Friday night Bingo was quiet, it had its own patterns and rhythms. Wayne joked that I’d have to talk home if I didn’t call out some lucker numbers for him. Ellen gave me the evil eye until she won her first Bingo game in weeks.

Georgianna showed me her two cigarette packs, which had only two cigarettes in them. She looked at me pleadingly, I said no, people didn’t send me money to buy cigarettes for people, not on a regular basis.

She won a small stuffed animal, which she said she loved. She was wearing one of the new shirts I got for her at Carroll’s Trading Post, a consignment shop.

Mary was the Bingo Queen tonight, I gave her a nap blanket that Kayla Carroll knits, she works at Carroll’s. I think these lap blankets will make perfect gifts for the residents as the cold weather approaches, I plan on getting more.

I gave Ruth a special-sized sweatshirt for her birthday, which she requested. A Mansion aide asked me if I could find an old table for her daughter’s TV, her daughter has to watch hers on the floor.  I was surprised by the request, the Mansion aides rarely ask me for anything, it must be important to her.

I found her one right away. In my work, I have learned that the aides are often just as needy as the residents, just in different ways. Nobody as the Mansion has any extra money to spare.

The Bingo games are important to me, they keep me in touch with the residents and the aides.