She’d tried to convince her son to be her friend. But he insisted on reminding her that she was a mother. She despised that reminder and hated him for it.

She suggested, “Why don’t we be friends. Friends do favors for each other.” He asked her what she could possibly do for him. “Listen,” she said. She could listen.

He just stared at her, like when he was five. He’d listened intently as she explained how to light the stove and boil water. But she was too drunk to finish, so he sneaked into the neighbor’s house and stole butter and crackers.

She thought about that and how a fearless caretaker arose from that abuse. How? He went from a five year old thief stealing food to being a Nurse. Why? Now her doctor’s canceling nursing services and starting hospice.

She will miss the old aid, the one who’d buy her whiskey and Pall Malls and come on her days off and stay the night too. She was a true friend. Maybe she could teach this new girl how to be a friend too, as long as he doesn’t get to her first.