La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
AT 11:30 P.M. IN SPAIN, 5:30 p.m. in New York, I phoned The Kid Brother hoping to get the scoop on his doctor appointment. His roommate answered. After a brief conversation, he called out, “Hey Lieutenant, it’s Mitchell!” As The Kid Brother came to the phone, I could hear him say: “Hey, I’m the sargeant! You’re the lieutenant,” and then “Hello?”
“Hey, Chuck, I’m calling to see how you’re feeling and how things went with the doctor.”
“I’m feeling OK, I think. A little better. Hey, I got bowling scores for you!”
“Oh, that’s good. But what did the doctor say?”
“I forgot.”
“What did you forget?”
“I was sleeping.”
“Oh, you didn’t go to the doctor?”
“I was sleeping.”
“Were you supposed to go alone?”
“No, I was supposed to go to the office and then go. But, I was sleeping.”
I felt a minor explosion inside my head, but I went on. “No one woke you up?”
“No. I was sleeping.”
“Oh, but you think you’re feeling better?”
“Yeah. I think so. A little.”
He felt well enough to go bowling Saturday. “OK. But if you’re still not feeling well, make sure to go to the office and get another appointment with the doctor. [pause] And get out of bed next time!” And then I wrote down the bowling scores.
Obviously, the idea of “chest pains” made him nervous and avoidance seemed the best course of action. But it concerns me that no one in the office got him out of bed. Maybe I’ll email the manager today. She’ll probably tell me, indignantly, that he didn’t show up for his appointment. I’ll probably tell her he was nervous about the “chest pains” and she needs to remember that, in every evaluation, my brother has tested at the developmental level of a 6-year-old and she therefore can’t expect adult behavior. I’ll try to be nice. Maybe I won’t email afterall.
I’m looking forward to a good long walk. I hope I can get out of my head. Too bad the iPod isn’t charged.
.
A LAS 23:30 EN ESPAÑA, 17:30 h en Nueva York, llamé a The Kid Brother con la esperanza de obtener información sobre su cita con el médico. Respondió su compañero de cuarto. Después de una breve conversación, gritó: “¡Oiga, teniente, es Mitchell!” Cuando El Hermanito llegó al teléfono, pude escucharlo decir: “¡Oye, soy el sargento! Eres el teniente”, y luego “¿Hola?”
“Hola, Chuck, te llamo para ver cómo te sientes y cómo te fue con el médico”.
“Me siento OK, creo. Un poco mejor. ¡Oye, tengo puntajes de bolos para ti!”
“Oh eso es bueno. Pero, ¿qué dijo el médico?”
“Me olvidé.”
“¿Qué olvidaste?”
“Estaba durmiendo.”
“Oh, ¿no fuiste al médico?”
“Estaba durmiendo.”
“¿Se suponía que ibas a ir solo?”
“No, se suponía que debía ir a la oficina y luego irnos. Pero, estaba durmiendo”.
Sentí una pequeña explosión dentro de mi cabeza, pero continué. “¿Nadie te despertó?”
“No. Estaba durmiendo.”
“Oh, ¿pero crees que te sientes mejor?”
“Sí. Creo que sí.”
“OK. Pero si aún no se siente bien, asegúrese de ir a La Oficina y obtener otra cita con el médico. [pausa] ¡Y levántate de la cama la próxima vez!”. Y luego anoté las puntuaciones de los bolos.
Obviamente, la idea de “dolores en el pecho” lo ponía nervioso y evitarlo parecía el mejor curso de acción. Pero me preocupa que nadie en la oficina lo haya sacado de la cama. Tal vez le envíe un correo electrónico al gerente hoy. Probablemente me dirá, indignada, que él no se presentó a su cita. Probablemente le diré que estaba nervioso por los “dolores en el pecho” y ella necesita recordar que en cada evaluación, mi hermano ha probado al nivel de desarrollo de un niño de 6 años y, por lo tanto, no puede esperar un comportamiento adulto. Trataré de ser amable. Tal vez, después de todo, no envíe un correo electrónico.
