Auntie Annie

Auntie Annie is my 80 something year old great-aunt who lives with us. She has dementia and is the case with most illnesses, some days are better than others. Tonight was not one of her better nights. It ended up with us debating the correct procedure for removing her dentures.

"There's nothing in this box"
"That's because you're supposed to put your teeth in it"
"How can I put my teeth in it when there's nothing in here?"

Following my rule that I can do anything with latex gloves on, I pulled them out of her mouth myself. Next came the pills which she likes to pocket in the space between her cheek and gums. Using my gloved hand once more I reached in to fish out the pill to which she responded by clamping her lips around my finger and sucking on it as I tried to find the pill.

"Auntie Annie, why are you sucking on my finger?"
"What are you asking me for? You're the one that put it in there."

It's times like this when I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.