[ RF ] A man enrolls in a course to take care of Alzheimer 's patients .


 He sat uncomfortably, the juice from his apple rolling down the cleft of his chin. From my vantage point at the top of the stairs I could see another five students from our class, every one of them texting, talking or smoking. He was n't though. Just looking out over the quad, his eyes unfocused and his jaw working rhythmically. 
 
 I shuffled my feet and weighed the social pros and cons in my head, annoyed when the cons came out on top yet again. We had spoken once or twice, enough times to remember each other's names - but typically more than a couple superficial interactions needed to happen before I felt comfortable enough to approach someone. Still, I frowned and walked down the steps. I was resolute to make a connection for once. 
 
 As I approached two joggers ran past him, shocking me with how old he appeared by comparison. Varicose veins criss crossed his legs like tattoos, and his Adam's apple seemed to have grown rotten and turned to mush. His frame fit into the bench awkwardly and I could n't help but wonder how tiring it must be to coax those joints to life everyday just to come to class. `` Can I join you?'' I asked. 
 
 His unfocused eyes turned to me and sparked in recognition. `` Absolutely,'' he said, wiping the juice from his chin. `` Always happy for some company.'' 
 
 I smiled and joined him on the bench. I was n't sure what to say but he did n't seem to mind. As I pulled out my sandwich and he took another bite into the apple, I saw him gaze back out over the quad with eyes slightly more alert than before. `` How'd you do on the midterm?'' 
 
 `` About as well as I did the last time I was in a classroom,'' he replied. `` And that was fifty years ago. ” 
 
 I peered at him curiously. “ So not well at all,'' he finished with a smile. 
 
 I stared at my feet but smiled back. Hopefully he saw. `` I ca n't imagine going back to school after a gap like that.'' 
 
 He chuckled. `` Neither could I. You make that sandwich?'' I looked at my ham and swiss, topped with lettuce and a slice of provolone. `` Looks good.'' 
 
 `` No, my boyfriend made it. You want half?'' 
 
 He chuckled and held up his apple, just over half eaten. `` Already full but thanks,'' he said with a chuckle. `` Just been a while since I've seen a well prepared lunch. Nowadays people do n't make meals for others - something worth appreciating.'' 
 
 `` It's not that hard,'' I responded, taking a bite. `` All you need is two pieces of bread and some lunchmeat.'' 
 
 His eyes grew unfocused again but his smile deepened. `` I dunno about that. How's it taste?'' 
 
 `` Good.'' 
 
 `` And why is that?'' I looked at him quizzically but he returned my stare with a patient gaze. 
 
 `` It's my favorite,'' I started, searching for a strong response as I chewed. Danny always knew the ration of meat to cheese I liked. And he always made them a little bigger than necessary, just in case I was starving. I looked down and saw like yesterday and the day before, I would be throwing out the last couple bites. `` He makes it just the way I like it.'' 
 
 He nodded excitedly. `` Is n't that amazing? You like things a certain way and he learned what that way was. How much he cares for you - you can actually taste it.'' 
 
 `` Ca n't say I ever looked at it that way,'' I replied, wondering as I chewed if it tasted any different. The sun felt a bit warmer as I realized that it did. 
 
 `` Ca n't expect you to. You're what, twenty-five?'' 
 
 `` Twenty-seven.'' 
 
 `` Goddamn I'm old.'' He looked out over the quad and I checked my phone. We'd have to head back in a minute or so. `` My wife,'' he continued. `` She made the best sandwiches - just bread, turkey, cheddar and a forkful of mayonnaise but I swear it was better than some five star joints downtown. It took her a week or two to get it right but once she did - she made them perfect for forty years. I miss those sandwiches.'' 
 
 I nodded, unsure of how to proceed. `` I'm sorry,'' I said quietly. `` When did she pass away?'' 
 
 `` As long as the sandwiches I make don ’ t kill her - a long ways from now,'' he said as he stood, full of a sudden energy, a startling sense of determination. `` Ready for class?''
