The Dropping-Off Place

by Aubrey Kosa

 Around ten o’clock, she can be found in the main day room, tucked in an alcove to the right of the entrance or perhaps in the second day room, surrounded by her crocheting group as they work diligently to put together a display for the talent show. Later, she might be found back in the first day room, playing a round of afternoon BINGO or tucked back in the alcove, enjoying the bustle of the center:

 

This is the dropping off place. Ain’t nowhere else for us to go… They can’t leave us at home because we’re gonna get in trouble. We’re gonna get up, fall down, some of us are gonna try to cook… you know, we’re like children, devilish little children. That’s what I say. You just don’t think. But you know, I enjoy it, sitting out here with these girls, the ladies here doing different things. It’s real nice. So this is a god-given program to us old people, those who can’t take care of themselves.

 

Mrs. Sturgeon lives with her only daughter, Zina:

I call her the sergeant. I say, here comes my sergeant. She says, mama you have to get up now. And on the tenth of July, we’re going to an international convention down in North Carolina for our religion. And so I told her, just to put me back in the nursing home for that and that way she can just go ahead and she said no. She wants me to go too. Because, you know, I need the encouragement as much as she does.