The Caregiver
Synopsis:
A crazy man collects women and keeps them drugged while caring for them like invalids. He wants to eventually have one of every race and major image (hair, eyes, etc).
The story explores his pathology. He honestly believes that he is doing well by these women. He does provide excellent care but occasionally he gets drunk and takes some drugs himself. At these times, often precipitated by renewed calls for a return of missing loved ones, he loses the veneer of humanity and abuses them severely. They must be punished for the ingratitude of their families for his efforts. More often than not the girl dies and he must dispose of the body in same way that will give her dignity, return her to her family but not lead back to him. He excuses this by saying that he is a guardian angel sent to help but not enjoy recognition.
Through books and experience Ernie learned about nutrition, exercise, physical therapy and all the other skills needed to care for the bed-ridden. He uses electrodes to stimulate the girl’s muscles and keep them from suffering atrophy.
Sunlight flooded the bedroom as Ernie pulled back a set of heavy gold curtains. He winced slightly as dazzling rays revealed a room too clean for normal homes.
“Hello Susan”, he called merrily and busied himself about his daily chores, neither waiting for an answer nor expecting one.
“I thought we might open the windows today. It is supposed to be the first really perfect day of spring and I didn’t want you to miss it.”
The golden light shone from mirrors, white frilly sheets, spotlessly clean walls of pale champagne and the plastic eyes of dozens of stuffed animals which lay in profusion about the room. He smiled kindly at the young woman lying in her canopied four-poster and chuckled out loud.
“Winter has not been kind to your complexion. Maybe I’ll help you out for a little sun. Being that pale simply cannot be good for you.”
With a practiced efficiency Ernie moved about the room wiping down surfaces for the minute amount of dust that may have collected since yesterday. Nothing was too good for his Susan and someday she would be grateful for everything had had done for her over the years.
He paused at that thought. How long had it been since he became her caregiver, five years?
Ernie leaned toward the bed and looked keenly at Susan’s face. Charlotte had been here before Susan and she definitely left the summer of 2004. He could remember clearly because her family had made such a fuss about who was to take care of her. Didn’t they understand that he was a professional and in her condition she needed far more than anyone else could offer? But they persisted and so Charlotte left just after (insert event from 2004). Susan arrived two weeks later.
Ernie was so thrilled to have a new guest in his home (for this was how he viewed those under his special care).
“Sue, you enjoy being here don’t you? I take care of you alright? I hate to think you would want to leave.”
Susan didn’t answer. She didn’t even twitch. But then, what could one expect of a girl who was in a deep coma and heavily medicated?
Ernie put down the self-doubt by reminding himself that he had been providing this service for 33 years. Even as a child he knew that his calling was to help those who could not help themselves. There was a real pride in how well the ladies in his home were doing.
“Well, that’s enough of that”, he snorted. There was far too much work to do before he could leave on his errands.
Ernie checked the med schedule and saw that he had more than enough (XXXXXX) for another week. Though difficult, he had managed to get everyone on the same set routine which made it far more reliable. No longer might he forget who got what and when. That would be disastrous.
Gently, almost lovingly, he lifted her by the back of the neck and pulled her jaw open. A quick squirt from the metered syringe into her mouth and she would be able to lie back comfortably again.
His aim was off and the stream hit her far back on the uvula. Susan rose straight up in the bed and arched violently, her head jerked up and down but almost instantly relaxed into a model perfect pose. It happened sometimes. He had to get the medicine as far back in her mouth as possible to avoid the chance of her inhaling it by accident. The body did odd things when the mind wasn’t in control and the last thing he wanted was to lose Susan. She had been with him the longest and he’d developed a fierce protective feeling about her.
“You relax now honey. The good dreams will come soon.”
As if in answer the rigidity in her spine passed and she melted back into Ernie’s arm. With all the love and care afforded a newborn babe he settled her back on the pillows and brushed the curly blond hairs from before her eyes.
Though her bed was queen sized and the frame made of solid oak, he easily picked up the end and moved it around so that his guest would enjoy the playful morning sun. He would make sure and not leave her too long. He certainly did not want to let her burn.
“I’ll be back later for your bath and grooming. Now don’t argue, I must see to the others and you can’t have all my attention you know.”
He closed the door silently and slipped the hasp into place.
One after another he visited the ladies who called this place home. Keiko lived next door to Susan. She had the most luxuriant black hair and a very slender frame. Ernie had upped her caloric intake and physical therapy sessions to try and rebuild her muscles but it wasn’t taking effect yet. Frankly, he was worried for her.
Further down the hall was Monica’s room. She was a mess before coming to Ernie’s place. A homeless prostitute and drug addict, Monica weighed over 275 pounds, knew nothing about caring for herself and had a rendezvous with the reaper to keep. He found her at the county hospital in a dingy room where the staff was just waiting for her to die so they could wheel in the next charity case. The over-worked nurses cared so little about her that they looked away as he made arrangements to bring her home. Not everyone could afford first class care he reasoned but at least she deserved some dignity.
Ernie had room for 20 guests here in the mountain-top lodge his grandfather had left him along with a healthy trust fund which made it possible for him to devote his life to helping others. Three of the five rooms downstairs were filled while Maria, Alice and Maria stayed on the second floor. None of them had been with him for very long and though he tried to treat everyone equally, he had not yet formed the kind of emotional bond necessary to give that extra touch of service.
There were times when he felt the slightest twinge of, not resentment really, but kindness-fatigue. Like he had scraped the bottom of his heart and found no more charity to give. It was then that he wondered how different his life might have been if… But that was a fool’s thought and he thrust those unworthy desires from his mind.
“Today is a big day.” he thought brightly, “Rebecca is coming tonight and Antonia next week. I need to clean their rooms again. Everything must bright and cheerful for my guests.”
Ernie ticked off his fingers as he reviewed the shopping list: “Beans, rice, powdered milk, steaks, hamburger, the usual medical supplies and of course I must stop by the pet store. I can’t believe the ropes broke. I’ll have to get some wire cable leashes this time.”
It was such a pain in the neck when the medications wore off and the girls attempted to leave their rooms. Monica had actually snapped her restraints and tried to climb out the window. Luckily he was outside with the tranquilizer gun at the time taking care of those badgers. She just didn’t appreciate all he had done for her. But like Susan, she would learn. They would all learn just how kind and loving a man he was.
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