Rocky, a 55-year-old man, resides at the ‘Anabil’ group home, a beautifully maintained and decorated place. The house is adorned with a lush, green lawn, resembling a soft carpet, stretching as far as the eye can see. Bordering the lawn is a riot of colorful flowers: red, pink, yellow, orange, and white roses, lilies, dahlias, geraniums, sunflowers, marigolds, tulips, and many more. The roses, in particular, hold an extraordinary charm; there seems to be more flowers than leaves. The interior of the house is equally captivating. The upper floor houses four male residents in four separate rooms, while the ground floor accommodates two female residents. The main floor features an office, kitchen, and living room, with a bathroom on each floor.
Rocky gazes out the window at the flowers with a look of wonder. Today, his behavioral specialist, Mina, is scheduled to visit. Rocky has countless plans for Mina’s visit; the days when Mina comes, twice a week or sometimes thrice if he’s lucky, are like finding a treasure for Rocky. Only Mina understands all his desires, needs, and difficulties. That’s why he has been sitting since 2 PM, eagerly awaiting her arrival. Mina is expected at 4 PM. Rocky’s staff, Diana, has already come twice to remind him that it’s snack time. While the other residents rush to the dining table at the mention of snacks, Rocky remains motionless. The sky is overcast today. Staring at the vast, dark clouds, Rocky wonders if it will rain heavily or if Mina won’t come today.
Nobody listens to Rocky’s problems anymore! Even this morning, he wanted to tell Melina, the group home supervisor, that he wants a job, but Melina told him to discuss it with Mina. Rocky really wants to go out and explore the city using public transportation. But no one seems to understand his desire. Melina said that there’s a big van at home and whenever they plan to go out, all the staff will be taken together in that van. But Rocky doesn’t want to go that way. He wants to travel by bus. He enjoys listening to street performers playing instruments on the subway floor while walking. He loves seeing the smiling faces of strangers passing by, suddenly stopping to greet someone, or simply gazing out the large windows of a bus, searching for wonder among the rows of running trees.
The group home’s van doesn’t appeal to him at all. Molly, Rano, Mike, Robin, and Sara always sit crowded together, rubbing against him. Then there are three more staff members. Rocky feels suffocated. He would much rather walk with Mina, ride buses, trains, and streetcars. Sometimes, he simply goes to the park with Mina or sits at Tim Hortons and drinks coffee. While sipping coffee, Rocky talks about his forgotten past, and Mina gently brings him back to the present. Mina is his behavioral specialist. She works magic with her storytelling. After Mina leaves, the staff all say that Rocky is doing well, but Rocky can’t understand if he has actually changed.
Rocky has spent his entire life living at home with his parents. He has some developmental delays and has recently become more anxious. While he has autism, it’s very mild. He appears and acts quite normally, although he talks excessively, which is when people realize that he’s a bit different. Recently, he’s been forgetting things frequently. He has vivid memories of his childhood spent downtown. He used to explore St. Clare’s freely.
He and his friends, Mary, Robin, Dina, and Cody, used to have a great time together. He misses the coffee they’d get at Tim Hortons, located just behind the Dufferin streetcar stop. He longs to return there for coffee. Everything was going well until his elderly mother was caring for him at home. Recently, his father suffered a stroke, and Rocky was moved to a group home. Rocky finds the new environment strange and nothing feels like home. Everything is strictly scheduled. Dinner is always at 5 pm sharp.
Rocky constantly checks the clock. Finally, ten minutes before 4 pm, Mina arrived. Upon seeing Mina’s red car outside, Rocky was overjoyed. He excitedly told the group home staff, “I saw Mina’s car! She’s right on time, but why is she staying in the car? It’s almost four o’clock!
Staff – Mina will enter before four o’clock. His session starts at four.
Rocky- But, he is sitting in the car, why is he not coming?
Staff – When you come in, you chatter and shake his earlobe. Let the poor thing recover slowly. You know Mina is never late. So, chill!
Rocky stands holding the doorknob. Let not a moment be wasted after the bell rings.
As the bell rang, Rocky opened the door, Meena entered with a smile.
Mina- How are you today Rocky?
Rocky – I’m fine. But I need a job. You know, they said, I can do the job if you say so. Why don’t you tell me?
Meena- You have to learn a lot before that. Today I will take you to many places by public transport. No, actually you will guide me. I will see how independent you are when traveling alone on public transport. After some more skill tests, then I will decide whether you can do the job or not.
Rocky- Oh, this matter! It doesn’t matter! It’s simple!
Mina- It’s better if it’s straight. But I can’t promise anything without seeing. You get dinner ready at five o’clock, we have to go out right after that.
Rocky ran and told his staff:
– Mina said, we will go out after having dinner, now we will have dinner, please?
– No, it’s not five o’clock yet.
– What happened to it, it’s twenty four!
-Forty more minutes you have to wait.
– Is your cooking not finished?
-Cooking is over, but while everyone is waiting, you have to wait too. Everyone has equal rights here. Some will get food first, some later, it won’t.
-Okay…
With a sigh, Rocky went into the living room and sat on the couch watching TV. Forehead furrowed, feet swinging restlessly.
Mina- How was your day Rocky? What did you do today?
Rocky- After breakfast, I went to grocery with my staff, helped them. Then they cooked, I packed the groceries. Changed the sheets in my room, took the laundry to the basement. Have I done much better?
Mina- Yes, you do very well at home. However, I have heard that you need a lot of prompting. Until you are independently doing your routine tasks, I can’t make any guarantees about the job. You need to show more self-reliance first.
Rocky- You mean, you won’t give me a job?
Meena- I will not give the job, but I will decide whether you are ready for the job or not. I will give job coaching. You have to patiently prove how ready you are.
Rocky- My staff said, I am doing well.
As he spoke, the staff left the dinner on the table. Immediately, Rano, Mike, Robin, and Rocky fell on the four chairs of the table. There is another dining table downstairs for the women residents of the home. The staff took food there for Molly and Sarah. Rocky swallowed his food in Gogras. It is more important for him to get out with Meena quickly than to feel the taste of the food. He wants a job.
Scarborough, Canada
