Weekends are for my brother. I try to see him on Saturdays, but sometimes it’s Sunday. He doesn’t know one day from the next, so I don’t guess it matters. They limit his time with the other patients. I wish they wouldn’t. Even if he doesn’t talk, he might like listening.
My brother thinks my weeks don’t have weekends. Just a string of days that are all the same. He’s wrong. I have weekends, but weekends aren’t the problem. Wednesday is the problem. I can’t figure that day out.
Monday One-day. Tuesday Two-day. Thursday Three-day. Friday Four-day.
These days come round when they’re supposed to. But Wednesday, I never know when it’s going to be Wednesday.
If blame belongs anywhere, it belongs on the bird. We were walking the back pasture, killing time before breakfast. And this crow was carrying on. We didn’t pay him much mind because crows were always carrying on, but this one dove down and damn-near landed on my brother’s head. Wings flapping, squawking like the end of the world. Shook us up pretty bad. I got over it. But not my brother. He’s still not over it.
He walks in and rambles on for an hour, talks about work and his wife. It’s like a sermon, and I’m the only one in church. He thinks I’m listening but I’m not. I’m looking for Wednesday.
After that, he hardly left the house. Quit talking, too. At least during the day. But come nighttime, he wouldn’t shut up. Dreaming out loud, I called it. Nonsense, mostly, like he was looking for something. Not long after that, he went to the asylum. We hoped he’d get better, but if anything, he’s worse.
Nights were easier. No one there but my brother and he could sleep through anything. All the words I couldn’t say, they’d come out at night. They made sense. I had time to think. I can’t think when someone’s waiting for me to say something. That’s why I like it here, no one expects me to say anything.
If I’d just looked up in time, I could’ve done something, gone to yelling. But it happened so fast. I guess in some ways, that bird landed on my head, too. And like my brother, I’m not over it, either.
Guilt, that’s why he keeps coming back. He feels guilty. But it wasn’t his fault. And it wasn’t the bird’s fault. That bird was the best thing that could’ve happened. It gave everyone something to blame. Answered their questions. People need answers, even if they’re the wrong answers.
The weeks pass faster now. Another Saturday, another trip to the asylum.
“He’s in his room, you know the way.”
Monday One-day. Tuesday Two-day. Thursday Three-day. Friday Four-day.
“Your brother’s here, he’s come to visit.”
On Wednesday? I never know when it’s going to be Wednesday.
Image: A crow on a branch with his back to the camera. Blue sky, dark tree, black bird. From pixabay.com
literally stories 
Clever construction here but very easy to read. I would have said something about life changing in an instant and all that – referring to the bird incident but then that’s not what it’s all about is it. A piece that makes you think. thanks – dd
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Hi Diane,
Kind words, and much appreciated. Thanks for the read and comment.
Fos.
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Hi Foster,
Well this was weird and I enjoyed it thoroughly!
I loved the idea of the line, ‘I don’t blame the bird but the bird gives them something to blame.’
So my thinking is, he was close to boiling point anyways and instead of his family looking at his life and what he was coping with or stressing over, it was easy for them to blame the bird.
A thought provoking piece of story telling!
All the very best.
Hugh
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Hi Hugh,
I love your take on this! I think that just might be what’s going on.
Fos.
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Foster
The tone of the MC’s words tell of inner turmoil. He is the eye of his only hurricane. Exceedingly well done.
Leila
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So glad you liked this one, Leila. And thank you!
Fos.
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Remarkable insight into the mind of a long-stay patient and the helplessness of his long-time visitor. Deeply touching, thank you. mick
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Hi Mick,
So glad you liked this one, thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
Fos.
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A strangely compelling piece that adeptly used its odd structure to draw the reader in and then left us wondering … A great story for the mid-week moment!
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Hi Steven,
Thanks for commenting on the structure, I’ve never done anything like this before and wasn’t sure if it worked.
Fos.
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Foster,
How much sanity depends on who is telling the story. Sometimes you get that effect when talking to someone with another political point-or-view or when dealing with the effects of love. I enjoyed how one brother was so perplexed by the notion of Wednesday. Why not? I’m not exactly comfortable with it myself. A terrific read! — Gerry
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Hi Gerry,
Thanks for reading this one, and thanks for the comment. The notion of Wednesday, I like that.
Fos.
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”People need answers even if they’re the wrong answers.” An excellent line in an excellent story. That damn crow has seemingly ruined one life and partially another.
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Hi David,
Thanks for the read and the comment, appreciate both.
Fos.
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