"I know how to make it work. I just need a little help."

"That's okay. I'll help you," said Macy.

"I just need to wash my things." She pointed to her teeth. "These things." She looked in the mirror. "These little white things in my mouth. I just don't remember how to do it. I think my breakfast made me a little sick. Tell Had...whatever that man's name is-he cooks our food. You know. Tell him he made me sick and now I can't think right."

"Mother?" said Elmo.

Mallie Mae turned and was surprised to see him standing there.

"What are you doing in here? Get out of my room and just leave me alone."

"But, Mother, you seem to be having a problem. I just want to help."

"Get out! Now!"

Elmo walked out of the bedroom and shut the door. He stood in the hallway, stunned. He was about to go back downstairs when Macy came out.

"See what I mean?"

"Yeah. She's in bad shape. I had no idea. Has she ever acted like this before?"

"Well..."

"You mean she's been like this for a while and you didn't tell me?"

"I'm sorry. But she swore me to secrecy."

"When did it start?"

"She started having some memory problems a couple of years ago. But I thought it was just old age."

"You should have told me, Macy."

"I know. But it wasn't that bad at first. It's gotten a lot worse in the past few months."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me."

"I'm sorry. Do you think it's Alzheimer's? She's only 75."

"It could be. Most people don't get until their mid-eighties. But sometimes it happens a lot sooner."

"I hope that's not what it is."

"It could be something else. Like a reaction to medication. What is she taking?"

"Just her blood pressure medicine. And sometimes a pain pill."

"Or it could be a nutritional deficiency. How's her appet.i.te?"

"Pretty good."

"And sometimes people have these symptoms after a stroke."

"Oh, I think I would know if she had a stroke. Wouldn't I?"

"Probably-considering how much time you spend with her."

"So, what do we do?"

"I'll send her to the hospital for testing."

"Oh, I don't think she'd like that. She's embarra.s.sed. She'd rather die than have everybody in town hear about this."

"Okay. I'll send her to a good friend of mine in Dallas. He specializes in geriatrics."

"So, he'll be able to find out what's wrong with her?"

"Yes. He's an excellent diagnostician. I'll give him a call and set it up for tomorrow."

"Do you want me to drive her over there?"

"No. I'll call the limo service. You just go along and take care of her."

"Good. I will."

Elmo went downstairs to his study. Macy went back into Mallie Mae's room.

"He's going to send you to a geriatric doctor for tests."

"I don't want to go to Coreyville or Longview. People know me there."

"No. This doctor is in Dallas."

"Good. And you're going with me, right?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Elmo called his old friend, Dr. John Fransein in Dallas.

"Hey, Johnny. This is Elmo Mobley."

"Well, you didn't have to give your last name." Johnny laughed. "How many Elmo's do you think I know?"

"Not that many, I guess. But it's been a long time."

"It sure has. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. But I'm afraid my mother has a problem."

"What kind of problem?"

"She may have Alzheimer's."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that."

"But it could be something else. I hate to ask such a big favor, but could you run some tests on her?"

"Of course. I'd be happy to."

"Tomorrow?"

"Uh...yeah, sure. I can work her in. How about 2:00 PM?"

"That would be great, Johnny. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. She'll be coming with her personal aide. Her name is Macy."

"Okay. But you know that all I can do is rule out other things, right? There's still no definitive test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. But we get it right about ninety percent of the time. Unfortunately, there is no cure."

"But there are medicines that can help."

"Yes. There are things we can do to try to slow down the process. We just can't stop it. What are her symptoms?"

"All I can tell you is that this morning she was trying to figure out how to brush her teeth with a hairbrush. She knew she was doing something wrong, but she didn't know what."

"Yeah, that's typical for someone with Alzheimer's."

"That's what I thought."

"But we'll see. I'll do my best to find out what's going on with her, Elmo."

"I know you will."

"And we should get together sometime. Be sure to give me a call the next time you're in Dallas."

"I will. And thanks again, Johnny."

Chapter6.

"Mom decided to take me up on my offer," said Cynthia as she walked into the living room.

"She's moving in with you?" Greg had figured this was coming, but he didn't think it would be this soon. It was Sunday night. Cynthia had just asked her mom the day before.

"Yeah. And she said she'd be ready to move next weekend. I'll go over two or three nights this week and help her pack."

"I'll go with you."

"Great. Thanks."

"She said she would line up a truck. Would you mind driving it?"

"No problem."

"You're wonderful." She leaned over and gave him quick kiss.

He wanted it to be longer, but that could wait until later.

"I'll make us some popcorn." She walked into the kitchen.

"Okay, Baby. I'll get the movie ready."

Greg's cell phone rang.

"h.e.l.lo?"

"I'm glad you didn't change your phone number."

Greg wished he had. It was his ex-wife. He had not spoken to her since right after the divorce. And they had been divorced for over five years. Before that, he had been a full-time minister of music. Her cheating and the subsequent divorce had put an end to that job. Fortunately, they never had children.

"Why are you calling me, Susan?"

"Just wanted to see how you were doing. And I had a dream about you the other night. It was crazy. We were in bed together and-"

"-I don't want to hear about it. And I'm busy right now. If you really need to talk, I'll call you tomorrow."

"You're with your girlfriend, aren't you? That cute redheaded banker?"

"How did you-"

"-I've got friends. They tell me things."

He didn't know his ex had any friends in town. He had moved from Longview to Coreyville to get away from her and her backstabbing friends. It was hard to believe that many of them had once been hisfriends too.

Cynthia walked into the living room with the giant bowl of popcorn.

"Whatever. Look I've gotta go," said Greg.

"She's right there, isn't she? Are y'all in bed? Is she on top of you?"

"Goodbye!"

"Your ex?" said Cynthia.