Miller Time

UNITED STATES—This is a story about dogs. I was walking my two dogs on a Saturday evening in Hollywood. I was on my way to Yucca Supermarket and I remembered the teaching of one holy man--such as occasionally inhabit these streets--imparted when I was very new to having a dog. Seeing the tension produced when my chihuahua terrier tugged abruptly...

UNITED STATES—It is a new scene. There is darkness, closed shades. A huge Victorian bed against the wall, and all around there is stuff, dusty boxes, knicknacks, kewpie dolls and tennis rackets. A figure lies in bed--Davy. His left leg is propped under the covers in a leg cast. Mom trundles along on a rubber-socket reinforced cane. "The doctor says you'll...

UNITED STATES—"The silence filtered through charcoal silence. I want to let it all out..." "Well this forced the issue, something like the fall had to happen. And now it's bringing everything out into the open." "Like the fact that you're an embezzler...? Davy glares at her. "Can't you tell when I'm kidding?" "Freud said there are no jokes." "That may be true. Have you ever...

UNITED STATES—"You know I figure I owe mom about twenty thousand dollars over twelve years." "You carry that around?" Karen says. "I do," says Davy. "Somebody told me not to worry. That whenever a mother gives something, they never expect it to be paid back. It was comfort at the time." "You were comforted." "And it was the beginning in Los Angeles, my...

UNITED STATES—"Oh, look! She signed the check!" Davy says. "There's hope," Karen says. Hope that she gets on the anti-anxiety meds and it dissolves her resistance to therapy, and getting out of bed." "She's gotten out of bed already a lot. When you're 90." "You're such an apologist for her," Karen speaks. "You can't touch me with your evil, logical yet hopeful eye,...

UNITED STATES—"Hello, this is the son of Betty Bird, and we'd like Dr. O'Leary to prescribe anti-anxiety medication for our Mom, Betty Bird, here at Wastonville Manor." Davy hangs up his phone with a sigh. "They're out to lunch, I left a message." "Yeah, yeah, I could tell," says Karen. "I can tell when it's your message voice." "The doctor's are out for...

UNITED STATES—"What are you doing?" Davy asks Karen. "Prolonging the inevitable, that's what. "I can take over if you want." "She's getting to the point with Grandma. No more food and Ensure." Willow walks in and addresses Doris in the other bed. "Time for your rehab, darling." She swings her legs over the edge of the bed, she scowls and protests, then raises herself to...

UNITED STATES—Davy stands in the hallway, shoulder blades pressed to the wall. He gasps. "Relax, drink water," he says to himself. This place is hard work, draining, stressful, heart-warming. It's a crouching beast, even when all the lights are off at night, a vortex of love and suffering breathing slowly in a gargantuan ribcage. Slowly, slowly, Davy escapes the quicksand of...

UNITED STATES—Crying, moaning bitching, babbling... they all want to go to that elusive place called home. "Mom, you get brownie points for the steps you took," Karen says. Davy (to his sister): "I'm blown away. Those are the first steps she's taken in over two months. This is gonna help you to get home. And I think your chances just got...

UNITED STATES—There is yet another miracle to follow. After therapy, the mother and her middle-aged children, Karen and Davy are in the door way to room #6. "Get me to my bed, get me to my bed," the mom croaks and gasps. "We're going to get you back to your bed," Willow says. "I know, I know: eventually," the mother mimics the...