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The hospital called Fofi that afternoon.

"This is the Downtown General Podiatry Clinic for Fofi Poulakis?"

"Yes?" Fofi muted the TV. She'd been watching a nature program.

"Am I speaking with Fofi Poulakis?" said the secretary.

"Yes," said Fofi. The program was about squirrels.

"Can I just reconfirm the spelling for our records? P-o-u-l-a-k-i-s?"

"That's right." Fofi looked down at her feet and then back at the screen. A black squirrel and a red squirrel were fighting over a pile of nuts. "Why are you calling here?"

"You're listed as the contact person for a patient Weaver."

"I am? Really?" She squinted out her bay window at all the grey clouds. "But Stuart died six months ago."

"I don't know who Stuart is," said the secretary. "Our patient's name is Gloria." "Gloria?" said Fofi. "Gloria Weaver you said?"

"That's right."

"And I'm her contact person?"

"That's what I said. She's under some sedation here and requested that we contact you for a ride home."

"Sedation? For her feet?" The squirrels were really going at it. Fofi was rooting for the red one.

"Sometimes they have to do a lot of digging around in there. It can be pretty painful."

"Hmm," said Fofi. "Well how did she get there?"

"I believe she took the bus," said the secretary. "Look, I have a bunch of other calls to make. Can you please come and pick her up?"

"Can you call someone else?" said Fofi.

"You're the only person we have down."

Fofi sighed. "Alright," she said.

***

"You're the best, Fof," said Gloria in Fofi's car. "Next time I have my appointment you just say the word and I'll pick you up something nice at the gift shop."

"Next time?" Fofi squeezed the wheel. "What's at the gift shop?"

"Anything you want," said Gloria. "Are you kidding me? They got good stuff there."

"I don't know. They really overprice things at those places."

"Nothing's too good for you. You're my contact person. For my contact person, the world."

"What numbers do they have down for me, anyway?" said Fofi. "Just home?"

"Home and work," said Gloria. "That's what they asked for."

"Oh." Fofi turned a corner. "How are you, Gloria?"

"It's the damn diabetes again. It's driving me crazy. They gave me this checklist for healthy feet - they say I've got bad blood flow." She lifted her right foot and wiggled it.

Fofi looked over. "I see you got your shoe on there alright. That's good."

"Uh huh. But you should see the gauze around my big toe. It's like a mummy's toe. Ha!"

"Ha," said Fofi.

"Yep. It's all wrapped up in there."

Fofi stopped at a stoplight. "So I guess it's a good thing I was home, I guess."

"If you weren't, they would've tried you at work. You're the only one they know to call."

"Right."

"So I have to tell you about this dream I had. I had a dream about Hillary last night," said Gloria.

"Who's Hillary?"

"Hillary. With the dog?"

Fofi stepped on the gas, harder than she meant to. "I can't think of who Hillary is."

"Anyway, I was over at Hillary's and her dog kept nipping at me. Not bites, just nips. But Hillary wasn't doing anything about it. She wouldn't even talk to me."

"Sounds kind of weird."

"Oh, Hillary's weird, alright. It was a very vivid dream. I never remember my dreams."

"Huh," said Fofi.

"She wouldn't do anything. And you know how big that dog is."

Fofi turned into Gloria's driveway. "I'll take your word for it."

"Just be thankful you don't have diabetes. That's all I'm saying. They gave me this list with all these things I'm supposed to do. Wash my feet, trim my toenails. Now when Stuart was around, he would do those things for me. But now that he's gone, well -" Gloria wiped some lint off of Fofi's dashboard. "Just be thankful you don't have diabetes and that your husband is still alive, is what I really mean to say."

"Gloria, Ron left me for another woman," said Fofi.

The side of Gloria's mouth twitched a little. "Right. That's right. Sorry, Fof. But you know what I'm saying - at least he's out there." She reached into her coat pocket. "Now where did I put my keys?"

Fofi watched her search around in both coat pockets and then go into her purse.

"I know I had them." Gloria rolled her eyes. "Oh, ow, the drugs are wearing off now, I think. I still feel a bit woozy in the head, you know? But the pain is definitely coming back. Ow, ow. Now where are those keys?"

"I really should be getting back home, Gloria."

"Of course you should. You have things to do. Of course you want to go home. Fofi, I'm telling you again, you're the best."

"Thanks."

"Okay, so they're not in my coat pockets and they're not in my purse. It's these damn drugs, they're making me so I can't think straight, you know? They gave me a shot of - I don't know what they gave me a shot of, but it's definitely wearing off. Except for upstairs, if you get my drift." Gloria started to knock herself on the head. "My … brain … is … not … working … properly."

"Gloria, you shouldn't do that to yourself," said Fofi. "Did you check your pants pockets?"

"Good thinking, Fof. This brain of mine, I'm telling you, this brain. Hold on, let me check -" She patted herself down. "Nope. Not there either."

