Then Mrs. Fisher looked directly at him.
“Did sleeping there make you less important?”
Gabriel’s smile disappeared.
“No.”
“Did sleeping there make you less important?”
“Did giving Ruth the bed mean it became her house?”
He shook his head.
Mrs. Fisher nodded.
“Then help me understand something.”
She waited until Gabriel looked at her.
“Why did Helen have to become less important because your brother wanted a television?”
“Did giving Ruth the bed mean it became her house?”
Gabriel stared toward the old guest room where Aunt Ruth used to sleep.
For once, he had nothing to say.
***
On the drive home, Gabriel stared through the windshield.
Finally he said, “I didn’t think downstairs would be that bad.”
“Because you measured the inconvenience by what it cost you,” I said.
For once, he had nothing to say.
He looked at me.
“Keeping Mom upstairs would’ve cost you a television.”
He waited.
“Putting her downstairs cost her those stairs every time she needed the bathroom.”
Gabriel looked away.
He didn’t defend himself again.
***
Later that evening, his phone buzzed while we were getting Mom settled.
He read the message.
“Putting her downstairs cost her those stairs every time she needed the bathroom.”
His brother.
Same setup tomorrow?
Gabriel looked toward the guest room.
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