Terry and his Wife's Story About Alzheimer's Disease

While the women chatter about baking and their Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines adventures, John takes a quick tour of the house. The kitchen sink is full of dirty pots and pans with food burned on their insides. The refrigerator is empty, the laundry hamper full. He makes quick mental notes before moving into the garage. The lights are on and a basket of mildewing clothes sits on top of the dryer. John gazes at the neatly-arranged workbench and the racks of woodcarving tools covered with twenty years of dust. If only Pop had lasted longer, he thinks, they would have enjoyed this time.

John rejoins the ladies. Bonnie has made tea.
Emma crosses her stockinged legs and nervously tugs at a single huge earring.
“So, do you want to watch television?” She eyes them suspiciously. “I can only get one station.”
Emma picks up the remote control and clicks on the huge set that’s showing KTLA News. “See, this contraption doesn’t work.” She repeatedly pushes the remote’s VCR button, trying to change channels.
“It’s okay, Mom. We watch Channel 5 all the time.”

A reporter stands on the sidewalk outside a 1930’s-style California bungalow. The camera pans to the house’s gable roof where angry orange flames roar through a gaping hole. The woman talks into a silver microphone.
“…source of the fire is still under investigation by El Monte officials. But we’ve been told the likely cause is a gas leak and explosion. Luckily, no one was home at the time. The blast scattered burning shingles into neighboring yards. One house caught fire but the flames were quickly extinguished.”
“Those poor people,” Emma says, her lips trembling. “What are they going to do? Their home is a mess and December rains are comin.’”
“Mom, they’ll be okay. But when was the last time you had your lines checked?”
“I don’t know. I think Jack had the gas company out last year, or maybe it was the year before.”
“We’ve got to get them inspected,” John says, his voice soft but firm.
“Oh dear, that’ll be such a bother. I’ll have to clean the house and set out something nice, and…”
“Don’t worry, Mom. Bonnie and I will take care of everything.”
Bonnie looks angrily at John. Then her face softens and she flashes a knowing smile.
Emma stares at the TV and the rapid-fire exposé of Southland crime. Her whole body quivers. But the news ends, a favorite soap opera comes on, and she gets lost in The Young and the Restless.

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