Save Me

3.) Oh Carla!

It's Saturday morning and I'm getting ready to go volunteer at the old folks' home. I've been coming here every Saturday for the past three or four months and I love it. There's a certain elderly lady called Mrs. Cooper that I've taken a special liking to. She's a widow and has Alzheimer's so sometimes the nurses find it hard to deal with her but for some reason she always comes around for me. Or Carla, as she calls me. Her eldest daughter is called Carla so I think that's where she gets it from. It's kinda sad though because Carla never comes to visit her and she lives in Minnesota. If she really cared about her mother's wellbeing she would at least call but I haven't heard of her trying to make any contact with her mother.

I grab my phone and keys and leave a note for my mom-she probably won't read it but I should still leave it. On that note, I'm out the door.

When I get to the nursing home, Mr. Diaz is out in the garden playing cards with his friends. I'm pretty close to Mr. Diaz seeing as his grandson Carlos is in my year at school. "Hey Mr. Diaz" I chirp brightly. He smiles a wide and happy grin. "Skylar! What a nice surprise! Come and give your favourite ol' man a kiss." He says cheekily. Did I forget to mention Mr. Diaz was an incurable flirt? I walk over to him and give him a quick peck on the cheek. He gives me a hug and fills me in on all the gossip that has gone on since last Saturday. Mrs. Anderson got a hip replacement, Mr. Smith's daughter moved to England for her work and Mrs. Lee's grandson is up for a musical award at Juilliard. I bid Mr. Diaz goodbye and make my way inside the centre towards the conservatory where I know Mrs. Cooper will be.

She sees me coming through the door and her thoughtful frown turns into a wide grin that stretches from ear to ear.

"Carla! You came to see me!" She rasps with a hoarse throat. "Hey Mrs. Cooper! How've you been?" "I've been just dandy darling! How 'bout you?" I reach over and give her a hug and a peck on the cheek. "I've been good Mrs. C" I smile at her and she starts an animated story about how Mrs. Ashleigh cheated in a game of Go-Fish and now they are sworn enemies (they'll be best friends again by Wednesday). "Carla, darling wheel me out around the gardens." "Mrs. C are you sure you sound a little sick maybe we should stay inside?" I offer. "Live a little." She shrugs carelessly and gestures to the plaid blanket wrapped around her knees. I sigh in disagreement but give in and take her out.

When we get to the bench that was built in honour of Mrs. Maple who passed away last Spring, she puts her frail arm up indicating for me to stop here. We stop and I put the breaks on her wheelchair. I sit on the bench with her opposite me.

"Carla honey?" "Yes Mrs. Copper?" I reply with an amused tone to my voice. "There's something I need to tell you." She says with a grave undertone which is not at all like Mrs. Cooper because she's a delightful little ray of sunshine that never seems to not have a sweet façade and happy aura about her. This is why her tone of voice now worries me. "What's the matter Mrs. Cooper you're starting to worry me." She looks at me and I see a flash of hurt cross her usually hopeful blue eyes. "Well first off, I know I call you Carla but you're not. You're Skylar. Skylar Davidson ain't that right?" I feel horrible and shocked at this revelation and I'm stunned into silence so I let her continue. "I guess I like to call you Carla because I do wish it was my daughter who came to see me every Saturday come rain or shine." "I smile at her and nod to let her finish. "And the second thing I want to tell you is..." She sighs dejectedly and takes off her glasses. "The second thing I wanna tell you is I'm dying. And I want you to help me find Carla-no I need for you to help me find her.