“It’s almost her bedtime,” Walter said to me.  “She likes a glass of milk–would you mind getting it for her?”

I found a glass and the milk, poured some, and set it on the table in front of Evelyn.  She was not pleased.  She began pointing at the glass and making guttural noises.  Then she pushed on the glass and I grabbed it before it spilled.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“Did you bring the Equal?” Walter inquired.

“The what?”

“Equal.  She likes to decorate her food with it.  It’s in the kitchen on the counter.”

I quickly found the huge box of Equal packets, and retrieved two of them for her.  Delighted now, she grabbed them both and ripped them open.  She proceeded to empty the Equal into her milk, scattering much of it on the table.  Then she picked up the glass with both hands and began drinking.

When she was finished, I took her glass into the kitchen.  I heard Walter say “It’s your bedtime now.  I know you’re tired.  Why don’t you get ready for bed?”

“I’ll go with her,” I announced, returning to the dining room.  “I need to learn the ropes so I can manage while you’re gone.”

“Come on,” I said to Evelyn, “let’s go in your room and find your night clothes.”

“They should be in a drawer,” Walter said, “And there’s Ambien on the dresser.  She needs to take one of those.”

I headed for the bedroom, but Evelyn didn’t budge.  I went back and tried to help her up.  She pulled away from me, grunting angrily.

At a loss for how to handle her, I went to the bedroom and came back with her Ambien and some water.  “Take this,” I said, handing it to her. “Then I’ll show you a picture of my grandbaby.”