Max Feld entered <br />the Teacher’s Center <br />angry, face red <br />ready for action <br />“Bernstein <br />you’re the union rep.” <br />I nodded by head Yes <br />as I stared at Max Feld <br />neck bulging <br />veins popping. <br />“I don’t like looking <br />at another man’s crap.” <br />“Who does? ” I said gently <br />trying to relax the man <br />but on he went, <br />“Walk in <br />there it is <br />and I know <br />who done it <br />and I’m gonna <br />do something about it.” <br />“Who? ” I whispered <br />in the softest voice I could <br />and still be heard. <br />“Alvin Bondy.” <br />“The man’s 74 <br />with advanced <br />prostrate cancer— <br />he’ll be dead soon.” <br />The words <br />cracked <br />his skull <br />as if he’d been hit <br />with a baseball bat, <br />mouth opening <br />gasping for air <br />fingers on his right <br />hand trembling <br />“My old man <br />croaked from that, ” <br />he muttered <br />a few tears <br />sliding <br />down his cheek. <br />When he left <br />I wondered <br />if I’d done the right thing <br />but a union rep <br />gotta keep the peace <br />among fellow workers <br />the truth being <br />Alvin Bondy was <br />slowly losing <br />his mind: <br />Alzheimer’s.<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/impossible-to-restrain-decay/