Fofi looked at Gloria's house. "Do you maybe keep a spare key under a mat, or something?"

"Now that would've come in handy, wouldn't it? It would definitely come in handy right about now. But no, there's no spare key. With Stuart gone I just don't like thinking I've left the key to my house outside for some vigilante to find, and I don't trust my neighbours at this place. At our last place, yes. Those people were kings and queens compared to the people I'm living next to now. You don't even want to know the things these people get up to."

"Well," said Fofi.

"Well," said Gloria.

It started to rain . ***

"Fofi! How many channels you get on this TV?"

Fofi closed the fridge. "I'm not sure, Gloria."

Gloria was on Fofi's couch with her feet up, flipping through the channels. "They just keep going, Fof!"

Fofi walked into the TV room. "Here you go," she said, and set a plate on the coffee table.

"Cheese!" Gloria leaned over and grabbed a handful. "And crackers!" She brought the snacks to her mouth with both hands and ate, showering herself with crumbs. "Now will you look at that? Look at me. Sheesh." She brushed the crumbs onto the couch. "I only have basic cable. I don't get all these specialty channels. But what good are they, really? Like here, this one's got a show about squirrels. Who wants to watch that?"

"I like that one." Fofi sat down on Ron's old La-Z-Boy, the only thing he'd left behind. "They were playing that earlier."

The two women stared at the screen.

"That black squirrel's stealing the red one's nuts, look at it go!" said Gloria. "Poor little red squirrel. Mother Nature, huh. What's she got to say for herself?" She changed the channel.

Fofi watched Gloria eat her food and wield her remote control. "So did you call the locksmith?"

Gloria's mouth was full. She nodded at the TV. "Oh I called him alright."

Fofi leaned forward. "What did he say?"

"He said he'll come by tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Fofi looked out her window. It was getting dark. "He can't come by tonight?"

Gloria shook her head and her perm wobbled. "The decline of customer service. That is what we're forced to deal with in this day and age."

"You could try someone else. We could go through the phone book."

"No, no. I always use this guy. He does good work. That, and he knew Stuart, he was friends with Stuart, so I trust him. You only want so many people having access to your key mold, you know? Once they've got your key mold, there's no telling -" Gloria hugged herself. "I don't want to think about it."

"You always use him? How many times have you needed a locksmith?"

"Well when I had my car, you know. I locked myself out a few times there." Gloria sat up. "You want to order a pizza?"

***

The pizza was cold when it arrived.

"Tell him you're not paying for it!" Gloria shouted from the couch, already eating.

The delivery boy's mouth opened and closed and he looked at Fofi with round eyes. "Lady, please - if I don't bring the money back, my boss is gonna take it out of my pay."

"Don't listen to him, Fof! He's lying!" Gloria yelled around a large slice.

"How much do I owe you?" Fofi asked the boy.

"Twenty."

"Here's twenty-three."

The delivery boy blew out a breath and closed his fist around the cash. "Thanks lady."

"They'll tell you anything," said Gloria when Fofi closed the door. "You can't believe what they say, those pizza boys. They'll say anything to get a tip."

Fofi went to the kitchen for plates.

"Thanks for picking up the tab on that, Fof. I guess my wallet's with my keys, wherever that is. I should cancel my cards, like you said. I should do that." Gloria gnawed on her crust. "Stuart and I used to get pizza once a month. What about you and Ron?"

"I cooked." Fofi handed Gloria a plate.

Gloria waved it away. "Thanks, but I'm done. I have to watch my intake, with the diabetes. I have to balance out my system. Do you have any orange juice? Or a chocolate bar? Anything sweet."

"Something sweet, really?" said Fofi. "Are you sure about that?"

"Sure I'm sure. I know the drill." Gloria's mouth was a straight line. "I've been living with this for a while now, you know."

"Alright." Fofi tilted her head, and then shrugged. "I'll see what I have."

"You should eat first, though. Don't worry about me. You sit and eat."

Fofi took Gloria's clean plate back to the kitchen. "No, that's fine. I'm sure I have something." She replaced the plate in the cupboard and looked in her fridge. "How's ginger ale?"

"Ginger ale," said Gloria. "Now why didn't I think of that? I love ginger ale. Stuart always kept a bottle of it around - it was our drink. I'd love some, Fof. You're the best, you know that?"

Fofi watched the back of Gloria's curly head while she poured her drink. She had opened a fresh bottle, and the ginger ale fizzed at her. She screwed the lid on tight and put it back in the fridge, then brought the full glass to Gloria.

Gloria took a long sip and closed her eyes. "Ahhh. Now that brings back memories."

Fofi picked up a slice of pizza and put it on her plate, then contemplated the few shrivelled mushrooms and single pepperoni slice on top of the congealing cheese.

It was the worst pizza she'd ever tasted.

