The Meadow 105 As long as Marvin could remember, he and Frannie were the benchwarmers, the people on standby with a helping hand. A sick grandchild. A mortgage payment. Tuition for a special needs school. Whenever their kids needed help, they were backup. But at what point, he wonders, do the roles switch? What happens when the caregivers need caring? First there were the bruises. Then the nosebleeds. His skin is so fragile his arms resemble topographical maps. Of course, he doesn’t trust doctors. Why should he trust doctors? But some things you can’t argue with, and unless you’re an idiot, a fact’s a fact. And the fact is that Marvin’s worried. It seems like he’s always tired. And no one is happy with his blood work. Numbers that ought to be low were rocketing up. And numbers that ought to be high were plummeting. His daughter’s waiting. Though Lisa’s fifty, a little girl stays buried deep inside. Her eyes are wide, her face hopeful. He always kept the answers in his pocket. What’s a father for? Like a magician, he’d pull them one at a time. Now a cloud of sadness swallows him. He looks at Lisa and draws on a smile. “No one has a crystal ball, sweetie. Do I intend to live forever? Absolutely.” But then again...certain restrictions may apply. A year later is the funeral. Though they knew the end was coming, it’s still a shock when it does. It falls on Lisa and her husband Jeff to make arrangements. The logistics are daunting. Fly her brother in from Tanzania. Foot her sister’s transportation from New York. Pick out the casket. Buy a plot. Most difficult are the endless phone calls to friends and relatives, the patient explaining, the sobs, the so sorrys. An entire week from Lisa’s life simply vanishes. For in
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