Читать книгу Love Without a Home - Shari Mong - Страница 21

Kyle was at the restaurant having one of his hamburgers and talking with Mildred. His migraine had subsided. Mildred had given him some painkillers. Mildred was on her lunch break drinking her coffee. She had bought Kyle his lunch and was sitting with him. “Why don’t you go and see a doctor about that migraine Kyle dear?” Mildred was being her kind motherly self to Kyle.

“I would Mildred, but I cannot afford a doctor. I have no insurance. Hell, I cannot even get my disability from the military.” He took a drink of his coffee and finished up the rest of this sandwich. Mildred put her hand on his arm. “I wish there was more I could do Kyle, I could at least pay for the doctor to see you.”

“No Mildred, I will not let you do that.” Kyle said a little too sternly.

“Kyle it will not be a problem. I have some money in a jar I could give you. I have been saving it for a rainy day, and this is one of them.”

Kyle was so touched by Mildred, but knew he could not take the money. She was not making much as a waitress there and many times she had bought him lunch there. She was struggling like the many more out there.

“No really Mildred, I am touched and appreciate it. You have done enough by listening to me and buying me lunch. You have been like a mother to me. And besides, I am sure it is nothing. People get migraines all the time.” Kyle brushed it off with a wave of his hands.

Mildred knew that Kyle had gotten shot in the head while in Afghanistan and knew all about his recovery, his ex-wife leaving him with his best friend, and the fiasco of trying to get the disability. “Tell me Kyle, when did the migraines start and how often?” Mildred asked softly so no one else could hear.

“Well,” Kyle put both hands up to his face. “They started out as headaches over the years. And as time went on, progressed into migraines, you know I got shot in the head over there.”

“Are you sure they removed the entire bullet from your head Kyle?” Mildred asked.

“They said they did.” Kyle never really asked himself that question.

“Do you know for sure Kyle? I mean they could have said they did.” Mildred had a feeling that they didn’t.

“With me not having any health insurance and being able to go to the doctor’s and have tests ran, I am not sure, but they had me at Walter Reed Medical hospital. I was in there for months.” Kyle took another sip of his coffee. “I never questioned it.” Kyle looked over at the door and a couple of more people walked in. Mildred’s eyes were watering and she took Kyle by the hands and squeezed them.

“There’s this woman who works in the office building that I stand in front of. She looks at me as if I am nothing more than a cockroach to be squashed.” Kyle turned back to Mildred. She was looking at him. “Please don’t cry Mildred, I am taking care of myself.”

“You do not deserve this Kyle but I know that sometimes life deals you a bad hand.”

“Yes Mildred and you can take that bad hand and keep it or turn it around.” Kyle remarked.

“Now,” said Mildred, “I have ten minutes left on my lunch break. Tell me about this woman you mentioned.” Kyle told her about how she had sent her assistant down to give him a hundred dollar bill to get him to get off the sidewalk and go to another one.

He told her how he had refused and told her to tell her boss to come down there and talk to him. He said he fought for the right of that sidewalk and he was not moving. He had just as much right as she did to be there. He told her about the clothes she wore; she had a driver, and was beautiful.

When Kyle was done, Mildred said, “People like her Kyle, with their high society ways, their money, and exuberant life also have to deal with life’s hard problems. They may not have it as easy as you think. Not even with all the money in the world can those people cheat death or be free from hardships of life that we all face.” Mildred got up. “Don’t let her get to you Kyle; she is as human as you are.”

“Yeah with a place to live, nice things, she doesn’t have to sleep under a bridge, beg for money, and wonder where her next meal is going to come from or if she is going to have one,” Kyle said angrily.

“Those are just material things Kyle; they are not the most important things in life.” Mildred patted his arm and got back to work. Kyle sat thinking about Mildred’s words.

She was wise. Her parents had lived through the great depression. She had no other family. She never married and yet she always seemed to not let life bring her down. He wishes that he could be more like Mildred. He got up and walked out the door.