“Home”

Neal Finus was in a nursing home in Pennsylvania. He had plenty of time to think. he was in his late seventies,short and stocky.He use to have a mop of hair,which was dark brown …… But now he is almost bald.

There isn’t a day that goes by,that he doesn’t think of his wife Ruby. They were married for forty-eight years,and had three children together.  Neal Jr, Nina, and Terri.     Neal Jr, was killed in the service, twenty-five years ago.  Nina travels around the world,with her husband. Her husband’s  job takes him all over the world. She keeps in touch sometime.

Terri and her three children,which are grown now. Lived with Neal and Rudy after she was divorce from her husband.

When Ruby died suddenly , about five years ago. Terri stayed and took care of her father.

Until Terri got tired of taking care of her father.  She suggested  for him to sell his house, and they would move into an apartment. Neal wouldn’t have anything to do with it,because he was staying put.

Terri threaten to leave him by himself. Because she had her own life to live.

The arguing went on for quite a while. Terri didn’t leave,  because she had no place to go.  The money she was getting from working four days a week at the corner store. Wasn’t sufficient to go out on her own.

One day as they were arguing, Neal had a hard-attack. It was pretty bad. He was in the hospital for about a month. He couldn’t go home until someone was their to take care of him.

Neal told his doctor about the crazy arguing with his live-in daughter,about selling his house.

 

Terri called her sister, and told her about their father. Nina said her and her husband are in Alaska.

She didn’t think she could come home any time some.

“Just do what you think is best!” sighed  Nina

Since then Neal was sent to a near-by nursing home.

Terri would come in and take her father in his wheel chair,out in the garden.  Both still fussing over about selling his house.

Neal told her,he refuses to sell the  house.

The visits got less and less with Terri.  Nina and Terri would call him….. ask if he needed anything.

His answer is  always,”I just want to go back home.”

From day to day,Neal sits in his wheelchair,and thinks about the good times…they all had.

“He thought,   “If Rudy was still here,she would take care of me in our house.”