A Ford in the River. Charles Rose

She has already been to the psychiatric ward. She has seen Susan in restraints. That hasn’t caused Peggy to change her mind. I tell Peggy we should try to keep Susan at home. Peggy stops shuffling the cards. “I won’t put up with it,” she says. I say nothing. What is there for me to say?

      We play pinochle for another hour; then I drive across town to the hospital. The head nurse says they have rules. Susan has to stay in restraints, but they will take one of the wrist straps off. I can hear Susan yelling and cursing. Usually a nurse at the station will tell me to come back tomorrow. But today I can see my daughter. I can sit with her for as long as for ten minutes. I ask the head nurse for a cigarette from her pack at the nursing station. An orderly unbuckles one wrist strap. I light Susan’s cigarette and watch her smoke. She complains about being in restraints, and I tell her I’ll see what I can do. I tell her I will come back in an hour. I will bring her a cigarette, in an hour.