Goodnight, Andy

I had lost my key card. I had to get the 6th floor nurse to swipe me into the room at the assisted living building I live in. The man I share a room with, Andy, had happy birthday balloons tied to his bedside table that he had moved to the foot of his bed. When he emerged from the bathroom I wished him a happy birthday. “How did you know it was my birthday?” “The balloons say happy birthday.” I have to over explain things since he's easily confused. “How old are you?” He starts, “Twenty…” as he searches for the next word I add, “Two, twenty two?” He's in his early 80s. 

“Well I need new gloves then I'm off!”, he says. He put on his coat and ball cap. It's nearly 10pm. He's usually asleep by 8. “Where are you going Andy?” “I'm off to work!” “Andy, it's almost 10pm. You don't have to work tonight.” He pauses."It's 10 o'clock”, I repeat.  “Well, then if it's alright I'll just knock myself out.” Which is what he says when he goes to bed. Then he laid down on top of his blankets, coat, hat and all. “Goodnight.”, I said. He repeated,“I'm going to knock myself out.” “Sounds good Andy, Goodnight.”. “I finally have my TV working so I don't want to turn it off," he explains. ”Ok, just not too loud.”. He agrees without turning it down. ”Is that ok?” “That's fine Andy, goodnight.”