|
When neighbors began calling to complain about the "special need" in their neighborhood, the old man shambled out once more. The builder, now gesturing as though raising studs for framing, again ignored the agitated complainant and continued "building." Offended to retaliation by this second snub, the old man chugged back inside and phoned the police.
"He's keeping to the sidewalk," the officer said with a shrug.
"I should have summoned a psychiatrist!" howled the old man.
"He's doing no harm," the officer said, and he left.
When more neighbors complained, the old man appealed to his helplessness, but the nagging intensified and the elder began silencing his critics with profanity. Eventually, he phoned and badgered the Psychiatric Department at a hospital nearby. Reluctantly, they sent a nurse. She stood outside for ten minutes stroking her chin, then knocked.
"He's obviously never had a place to call his own and is just acting out the fantasy," she mused.
The old man shook his head.
"Some people pray to the moon," she said, "others build castles in the air. Eventually their skylights go out and they go home." And she left.
NEXT
|