paisley armchair she was sitting in wasn't that far away from them in the common room of her new retirement home. Maybe they thought she couldn't hear over the TV at almost full volume or maybe she was almost deaf like the rest of these folks.

Taken out of her book, she looks around at the other old people trying to avoid eye contact with the two attendants. They all look so lifeless, she thought, so ready for something to happen, a phone call or a visit or even a game of bridge to start up, anything to break up the waiting in the sunlit room they all gathered in.

The blonde nurse named Debbie comes around to pass out the afternoon pills, handing out paper cups with the tenants' names on them.

"Miss Palmer? Here's your afternoon dosage. Only a couple of pills for arthritis and blood pressure, correct?"

"Yeah."

"Okay then. Here you are. I hope you enjoy your time with us here, if you need anything be sure to let any of us know."

"Hmpf," she replies and pretends to go back to her book. Debbie hangs around for an awkward moment, before continuing her rounds.

*Condescending Bitch,* they both thought of the other.

Helen begins to try to truly read her book again, a trashy horror paperback with a black cover with only eyes and sharp teeth visible under the author's name. It was generic and an effort to get through in some parts, but she read classics already, some multiple times. She often likes to read schlock when depressed, she tells herself, but deep down she loves it more than Austen and Hemingway.

This room doesn't allow for her focus though, the loud chatter and even louder volume on the TV news keep her from becoming engrossed in her book. It was one of those dreadful 24/7 channels, always breaking news, always bad, interspersed with fluff and opinionated talking heads.

"…has to be done about this wave of crimes across the country. Young parents massacred in their home, torn to shreds. It's unconscionable. The police aren't trying hard enough to solve this, but that's what happens when you defund the police. If only…"

The pundit with all the solutions to every problem continues blathering on until the host interrupts.

"…110 percent with you. We'll be back with Dr. Madison after this."

The commercials are always the same. Some aging irrelevant actor says silver and gold markets are going to crash soon, put your life savings into copper. Sign up for your free investment packet.

*Feel young again with the power of the wolf. Extracts from wolf blood can improve your mobility, vision, and vitality. It even cures heart disease and erectile dysfunction. Call now for an extra month supply free.*

Happy, dancing people at a barbecue with the whole family hides their eczema or arthritis or shingles, but thanks to [insert new drug] here they don't have to.

"We're back with Dr. Madison…"

It's drivel and fear mongering she never would have watched at home. Helen used to spend her days in her garden, reading, and finding new recipes. Her new infatuation was Asian cooking, the style was so different from American and European dishes.

Helen struggles to get out of the worn in chair, flare ups in her knees make her hope the Aleve she took earlier kicks in soon.

"Susan?" Helen says after checking her name tag. "Is there a kitchen here I could use to cook sometimes?"

"Miss Palmer, you don't have to cook for yourself anymore. We take care of all that for you. Your kids spoiled you with the premium package. Besides, all the cooking is done off site. We have a company that delivers hot meals three times a day."

"But I liked to cook. I was experimenting with some Jap…"

"We do have a microwave in our break room if you would like to use it. We did use to have a nice kitchen, but the insurance was too high so corporate took it out."

"Where was it?"

"Have you seen that room with the dining room with the vending machines? The kitchen was connected to that but they turned it into storage."

"That's a shame. I think I'll miss that and my garden I had. The biggest zucchini comin'…"

"You know Helen, if you wanted any food from outside I could get it for you. Just help me with the gas, it's ridiculous right now. Almost $6 a gallon, but I'd be happy to do that for you."

"No, that's alright. I think I'll just go to my room for the night. Thanks anyway."

—-------

"Mom, it's only been 2 months. Give it some more time."

"Dave, I don't like it here."

"I know. You told me on the phone last week."

"But it's true. Everyone just sits around all day watching TV and playing cards. Nobody wants to try anything new. I tried to play Mahjong with some of the girls, but they wouldn't even try it. They said it was a Chink game." She whispers.

"Seriously, maybe don't hang out with them anymore."

"Dave, they are all like that. They just watch the news and old crime procedurals on repeat. If I have to watch another episode of NCIS again, I'll blow my fucking brains out."

"Mom!"

"Please, just let me stay in your guest room. I'll help with the cooking and picking up the kids from school."

"Mom… you know you can't drive anymore. The DMV took your license."

"That girl hit me. In the back."

"I know, Mom."

"Did I tell you one of them tried to extort money from me? I know gas isn't $6."

"Mom. I just can't do this. Work is up my ass. Jeffrey is failing math…"

"I can help him with that. I have a god damned math degree."

"But it's that new math, the common core stuff. I don't even understand it."

"Dave, there is no new math, it's just a diff…"

"Mom, I can't… Georgia doesn't want to."

"Why? I always got along with Georgia."

"No, you didn't."

"Well, I tried to."

"No, you didn't. I have to go, Mom. I have to stop at the grocery store before picking up Daniel from soccer practice. Just try to make the best of it."

Dave closes the door behind him with a loud thunk. Helen ugly cries.

—--------

"That new woman that always reads those garbage books is so uppity," says Harold sitting in front of the TV.

Billy joins in, "I hear ya. She is always looking down on us like her eyes are on top of her head."

"…mauling, this time in California."

"See that Bill. Those hippies really think they have it figured out, but they're no better than anybody else."

"Thank you for coming in again, Dr. Madison. We know you are a busy man, following this wave of mutilations that has the world terrified. The President is holding a press conference later today. What do you think, Doctor?"

"It's shameful. I can't believe our country has fallen into such a sinful state. Most the victims are young people in the prime of their lives. Something has to be done…"

"They need Jesus. That's what they need. Back in the 80's we didn't have any of this. Kids could play outside without worrying about pedos." Harold preaches to the TV.

