The Epidemic

I watched a NOVA program highlighting the Alzheimer's disease. It reminded me of a dream where I had Alzheimer's myself...very scary and vulnerable. I wrote this short story, which was the essence of my dream. Science has found a gene responsible and are creating drugs to conquer the effects. But it is a slow process to find a cure. Meanwhile, people may forget, but they should not be forgotten.

            Trudy sat on the park bench reading a pamphlet about local attractions. She looked up from reading...a pain flew through her body. Wait a minute. Where am I? She tucked the pamphlet back into her purse. She examined a group of people across the green-space. I came here with my son, but I don’t see him. Those people seem familiar but I don’t want to embarrass myself by not knowing their names.

            The appropriate thing to do was go back to her son’s car to wait for him. She stood up and walked toward the parking garage. As she entered the parking garage she stopped abruptly.

            What level was the car on?

            She started up the second level and then turned around to peek across the hoods of the vehicles. Where is the car? A flash of fear took hold of her. What kind of car did I come in? She watched a man put luggage in his trunk, and stood still as others made their way to their car. But she had no idea where she should go. She took a deep breath and pressed her hand to her chest. I’ll go back to the party. Someone will know where my son is.

            Trudy left the garage and walked quickly across the street to the restaurant where she had just been awhile earlier. She entered and went to the back where several cliques of people still gathered. She moved to the back hoping someone would stop her to chat. When she got to the rear of the room and no one had made the effort to speak to her - panic began to set in. She turned around and scanned the room for someone familiar.

            I don’t recognize anyone here. I…must get back to my son.

            Trudy exited the restaurant and stood at the curb. She glanced up and down the street. What if he doesn’t show? How will I get home? She rifled through her purse to find her drivers license.

            “Oh, here it is. Of course! 1375 16^th St. I’m so silly. How could I forget where I have lived for decades?” She put the license back into her purse and scanned the area nervously.

            A man in a suit in his forties came close. “Hello. Are you alright? Did you lose something?”

            Trudy put on a brave face. “Oh hello. No, I am just fine. I am waiting for my son.”

             “Okay. Just had to ask.” The man smiled and turned to leave.

            She kept her eyes on him for a moment and felt the pit in her stomach well up.

***

            Back in the restaurant, Penny, a young waitress was serving coffee to a few locals. She looked out through the picture window for the fifth time in an hour. Finally, she paused and starred at the older woman.

            “What’s up Pen?” said a local guy named Big Bob.

            “That lady by the curb has been standing alone for over an hour.”

            Big Bob brushed crumbs off his large belly and looked over his shoulder. “Yeah, she’s probably waiting to be picked up…or she’s lost.

            Penny held the coffee pot in the air. “Something is not right.”

            “Female intuition?” he asked.

            “Yeah, something like that.” She spilled a little coffee on the table, then quickly wiped it up. “I’ll be back in a minute, guys.”

            Penny took her break and walked outside over to the woman. “Are you waiting for someone, Ma’am?”

            Trudy turned around. “Yes, sweetie. My son.”

            “Oh. I ask, because I work in the restaurant and noticed you’ve been here awhile.”

            Trudy gazed out into the street, then back at Penney. “I hope he hasn’t been in an accident?”

            “I’m sure he’s just delayed. I’m Penny." she said, reaching out a hand.

            Trudy looked around, then shook Penny’s hand.

            “What’s your name, Ma’am?”

            “I’m Trudy. Trudy Diefenbaker.”

            “Nice to meet you, Trudy. It’s a little chilly out here. You can take a seat by the window in the restaurant and wait for him there?”

            Trudy nodded. “I’m sure that would be okay.”

            Penny escorted Trudy to a booth with a good view of the curb, then went to the bar to get a fresh pot of coffee. The owner walked out from the back, wiping his apron. He was a large man, with a large paunch and a puzzled frown.

            “So what’s up, Pen?”

            “This is the third person this week who seems to be lost. I don’t get it. Is something in the water?”

            “There may be some truth to that. My sister is a social worker and works downtown at the police station. She said the police have picked up about a dozen people who were sleeping on the park benches.”

            Penny stared at him blankly. “What’s so odd about that? Transients are all over the place downtown.”

            “Yeah, but these people weren’t homeless. They were respectable citizens. She told me all of them forgot who they were with and where they should go. One guy is only in his mid forties. The police were chocking it up to early onset Alzheimer’s. ”

            Penny nodded. “Well that makes sense.”

            “It would, except for one thing. I went to a class reunion with that same guy the other week and talked to him. He sounded as clear as a bell.”

            “Could Alzheimer’s creep up on you that fast?”

            He shrugged. “I don’t know. But it sounds pretty fishy to me.”

            Penny took out the fresh pot from the coffee maker. “That woman is waiting for her son. She may not have a memory problem at all - just a little lost. But if he doesn’t return, what should we do with her?”

            “Call social services I guess. Let’s give her some time first.”

            “That’s what I was thinking.” Penny took the coffee to Trudy, who was staring out at the crowd. “Still hasn’t showed up yet?”

            Trudy looked up and smiled politely. “No, he hasn’t. I’m sure he will be here soon.”

            “Yeah. He was probably just delayed. So what’s your son’s name?”

            Trudy drew a blank then started to recall. “It’s B…Bobby. Yes, Bobby.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I never have a problem with names. You’re name is Penny and I just met you.”

            “Oh don’t worry about it. It happens to the best of us.”

            Trudy sighed. “I suppose so.”

            Penny patted Trudy’s hand. “How about if Bobby doesn’t show up, we take you to the police station?”

            Trudy pulled her hand away. “Why? I haven’t done anything.”

            “No, no. I just meant that he may be detained or even hurt. This way you could be available if they need you to be with him. Who knows, he may be at the station asking the police to find you.”

            “Those are good reasons to leave, but I would rather just stay here thank you.”

            Penny smiled sweetly. “Okay, Trudy. I’ll be available if you need me.”

            Trudy returned the smile, then looked out the window, up to the curb, at endless flow strangers.
            Penny also looked out the window. Who and how many more would be next?



In the NOVA episode, they discovered the largest family to have contracted the disease in Columbia. Almost 50% of the people in the family had a gene traced back to one man, a conquistador from Spain. Needless to say, scientists are testing these new drugs on this family to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's from devastating the surviving members.