It was a busy hour at the bank and the lines went nearly to the door. It seemed that everyone was trying to do their banking at the same time, including Ruth. People in her line were grumbling, starting to make louder and louder remarks about how long their line was taking to move when compared to the other lines. Some folks were leaving the line, tossing comments over their shoulders like, “For goddsakes!”
Ruth had been working with her Carson Outreach Worker on just this kind of situation. She was managing her feelings, trying to focus on what her goal was, what banking she needed to conduct, when one more, “I can’t believe this!” stirred her enough to say something.
From the head of the line, where she had been working with the teller and her Carson Outreach Worker, she said clearly and slowly to those behind her, “I-I-I am. So. Sorry. That. This. Is. Taking. So. Long. I. Used. To. Be. Fast. Like. You. Before. My. Accident. That. Injured. My. Head. It. Is. Hard. For. Me. To. Focus. I. Need. A. Little. More. Time. Than. You. I. Am. Really. Sorry. To. Hold. You. Up.”
“You take all the time you need, dear,” said the older woman right behind her in the now nearly silent bank.
The bank opened another window to accommodate those waiting. New folks coming in the door went right to the open window. The Carson Outreach Worker for the Head Injury Program noticed that most everybody from Ruth’s line didn’t move. They stayed right behind her the whole time.
By JAC Patrissi
