Memory Makers

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Gym consisted of some light exercises in a small room equipped with exercise bikes and treadmills. Nurse Hanover started me out slow on the treadmill. I was used to exercising each morning to Leslie Sansone walking videos, so I didn’t find the workout exhausting. She smiled at my progress and checked my pulse afterwards, noting it down on her pad. “You’re quite fit,” she said arching her gray eyebrows. “The purpose of exercise each day is to aid the injections. Exercise plays a key role in memory retention.”

I was aware of that. I noticed that the others varied in their fitness. Brian had no trouble running at a fast pace on the treadmill next to me, hardly catching his breath as the roller moved forward rapidly. My new friend Maureen did well on an exercise bike, pedaling as if she was in a bicycle race without breaking a sweat. Virginia, however, had trouble placing her feet in the bicycle loops. Nurse Hanover had to assist her, but Virginia couldn’t figure out what to do. Jake, next to Brian, was also a speed runner on the treadmill. Bill walked at a slow pace on his, holding tight to the handlebars.

After our exercise session was over, Nurse Hanover told us we could go back to the entertainment lounge to watch a movie before Dr. Murray joined us for lunch. She informed us that today’s video was the classic “Wizard of Oz.” After the film, the nurse asked us some questions about it. “Which of the characters in the movie did you most identify with?” Maureen and I both said “Dorothy.” Virginia had no clue. Jake said the Scarecrow because he wanted his brain back. The group laughed at that, but I thought he was serious. Bill said his favorite character was the lion because he had a difficult time drumming up his courage. Brian mentioned the tin man. “I lost my heart to someone last year,” he explained, “and I’d like it back one day.” No one laughed at that, and I wondered who had broken his heart. Nurse Hanover jotted all these replies down in her handy notebook and then announced that lunch would be served in the dining room where we’d had breakfast. She added that there would be music therapy afterwards because music also played a big part in bringing back memories.

As we left the room, Brian sidled up to me. “I hope you’re not upset about what I said earlier. Everyone here is pretty nice except for their eccentricities. It’s not easy being part of this, and even though I’m only a test sample, I can understand the scientific reasons behind these rules.”

I nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t drop out. I didn’t explain why I’m here, but I know we’re not supposed to talk about our personal reasons for being involved.”

He gave me a stare from his hazel eyes that sent a message I couldn’t quite read. “That’s fine, Lauren. I understand.” Then we walked side by side to the dining room.

Although I didn’t see the caterers, the food was already set out. It consisted of a tossed salad in a large wooden bowl that we were asked to pass around the table. The only dressing provided was oil and vinegar in plastic decanters. The sandwiches were heaped in a pile in the middle of the table, but they all seemed to feature two slices of ham and a slice of swiss cheese on a plain deli roll.

I placed one of the sandwiches on the paper plate from the sideboard that earlier had held the cookies but now offered bags of baked chips. The coffee urns and hot water and tea bags were still there. As I took the food and a cup of coffee to the table, Brian joined me with his own sandwich and potato chips. “I hope you like ham and swiss,” he said. “We have it for lunch every day.”

“You’re kidding,” I was surprised.

He smiled. “Nope. The docs believe it it’s important to have consistency.”

Maureen plopped her plate down on my other side. She glanced over at Brian. “Consistency my ass,” she whispered. “They’re trying to save every penny. Dinner isn’t much better. It’s either dry chicken with green beans or some sort of fish that tastes like one of them caught it a week ago.” She made a face.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I hope you’re exaggerating.”

“She isn’t,” Brian said. “It’s worse than hospital food, but at least it’s a free meal.” He bit into his sandwich.

Before I could comment, there was a gagging sound. I turned to see Virginia, her face red, her eyes bulging. Bill, sitting at her side, called over to the nurse. “Nurse Hanover, I think Virginia’s choking.”

Everyone turned to watch as Nurse Hanover rushed over to Virginia and began the Heimlich maneuver. After three thrusts to her mid-section, the old woman expelled a piece of bread.

“Are you alright?” Nurse Hanover asked as the woman gasped in air. “I told you to eat small pieces.”

Suddenly, Dr. Murray appeared from nowhere. “Helen,” he exclaimed in a loud voice, “why didn’t you cut up Virginia’s sandwich? You know she has trouble swallowing.”

The nurse, chastised, lowered her head. “I’m sorry, doctor. I usually do. I forgot today. It won’t happen again.”

“It better not.” He walked over to Virginia. “Can you speak, Virginia?”

She nodded and then replied in a raspy voice, “Yes, Teacher. That boy put the bad bread in my mouth.” She looked over at Bill. “Will you tell the principal?”

Bill said, “I didn’t touch your food, Virginia.”

Dr. Murray sighed. “Don’t worry, Bill. If anyone’s responsible it’s Nurse Hanover.” He glared at her. “But please move to another seat for now.”

Murray took Bill’s seat and ate with us watching while Nurse Hanover cut Virginia’s food into tiny pieces. How the old woman managed to eat after her scare, I had no idea. The rest of our group seemed to have lost their appetites. Bill stood watching from the opposite side of the room. I felt sorry for him but even sorrier for the nurse.