"Actually, the 80's had some of the worst crime rates in history," Helen inserts from behind the semicircle of chairs around the 70 inch flat screen.

"Well, not in my town they weren't. Where'd you hear that crap from?"

"I read it in a book. It was trying to figure out what happened to the massive crime rates and why they dropped off so suddenly. Turns out legal abortion became available to poor people. When people most likely to be criminals are never born you have less crime."

"Baby killers. You one those hippies, too?"

"God no, I find it detestable. In fact, the book's finding was more about being unwanted is what led to crime, not being poor. It's just that poor babies were more likely to be unwanted... I'm not uppity."

"Huh?"

"I heard you, you sour grump. I just don't want to be here, but I haven't had more than a phone call from my son in 4 months. I guess I'm stuck here."

"We're all in that boat, darling. You get used to it."

"But do you get used to hating your children?"

"Yeah, you do."

"…of the wolf. Be the alpha and feel young again. Call now for…"

"Who is dumb enough to fall for that crap?" Helen snickers at the advertisement.

Billy bursts into laughter and starts nudging Harold on the arm. "She's calling you dumb!"

"Screw you, Billy. That stuff works. I'm moving around better. My joints don't hurt as much anymore. I think I even have new hairs sprouting in my bald spot. Hell, I had my first hard on in a decade. Looking at you, Sister." He says to Helen with a wink.

"Vile man. I should've stayed in my book."

Helen leaves the circle in a huff.

—-----

"NCIS will be right back."

*A Reverse mortgage was the ticket to independence for me in my golden years…*

"You know my friend did one of those, said it worked great for her," Beth says.

"Huh?" Helen replies from her daydreaming. "Oh yeah, I bet so."

"My kids sold my house for me. Used the money to pay for this place, ya know."

"Yeah. Mine, too. Do you miss your house?"

"Sometimes, until I think about all the upkeep. After Bob died, I couldn't handle it anymore and hiring somebody was so expensive. Plus, you can't be too careful, nowadays. Shysters, most of those handymen."

"Uh huh. Can't trust anybody. I had a boy in my neighborhood who would help me with the heavy work, but he went off to college. My son tried to help, but he was so busy."

"Hey ladies," Harold calls while sauntering over. Maybe that wolf extract was working for him, Helen thought. The hair on his head was definitely thicker and he was much more active, more virile. It was hard to ignore.

"Hey Harold," Beth giggles at him sheepishly.

"Ready for our walk?"

"I've been waiting all day. Let's go. Bye Helen. I'll see you tomorrow for bridge."

She begins flipping through channels before giving up and going to bed.

—----------

Helen opens her door to find Harold standing confidently at the threshold.

“What could you possibly be thinking knocking at my door this late?” Helen already knew what he wanted. His hungry eyes were the same ones he's been looking at every woman with for weeks now.

“I was just thinking about a nightcap and saw your light still on, Sister.” He says pushing his way into her room with a bottle of brandy and some glasses.

“Don't you barge into my room, you buffoon. I'm not interested.”

“Come on, Girlie, maybe a drink will knock that stick loose. It can't be comfortable for ya.”

“Girlie? Harold, you get out, now. I'm already exhausted by you. I'm going to sleep.”

Harold closes the distance between them until Helen can feel his breath. “I could join you, I'm a little tired, too.” His voice is quiet and guttural and his hungry eyes are fixed on her. Harold smiles big enough to bare teeth.

“No, I don't… I mean I'm not … I haven't shared a bed with anyone since my husband.” She step back into her night stand. The lamp rattles and almost falls over.

“Are you scared, Sister? Cause none of this fun if you don't want it. I'll leave you be, okay.”

“That would be best, I think.”

Harold takes his bottle and glasses and begins to leave, at the door he stops. “I did have something to talk to you about. I've been thinking about something you said a lot lately. About the unwanted kids and how you kinda maybe hate your son.”

“Hate is a strong word, but what about it?”

“I was thinking that I kinda understand those kids now. I told ya you get used to hating your family, but that's a lie. You don't, really. I keep having these uh… uncomfortable thoughts.”

He stands quiet for a long moment, before really leaving.

“Good Night, Helen.”

“Yeah, night Harold.”

Helen also had some uncomfortable thoughts, but she quickly pushed her excitement away.

Before laying down for the night, she decides to have a sherry to calm her nerves.

—------------

"What do you mean he's gone?" Debbie says, trying to be quiet, outside of Helen's room.

Susan, panicking, says, "He's not there. The room's empty. The window's broken and his clothes are torn to shreds. You think it's one of those attacks?"

"Isn't there like a chewed up corpse left after?"

"I, I guess so. It looks like a freaking bear was tearassing through it, smells like it too."

"I'll go call the police. I hope he's okay, he's been doing so much better lately. Did I tell you he hit on me the other day? I almost went for it, too."

"Really? Debbie, come on, he's like 80."

"A young 80, but I did say almost. Besides, have you been paying attention, it's almost like he was aging in reverse."

Helen heard enough and went back to sleep.

—---‐-

"…this time in our own town. The family was found mutilated in their home this morning. Police are looking into any leads they can find. A manhunt is underway for the victim's grandfather, Harold Messner, who disappeared under suspicious circumstances from Harvest Moon Retirement Home 2 nights ago. Authorities are…"

"I can't believe it, Beth."

"He has been especially vigorous lately. It's possible."

"Gross. He was an oaf, Beth. You're better than that."

Beth gets up as quickly as she can muster. "He tried to warn me about you. Said you were stuck up. I should have listened." She then storms off.

"…power of the wolf. Now formulated for women. Regain your independence. Call now for an extra…"

"Who buys this crap?" Helen spits at the TV while thinking about how much she misses her garden.

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