Mysteries on the Side

	I had been waiting about five minutes when the doors swung open. A woman in an electric wheelchair came through the doors. The only table to take notice was the handmade grannies, but the look out quickly bowed down and the other girls began to circle wagons. Suddenly whatever they were conspiring, it super important and super private. They even scooted their chairs together a little bit. I looked back to the podium, but my food hadn’t arrived.
The whirring wheel chair stopped just to my right, “Well hello there!, I don’t think we’ve met.”
The woman was 5’6 at 230lbs would be my guess. Her right hand was extended out to me, with an inviting smile.
As I shook her hand, she continued. “I’m Patricia Mots.”
“Carla Swit.”
“I’m not always in this contraption. I just had gallbladder surgery a few days ago, I’m not supposed to do a lot of walking.”
“Ahh, I see.” I commented.
“Some pretty good food on the menu today.” she rolled past me and set her paperwork on the podium.
The same young woman came out and smiled at Patricia.
“Hi Kendra, how’s the family?” Patricia asked her before she could turn and walk off.
“Fine. The baby had a fever, Ashon took him to the pediatrician this morning. He should be ok.” Kendra quickly winked at Patricia and went into the kitchen.
“She has five kids.” Patricia’s attention turned back to me. “Ages ten to two months.”
“She looks so young!” I almost whispered.
“Yep, takes real good care of herself, and her husband is a prince. He dotes on her and the entire family. I’ve seen him come up here from time to time just to surprise her with a bouquet of flowers. Oh there’s your food.”
I smiled at Patricia, thanked Kendra and took Mrs. Izato’s meal. When I got to the elevator I didn’t hear anything, I set my ear near the door, but heard nothing. When I arrived on third floor I lingered at the elevator shaft after the doors closed, but heard only silence.
I set up the bed tray, That’s Not My Name was blaring on the tv. Dorthy didn’t even look down at the food. I left her alone with it, and sat in the living room.
After a while she prayed silently over her meal and ate it while watching the game show. I cleared the mess and asked if there was anything I needed to be doing.
“Just leave me alone.” she replied while looking at the television.
At three pm I walked in and told her I would see her tomorrow, to call the office if she needed anything, and I would be locking the door behind me. Mrs. Izato’s eyes never left the screen, she merely waved me away with a simple , “Bye.”
As I was walking through the lobby I heard a loud “EXCUSE ME!”
I turned around and saw a heavy set woman sitting behind the receptionist desk, her name plate read Martha. “You need to sign out!”
“Oh I did that already.” I smiled at her and waved. “I did that when I signed in.”
She looked at the records, then at the clock. She smiled at me and waved, “See you tomorrow, have a good day.”
“You too!” I said as I walked out the doors. In the parking lot, after I unlocked the car door I looked up and around at the surroundings. In the distance I saw a man, about the same height as Mrs. Izato. He was wearing dark pants and a light grey hoodie. He was walking a King Charles Spaniel on a red leash. I didn’t want to think too much about it, I’ll ask Mrs. Izato about the dog.