Genny had oversized p.j.’s with yellow smiley faces plastered everywhere and black thongs on her feet, her long brown hair piled loosely on her head held in place with a Spongebob pencil she snatched from Isabell’s nightstand. Ten years ago, a car accident put Genny in the hospital with no recollection of who she was or where she was from. Her only memories consisted of those from attending high school in Dexter. Of course, Genny was the valedictorian, graduating with the highest honors, regalia, and a scholarship to Southeast Missouri State University, home of the SEMO Indians. The accident erased her memories of attending SEMO, graduating from the university with honors, and continuing her education to secure both her master’s degree and then a doctorate in Women’s English Literature. Dr. Perkins taught at the university for thirty years, retiring with a long string of credentials, research papers, and students who admired her ability to make English fun and engaging. Her insurance from the university kept the bills paid at Shady Grove, as did her retirement income. Genny was sitting on a small fortune and had no one except herself to spend it on. So, she shared her wealth with Isabell, the only real friend that she had left.

Isabell started out from their rooms behind Genny. The two women shared a room because Genny disliked being alone. Isabell didn’t like being alone, but she was okay with a roommate, too. Both women entered the hallway, getting in line behind the other residents, Travis, Frank, Mark, and Tony. Isabell looked up long enough to watch Genny slide the pencil into a ball of hair she piled up on her head.

“Hey. Is that my Spongebob pencil?”

Genny yawned, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Oh? Is it Isabell? I’m sorry. I needed something to put my hair up with. Is it okay if I use it until after breakfast?”

Isabell cocked her head to one side, closing her left eye and scrunching up her face. “Um. I guess it’s okay. So you will put it back after Spongebob? And buttermilk pancakes?”

Genny smiled at Isabell. “Are you sure we’re having buttermilk pancakes today?” Genny winked.

“Oh, yes. I’m sure. Ms. Angela said so.”

Travis, behind all the residents, snickered.

“What’s so funny, Travis?”

Nick, Travis’s nurse, smiled at Isabell. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean anything by that, Isabell.” Nick Bramble, twenty-six years old, graduated from the nursing department of Southeast Missouri State University, barely passing his final exams to obtain the nursing certificates he needed to work at Shady Grove. Thankfully for him, the bar was set low for the assisted care facility. Travis liked him better than the others, and he grew to trust the care Nick provided. Not that the relationship between the two was ever easy. Nick frequently put Travis in his place, although not today.

“Oh. Okay,” Isabell replied, running down the hallway into the cafeteria, her arms flailing behind her like wings, head tucked down, half-hunched over. She looked like a 747 at takeoff, but instead of wheels, she had legs.

Genny looked back at Travis, who was still snickering to himself. “Travis, the woman can’t help it. And you? Laughing at her? That’s just not very nice. And, worse? You know it!” Genny didn’t know she was as intelligent as she was, thinking she had graduated from high school in this older woman’s body. Genny’s regular physician was amazed at her brilliance and inability to reconnect to her memories of teaching graduate students and her research papers, which were brilliantly written and noted. He tried his best to show her the papers, but it only confused her more to think that someone was impersonating her. There were no pictures of her, not even at events celebrating her. No pictures. No video evidence. Zero recorded record of her physically being at any of the university-sanctioned events.

Travis sneered at her, doing his best to stick out his tongue. To everyone else, it looked like he was having a bowel movement standing up, including Nick. “Oh, come on, Travis. Seriously? You haven’t eaten anything yet.” Nick sniffed. Not smelling anything, he looked back at the shuffling old man. “Are you pulling my chain, dude?” Nick looked to where Travis was staring, namely right at Genny. Nick rolled his eyes. “Come on, my dude. Enough of sticking your tongue out at the residents.” Travis scowled at Nick. “I don’t want to hear it, Trav. Do you want your coffee today? Or do you want me to get you decaf like Angela will insist on for all of your ‘dietary restrictions?’” Travis’s shoulders slumped over, and he shook his head no. “So we’re all done now?” Travis shook his head yes.

Stumbling Travis stopped walking, doing his best to catch his balance, Nick preventing him from falling over. “You good?” Nick asked. Travis was breathing a bit harder than usual. “Why don’t we take a break for a second?” Travis swatted his hand at Nick, pointing forward. “Okay then. Let’s get at it.” Travis took a deep breath and started shuffling again, the others already in the cafeteria.

Isabell was going back for seconds when Travis hobbled into the dining hall. Angela only allowed her to get two buttermilk pancakes per trip, but she gobbled up pancakes like squirrels stuffing their cheeks with nuts. Sometimes, without thinking about how rude it was to laugh with her mouth full of breakfast foods. Spongebob chased jellyfish with Patrick, so everyone present knew what Isabell was laughing at.

Sitting down at his usual spot, Travis had help from Nick to slide his chair up to the nearest table. Nodding politely, Nick brought him a plate with one pancake, a scoop of scrambled eggs, one piece of bacon, and one sausage. Travis wouldn’t eat all of it, which was okay with Angela. Knowing Travis could eat it if he felt up to it made her feel good. Food waste was calculated into the overhead costs of Shady Grove.

Nick got his own food after he was sure Travis was eating, albeit slowly.