Urgent: this needs to change

The phone clicked on the other end of the receiver. He’d hung up on me.

“That damned William,” I said to Peter. “You’d think he’d at least say goodbye. Shall we continue without him? We can make this decision.”

“No,” Peter said. “He’s their son, just as much as we are. He’s got a say in the matter, Everett. And he did say he needed to ring off. This debate has gone on much longer than we planned. Two hours –“

“This is urgent, Peter! We have to move Dad away from Mom now. She’s driving him into the ground. This can’t wait –“

“But Everett, the nursing administrator said there was no deadline for moving Dad. It can wait a few more days.”

“No, it can’t. I’m right about this, Peter. His condition is fading every day, more and more.”

“What about our mother? Shouldn’t she have a say in the matter?”

“Of course not! She has no part in this decision about Dad’s welfare. She’ll only keep him there to control him, asking him to give her Kleenex ten times a day, asking him to give her water when the nurses aren’t there. Who does she think –“

“It’s not your place to decide that for them. I think she should be part of this decision. He can’t because of his Alzheimer’s, but she can –“

“No, I’m right on this! Mom has no say in this decision. All she’ll do is try to control him and drive him into the ground. I’m right! I’m right! I’m right!”