Room 3 Madrone

Madrone didn't know where he was. He was praying.

He was a small man who was neatly dressed and clean. He wore a cap with 'U.S. Navy' embroidered across the bill.

He wondered from room to room and down the hallways. He wasn't sure where his room was and when someone showed him, he wouldn't go in his room, except in the middle of the night. And then he would not sleep in his bed, he would sleep in his soft recliner and he would not remove his clothes but would sleep with his clothes on and his shoes. After several weeks he began to recognize his new friends and the caregivers that had been taking care of him. He started to crack jokes and smile and demand more milk-always more milk.

©2009 Wendy Martin