Bad, But Real, Good, But Fake

Ann’s new case as a live-in caregiver to Margaret Holmes, an 83-year-old female was a challenge. She recycled caregivers and even her family were at odds with her. The salary was good, too good, so it must have pins, needles, and hidden pain. That prepared Ann for a crisis.

It didn’t take long for Ann to feel the pins and needles sticking into her.

At bedtime, before going upstairs to bed Maggie would go through the house checking all the plugs to make sure her house didn’t catch fire while she slept. Then she would check the doors and windows making sure they were secured against burglars.

The washing machine, the dryer, and everything that was standing were double and triple checked. That was just the first night and for an 83-year-old, that takes forever. Maggie woke up when she felt like it, demanded to eat what she wanted instead of what her family and the doctor ordered. She curses like a drunken sailor if she didn’t get her way.

She stayed up late watching Tv, took her medication when she felt like it. She did what she wanted, whenever she felt like doing it. This routine continued for a month, as family members just breezed through to bring food and medication.

Ann allowed her to be herself without fear.

One morning Maggie woke up on time, tidied, and dressed without Ann’s aid.

Ann said nothing.

She ate a healthy breakfast on time, took her medication on time too. She behaved herself all day. She went straight to bed on time without her nightly routine.

Ann said nothing.

This continued for the next week.

At breakfast the eighth day of her self-improvement, Ann asks, “Ok, what is wrong?”

Maggie stares into Ann’s eyes, smile, and said, “Don’t you like the new me?”

Ann thought about it for a while and said, “I rather someone bad, but real, then someone who is pretending to be good, but is fake.”

“I don’t understand, I thought you would be happy with the new me,” Maggie protests.

“I am, but what about you? Are you happy with the new you?”

Tears slowly roll down from her eyes and she said, “Child, I am a horrible person. I was raised by parents who allowed me to be as bad as I want to be. I wasn’t taught to be good. You never complained or argue about all the things I do. Why not?”

Ann smiles, “You are real, as bad as you are, you are real. I like real, you see when we meet and associate with others, we must give them a chance to be themselves without fear. When you pretend to be someone else, your bad intention will catch me off guard. Knowing the kind of people you are dealing with gives you the power to make the right choice.”

Maggie smiles for the first time in years and said, “Thank you, child, for allowing me to find myself, thus giving me the power to change.”

“Now you are going to be a real problem,” Ann said.

“No, I won’t, you see, my family complains and puts me down daily telling me how horrible I am, so I stay that way because that’s what they expect of me.”

“So, you are changing now because I don’t complain or put you down?”

“By not complaining you are telling me that I am doing something wrong. So, I decided to check myself. I realized that sometimes it’s better to do the right thing than to be yourself.”

Ann smile saying, “Yes, you are still going to be a problem,” hugging Maggie.

When we meet or associate with others, we must allow them to be themselves without fear. Because if they have to pretend to be someone or something else, their bad intention will catch you off guard.

Thank you for reading this piece. I hoped you enjoyed it. Image and story Copyright by Annelise Lords