The Miseducation of Riley Pranger

Chapter 2

"Riley. How are you, son?"

"I'm fine." His voice sounded like there was a wet fish shoved down his throat and he cleared it realizing that these were the first words that he had spoken all day.

"That's good," she continued while staring into his eyes the way only well-meaning older women like teachers and pastor wives did. "How's your grandmother?"

As ornery as ever, he wanted to say. "She has some good days…but mostly bad."

The middle-aged woman's slightly pudgy faced took on a look of concern. "When we tried to visit a few weeks back she had no idea who we were…" Riley could tell that it bothered her. He wanted to tell her that it was okay and not to take it personally because sometimes she didn't know who he was and that was one damned shame since he was the only one that mattered anymore.

He didn't say anything and the pastor's wife gave his shoulder a brief pat.

"Well you wish her well for us and take care of yourself, Riley."

"Yes ma'am. I will," he said with a brief nod and then he headed out the door being sure not to make eye contact so that he wouldn't have to speak to anyone else.

~*~

A few minutes later Riley parked in the lot of LovingCare Elder Facility located in Irving, a short distance from Cobb Hill. He didn't like that granny lived here instead of on the Hill but she needed constant care and it was something that he could no longer handle alone. His brother and sister were certainly no help. They'd moved out of Estill County their first opportunity. Come to think of it, so had he—only circumstances had forced his return. His mood threatened to darken—not that anyone could tell. His quiet nature had already marked him as moody; a typical Pranger, someone that you crossed the street to avoid.

He went inside and signed in as a visitor, a formality since everyone knew him and knew to expect him each and every Sunday. The woman at the front desk didn't bother to greet him. She had been told long ago that she shouldn't speak to the tall white man with the long beard. He was only in his twenties but he had cold, dead eyes.

Riley went straight to the recreation room where many of the residents spent their days. If the weather was nice they would be out on the front porch in wheelchairs but it was too hot for that even though it was just the beginning of June. He wasn't looking forward to what July would have in store for them, especially working at Bodie's Garage where it was either too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer.

Riley spotted his grandmother's wheelchair in front of the large screen television where some travel show was playing. His heart sank when he saw that she wasn't looking at it but staring at her hands, which were clasped in her lap.

"Granny," he said softly while kneeling beside her. Her head lifted slowly and she looked at him. He offered her a tentative smile. "Hi. How are you today?"

"Who are you?" she asked after a few moments of staring at him.

He swallowed. I am the grandson that you took to church every Sunday of my life. I am the boy that lived with you along with my mama, daddy, brother and sister in a house built by your husband's very own hands. I am the person that stayed with you when everyone else was gone.

And I am the person that brought you here when I couldn't take care of you anymore.

"I'm Riley, granny." He stared into her rheumy eyes hoping to see a spark of recognition.

"Riley…" Spoke the little old lady who barely remembered that her name was Jewel. She'd once had sparkling green eyes set in a heart shaped face with skin the color of smooth cream. Her long auburn hair had once been the envy of many women. And she'd been sassy and wild… and now she wasn't. Dementia had turned her into someone unrecognizable both physically and mentally.

Jewel reached out one knobby, wrinkled hand to touch his long beard. He was twenty-seven and having a beard so long that it reached his collar bone was at odds to the young man that he had once been; athletic, ruggedly handsome and outgoing. But that was then and this was now.

Jewel touched his beard tentatively and Riley covered her hand lovingly with his own hand.

"I don't know who I am," she said in a small, lost voice that shook with age.

His eyes stung. "You're Jewel Marlene Pranger. You're my grandmother." And I love you granny. I love you.

She didn't seem to understand the words that he spoke.

It didn't do him any good to stay too much longer. She wouldn't remember his visit--but he would. He'd dream about this tonight and maybe over the next few nights. He kissed her on the top of her head when she once again focused on her folded hands.

He saw a nurse watching him sympathetically. The older black woman came to him. He'd seen her before, of course. He knew most of the staff even if he didn't talk to them at length beyond asking after his granny's appetite and health.

"She's having a bad spell today," the nurse spoke.

No s**t, he thought. But this wasn't the nurse's fault. "How long has she been like this?" he asked.

"Almost all day."

Riley ran his hand through his short hair. Despite the beard he kept the hair on top of his head short. He was big, taller than a lot of men and still well-muscled even though it had been six years since the last time he'd picked up a football.

"Alright," he said after a time and then he walked away.

When he got home that evening the house was filled with the succulent aroma of pot roast and gravy. The potatoes and carrots were cooked perfectly but he no longer had an appetite. Still, he took himself up a plate of food and then sat down at the dining room table that was more accustomed to being surrounded by a family of eight than just one lone person.