Cold Shower
Squatting naked in the tub, he turns on the tap. Cold water comes out. He tries the
other tap. Cold water too. Hunh.
His sister lives in a crowded New York apartment without any hot
water. He decides not to embarrass her by complaining about it. He
turns on the water full blast and braces himself.
It’s a tingly fresh feeling, not as bad as he
expected. Almost like swimming in a river in August, like the time he
jumped into Skeleton Lake with all his clothes on, and the sleepaway campers
watched and cheered him on.
Don't forget to wash your hair. He finds the shampoo,
pours a dollop the size of a quarter, rubs it in vigorously, and rinses his
hair. Three times, just like she always
says. Just the way they used to take showers together, when they were
kids, and she was in charge of supervising his shower. Always watching
him, always correcting the way he did things, even when he was doing it right.
Now he’s grown up. He doesn't need any supervisor; he knows how to do it all by himself. People look down on him sometimes. They think he can’t do anything because he has Down syndrome, but they don’t know him. He is a seasoned world traveler who can take showers anywhere, in unfamiliar bathrooms, even with cold water. He has showered in Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan, Calgary, Hong Kong, and now New York City.
Now he’s grown up. He doesn't need any supervisor; he knows how to do it all by himself. People look down on him sometimes. They think he can’t do anything because he has Down syndrome, but they don’t know him. He is a seasoned world traveler who can take showers anywhere, in unfamiliar bathrooms, even with cold water. He has showered in Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan, Calgary, Hong Kong, and now New York City.
This is what it means to be a grown man: a Young Adult. He’s pleased. He can imagine himself
with a long beard, old enough to stop shaving.
She’ll finish her phone call and be pleasantly surprised to see him all
clean and ready to go out.
These New York showers are strangely refreshing. And
he’s finished, so quickly! Maybe he’ll try a cold shower when he gets
home. Mom will be surprised he’s learned
something new in New York. When she sees how mature he is, maybe she’ll stop
making him shave every day, and he can start growing his beard.
FINALLY, he’ll be in charge of his life.
His sister knocks on the door. He’s towelling off while humming.
His sister knocks on the door. He’s towelling off while humming.
"Leo? Are you OK?"
She pokes her head around the door. She frowns suddenly, as if he’s forgotten to
rinse off and is still covered with soap.
Her voice is sharp.
"Why was your shower so short? Why are your teeth
chattering? What happened?"
He reassures her.
"I’m OK, Sophie. There was
no hot water so I used all cold."
Her face looks angry. "You must be freezing! You
need to run the water til it gets hot. Why didn't you say anything?"
He reminds her mildly, "You were on the phone. Look, I’m fine."
She starts to say something, then closes her lips and takes
a breath. Why is she so upset?
"Next time you need help, just call me, Leo. Now dry
yourself and get dressed. Don’t forget
to dry your hair." She looks at him once more, sighs and closes the door.
He catches his own eye in the mirror. Damn! He is a handsome and strong man. He strikes a wrestler’s pose like his hero, Triple H. His biceps are definitely getting firmer.
He catches his own eye in the mirror. Damn! He is a handsome and strong man. He strikes a wrestler’s pose like his hero, Triple H. His biceps are definitely getting firmer.
She’s treating him like a baby again. Same old bossy
sister. He is twenty-six years old and he knows how to take a
shower. It was just a cold shower. No big deal.
