Izio is a master at identifying chanterelle mushrooms in the wild and has recently deputized Carol to assist with his weekly harvest. As companions do, they have a signal to find each other when they go off separately.
🎶🎶
Last Monday they decided to go a bit farther afield to walk near a private golf course. After parking, they walk and talk about pizza, chanterelles, of course, and the meal they will share later.
Izio stops and stares out.
“Miss Carol! Look at those birch trees! They will be covered with chanterelles!”
“Izio wait!” but it’s too late. He is over the fence and jogging across the fairway towards the cluster of trees.
His speed surprises Carol. Like that unathletic kid in gym class who can outrun all the jocks and who the coaches try to recruit for their sport.They always say “I can teach the sport but I can’t teach speed.”
Izio is 80 by the way.
“He’ll be back in a minute” Carol says to herself.
She stands and stares into the woods for more than a minute. Listening.
🎶🎶
No response.
You should always have a meeting spot in case you split up. Like the car. Which works if you’ve agreed to this and both remember the meeting spot.
Back at her car, a minute passes. Then another. Five more. Then twenty.
Carol gets in and drives along the winding road deeper into the exclusive, member’s only course hoping that there will be someone at the clubhouse to help.
It is silent inside the clubhouse. Stuffy.
“Hello?” she says tentatively.
Carol follows sounds to find Gladys, staring at her computer screen.
“I have a bit of a situation. My …uh… husband and I were out for a walk, and he wandered off.’
Husband – Carol decides is the right choice of word though he’s not – it adds more gravity to the situation.
“I am a bit worried because he has…uh…Alzheimer’s” she says, hoping Gladys doesn’t notice that her fingers are crossed.
“I will let security know to keep an eye out.”
“Ok thank you” Carol says and gives a quick description although it’s not really necessary. He is probably the only one wandering the private golf course carrying a bag of mushrooms.
“Izio. His name is Izio. He’ll probably deny he has Alzheimer’s and he may get agitated. OK, Thank you for your help” Carol says as she turns to leave.
Then Gladys calls out Ma’am…just one more thing. Leave by the service entrance. We have a strict ‘no jeans’ policy.”
A few moments later back at her car Carol hears a rustling sound.
Then 🎶🎶.
“Izio?”
“Miss Carol?”
“Izio! Where did you go?”
“To pick chanterelles. Why didn’t you follow?”
If a picture is worth a thousand words. Carol’s smile at that moment is worth much more.
She doesn’t have to answer that question.
And they are going to enjoy a great meal of Pizza Boscaiola.
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