Estoy deseando dar un buen paseo. Espero poder salir de mi cabeza. Lástima que el iPod no está cargado.
• Sí, esa jarra parece del tamaño adecuado para mí. Creo que él ha tenido suficiente.
Oh boy. I’m glad you got to talk to him, but sorry you didn’t get a more reassuring result. No wonder you had to go for a walk! (Wanted to, I know, but neeeeeded to.)
JudybC:
He was in a great mood last night, but said he feels “a little better.” I think he’s being a drama queen. I’m going to the gym today and not thinking about him… for 5 minutes!
“Ill try to be nice. Maybe I won’t email afterall.”
Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! I do hope he’s alright. By the talk it sounded like he’s back to his usual shenanigans.
Mistress Borghese:
Oh, yeah. I think he’ll be OK. Apparently, The Office hasn’t even followed up with him. Cripes!
Breath in, breath out. I have been going through a bunch of survey responses from people in human services, 1/3 of them shouldn’t be. And human services is an area that has a very hard hiring.
David Godfrey:
The current manager was the office assistant 6 years ago. And a seriously bad one. She’s in the position I think because they had no one else. And I would expect she has no plans to move on.
I do hope you can get your brother to a doctor soon and find out what’s really going on. Sounds like gall bladder glitches, but the sooner Chuck gets a check-up, the better! Too bad the staff at your brother’s apartment block aren’t as on top of things as they should be. Hopefully, the omicron/covid surge will be over in a few weeks and you’ll be able to fly over for a visit!
Tundra Bunny:
For all I know he could have eaten something that didn’t agree with him. He seems to be doing better now. My plan is to be there in April.
He sounds good, but I’d have a chat with that woman, nice or not!
Bob:
I’ll give you her number. It’s like arguing with a table.
Ugh. So hard to be so far away and unable to get a clear answer (or decent help) for KB. Hope you can get some clarity soon, but completely understand why you are holding off from writing the #^%*^ yet. When I want to say something particular vitriolic but know I need to temper it, I write a truly horrible, aggressive, expletive filled letter to the person—but don’t send it. Just use it to get rid of my spleen–so to speak.
Hoping KB is okay and you can get some answers–soon.
Mary:
I’ve been known at times to write what I really want to say before writing a more suitable version. SG does that all the time. Very satisfying.
Keep on smiling, Mitchell. Like those two delightfully mischievous boys in the final photo!
Debra:
That was in the basement of my aunt and uncle’s house. We thought that bar was the coolest thing in the world. My mother thought it was tacky (it wasn’t her side of the family).
This really moved me
John:
I love logging my conversations with The Kid Brother. I shortened this a bit. The questions dragged on.
Fingers crossed.
Deedles:
I think he’s fine!
Oh for Pete’s sake. They couldn’t get him out of bed?
Steve:
I spoke with him again Tuesday night, asked him if they wanted to make another appointment with the doctor, and he told me he hadn’t heard from anyone all day. So, someone told him he’s having chest pains and then no one checks in on him when he doesn’t show up 5 days later for his appointment. So reassuring. But, although the manager IS a huge disappointment, when KB is the one feeding me the information, there could be a lot more to the story.
That must be hard being so far away and having to deal with this stuff. It is good that you are coming home in April.
mcpersonalspace54:
It can be challenging at this distance. But it’s better in many ways. It ensures his independence from me for his daily living. And it allows me to have a good, independent life myself. I’m really looking forward to seeing him in April. Wish I were looking forward to travel to the States!
April isn’t really that far off! Are you dreading the trip because of Covid?
mcpersonalspace54:
Yes, entirely because of Covid. I’ll get over myself.
I don’t blame you for the worry. I go into school everyday with a wonder in my mind if this will be the day I get Covid. Hopefully by April, things will be better.
mcpersonalspace54:
I hope so, too. But no matter. I’ll be careful and will enjoy the trip.