#3 China Cat (Hello? hello?)

business hours…’ Cora developed the habit of talking to her every night. She knew after Carole left; the lights would go out soon. It got so Carole would leave of her own accord, going out in the hall; Cora didn’t even have to kick her out. Carole read, did word searches, or talked to other ‘hall people,’ as the light was kept on all night. China knew her whole life story, as she told it to the hall people over and over again. Either they were too polite to say anything or they didn’t remember that they heard it the night before. Most likely, they didn’t remember, because they were doped up, and sure weren’t polite. China pretended Carole was talking to her, so what was at first, annoying, became a comfort.

It took Cora three days to reach the cops, and they were going to come and see her in the afternoon. She said, they said they were going to come that day, but they didn’t come until four days later. When they didn’t come on the day they said they would, Cora said it wouldn’t be until after the weekend, and she was right. They didn’t even call her but they did come in the afternoon. There were two of them, but one did all the talking. Cora kept a cubical of curtains all around her and the police officers stepped inside. China listened carefully. ‘…we did a drive by…the car you described is in the driveway…it’s newly registered to a man’s name…’ She interrupted, ‘…that’s my grandson…she had twins…they were both boys…but one had no hand…that’s all she had…one is living in Toronto and one is living with her…that’s him...’ ‘…did you give the car to him M’am…’ Cora answered incredulously. ‘…NO… no way…I just paid fifty thousand cash for that car…’ He was quick to follow up. ‘…well then, are you going to charge him with auto theft…’ Cora thought for a long time before answering. ‘…no…’

That night, when Cora talked to her, she said forlornly, ‘ …Trudy is my Power off Attorney…P.A….she has all the power…I don’t have anybody…what am I going to do…’ She talked into the nurse nagger button like they could hear her. China could always tell when she was doing that because changed her tone to a business-like, demanding one. ‘…I called you several hours ago…I need my diaper changed…’ The night orderly came on schedule, she argued because it was a boy, he told her it was tough, and they all got their diapers changed. The room always smelled like feces and urine, and when they got back from mandatory fresh air, the room was worse. China didn’t know if one, or both, of them had crapped their pants while everyone was gone, or she had just gotten used to it. Either way, it was disgusting; the rooms were old and there was no bathroom. China had been trained to go in a toilet since she was two, so she asked for a bedside pot. They said no and to just go in her pants. It took the better part of three years to prove it was less trouble to clean the pot. Carin and Colleen copied her and each got their own bed pots, but the room still stunk.

Finally, Carolyn spoke up. She hardly ever talked, so everyone listened, even Carole came back. ‘…the P.A. is supposed to act in your favour…’ Cora said she was going to call the cops.

Cora spent the next few days trying to talk to someone at the bank. ‘…no not you…someone else…I can’t understand you…ok…I’ll speak louder…Jennifer knows my case…you…I’m in the hospital…I…I walked here myself…I stayed cause my leg was sore…I can’t walk…hello..hello…I don’t withdraw any money…I don’t need any money…how many withdrawals have there been…how much has been…WHAT…yes…yes…my daughter has the P.I.N….yes…how much is left…my daughter…WHAT….I know…I know…yes…don’t accept that card anymore…I’m not gonna have her anymore…Jennifer…shut that card down…don’t accept any withdrawals unless I come there personally…I won’t…no I will not…’ Then calling the cops took another couple of days.