"So I can sleep right here tonight." Gloria slapped the couch. "I don't mind. I'll probably need a blanket, though. And do you have some pyjamas I could borrow?"

***

Gloria took the red flannel nightgown Fofi had lent her into the bathroom to change.

Fofi put on her own pyjamas and then stood outside the bathroom door. She heard the water running in the tub. "Do you need a towel?" she called.

"Thanks but I already found a nice, fluffy one in your closet," said Gloria. "I got a washcloth, too. I might need some help in here, though."

"You want me to come in?"

"Don't worry, I'm decent."

Fofi pushed the door open.

The lid was down on the toilet and Gloria was sitting on it, with her bare feet propped on the white rim of the bathtub. "I got thinking about that list they gave me," she said.

"What list?" said Fofi.

"From the hospital. The foot list. I got thinking that I should probably do what's on the list, so that way maybe I won't have to go back for another appointment for a while."

Fofi nodded. "Sounds like you've got the right idea."

"I need a little bit of help, though, if you don't mind," said Gloria.

"Sure. Do you need me to turn off the tap? Here -" Fofi turned off the tap.

"Thanks. But actually, Fof, I was going to ask if you could help me take off this bandage they put on." She jerked forward with her arms outstretched and then leaned back with a grunt. "It's hard for me to reach."

"Oh." Fofi looked at Gloria sitting there in Fofi's nightgown, on Fofi's toilet, propping her diabetic feet up on Fofi's tub. She looked at the bandaged toe, which had blood on it. "Okay."

"Thanks, Fof. You're the best." Gloria lifted her right foot and thrust it at Fofi.

Fofi bent over to unwrap the gauze but it was wound on tight, so she settled onto her knees.

"That's it," said Gloria. "You've got it. You want to know the reason I put you down as my contact person?"

Fofi looked up at her. "Why?"

"Because you came over after Stuart passed away. You brought that casserole and you sat with me at the table while I ate it. That meant a lot to me, Fof."

"It wasn't such a big thing, Gloria."

"No, no. It was, Fof. It was a huge thing. And I wanted to thank you for that."

"You don't have to thank me, Gloria. Really."

"But I wanted to," said Gloria. "And look at that, you've almost got it off."

When she was finished Fofi dropped the bandage into the trashcan and eased herself back up. She washed her hands in the sink, scrubbing hard. "Well, I guess I'll leave you to it then." She backed toward the door.

Gloria examined her toe and winced. "Do you see that? That's what they have to do when your nail's ingrown. They have to dig it out. The doctor told me the nail penetrates the skin just like a knife. That's why it's so painful." She blinked. "Stuart used to kiss them. He would kiss my toes. Can you believe that? Did my husband ever kiss your toes?"

"What?" said Fofi.

And Gloria looked at her in a cool, appraising way, and laughed. "Oh boy, did you hear that? Did you hear what I said there? I mean your husband. Did Ron ever kiss your toes?"

"No, he never did," said Fofi. She felt the doorknob pressing into her lower back.

"Stuart wasn't into toes in a weird fetish way or anything. He just loved me so much." Gloria folded her hands in her lap. "Did Ron ever love you so much, Fof?"

"No." Fofi shook her head. "He never did."

Gloria smiled at her. "What it says on the list is, I need to wash my feet regularly - and the doctor said there's no cheating on that." She pursed her lips. "You know something, could you do me a favour? The list is in one of my coat pockets - could you go and get it for me?"

"Sure," said Fofi.

She hurried out of the bathroom and closed the door, and walked down the hall past her bedroom, kitchen, TV room, to the closet by the front door.

She unzipped one of Gloria's pockets and reached inside, and felt the piece of paper there. Then she felt something else.

Fofi pulled out the list, and Gloria's wallet and keys, and held them in her hand. She gazed at the keys and the wallet for a moment, then put them back in the pocket and zipped it closed. She walked up the hall to the bathroom and opened the door.

"Did you find it?" said Gloria.

Fofi took a breath and gave her the paper. "Right where you said it would be."

"You really are the best, Fof." Gloria unfolded the page and held it up. "So what it says is: 'Wash your feet daily and dry them carefully, especially between the toes. Use talcum powder. Keep toenails trimmed and smooth. Look for cuts or sores. Check for warning signs: redness, swelling, warmth, pain, slow healing, dry cracks, bleeding corns or calluses, tenderness, loss of sensation.'" She cleared her throat and pointed at the other woman. "What I'm saying to you Fof, is I need your help with that."

Fofi watched steam rise from the bath water as Gloria lowered her feet in.

Gloria handed her the soap and the washcloth. "Only because I can't do it by myself."

Fofi stood there and looked at Gloria's raw and swollen big toe, with ragged creases of new scab on either side of the nail. The soap was slippery in her palm and the washcloth was soft.

Then she nodded, slowly, and eased herself down onto her knees again.