At the library today there was a retarded man, maybe in his mid-twenties, sitting on the radiator by the window. His minder, his guardian – maybe his dad? – sat next to him, at the table. Occasionally, the retarded man would exclaim brusquely, and the other man would reflexively shush him. It went like this:
"Policía!"
"Shhh."
"Mommy's gone."
"Shhh."
"You OK?"
"Shhh."
"Mommy's gone."
"Shhh."
After a time the minder stood up and his charge did too. Not a word was spoken. They left.