Right There: A Story of Friendship

Chapter Four

The nursing home was literally just a few minutes away. That didn't mean it wasn't awkward. In fact it was one of the most awkward moments of my life. It was only a fifteen minute drive but it felt like an hour. I tried to find things to talk about so I didn't seem weird. I kept reminding myself the guy sitting next to me walks the beach at dawn and writes Bible verses on sea shells. And he gives cards to strangers at a retirement home for crying out loud. I had nothing to worry about.

But this guy was being too quiet. He sat with his arm resting on the window that I had rolled down as it felt so nice outside. I couldn't help but try to break the awkward silence. So I started with the basics.

"So, uh," I began, turning onto Main Street. "How old are you?"

"21 since May," he replied. "You?"

"I'm 20," I said.

Things got quiet again and my stupid mouth decided to open.

"Well, no offense or anything, but I just find it a bit weird a 21 year-old guy likes to scale the beach early in the morning and pass out greeting cards to old people," I said. It wasn't until a few seconds later I wanted to kick myself so hard after realizing how rude all of that must have sounded.

I expected backlash. Instead he just laughed.

"And that's a bad thing?" he asked, looking at me.

"Well, no, just weird," I said straightening myself back up.

"Life is more exciting when you're not like everyone else," he said, looking back out his window.

"I guess so," I said quietly. Not that I believed it. I kind of grew up with the belief that conformity is safety. Being different was how you got bullied when I was younger. After all, no one likes to be on the outside looking in. Right?

When we finally got to the nursing home I breathed a sigh of relief as we both unbuckled. No more trying to entertain. I resolved right then to never try to make small talk with passengers ever again.

"This is it?" I asked him before taking my keys out. It didn't look like a normal nursing home to me. It looked too well-kept.

He nodded and grabbed his messenger bag from the floor board.

"Okay then," I said with a shrug we we both got out. I mentally braced myself for what I was most likely about to walk into here. Sadness, frailty, death. And gross food. Really gross food. The memory of watching my mom spoon feeding my great grandmother mashed up mystery food still sends shivers down my spine to this day.

I followed him to the entrance, carefully looking around. Once he opened the door I shyly hid behind him. I expected the smells of death and stale air to enter my nostrils as we walked inside. Much to my surprise the inside was very bright and clean, with lots of inviting art and decorations covering the walls of the lobby. Not at all like the nursing home I went to as a small child.

We went up to the front desk where the receptionists were answering phones and greeting visitors. Thankfully Matthew did all the talking. One of the ladies behind the desk quickly recognized him. She was an older lady with short red hair and glasses.

"Hey honey," she began as she put a stack of papers to the side. "Already made some new cards I see? And who is your friend?"

Matthew smiled and showed her the stack of cards in his hands.

"This is Riley," he said. I shyly smiled. I looked at the lady's name tag and saw her name was Kathy.

"I worked a little longer on each card to make it more special," he added. "I hope we can give them to people who haven't had visitors this week."