What did I do?

November 13, 2025•4 min read

What did I do?

On October 16th, my wife accompanied me to a nursing facility that belongs to a company I work for. There is a member of the kitchen staff who I have known 6 years or so. I wanted to introduce my wife to him. After visiting some patients/residents, we walked to the kitchen. I was excited for them to meet. His wife works at the facility also. We walked up to the kitchen door and someone I know greeted us. I asked if I could speak with my friend and his wife. She told me they weren’t there anymore. I asked what she meant. She said he and his wife didn’t work there anymore and told me to speak with someone else. A gentleman approached who said he was their son. I couldn’t remember if I knew before that this was their son. He greeted us and I asked about his parents. I told him I wanted to introduce my wife to them. He was very short in his response. He said they didn’t work there anymore and didn’t have any information. I could tell he didn’t want to talk and thought it was best for us to keep on walking throughout the building. We walked outside and I told my wife that I couldn’t believe they didn’t work there anymore, and yet their son still did. What could have happened? My wife said, “Maybe they were deported?” I hadn’t thought of that, but we really didn’t know.

On the morning of October 27th, I found myself in the building again. I saw someone else outside the kitchen who I always greet. I asked what had happened to my friends. She said she didn’t know and that I should ask another individual. I thought she was talking about their son, and I jokingly said I had asked him already, but he didn’t say anything. I kept on walking and visiting throughout the building. I felt at one point, when I walked by a group of staff members, that they all looked at me. I still don’t know if that was the case. Later, I walked by that same location where I saw two staff members from the group I had seen earlier. As I got closer, one approached me.

“Pease, don’t ask my workers questions.” (I understood at that moment that he was in charge of the kitchen. I had seen him many times before but didn’t know his position.)

“I am sorry. I was simply asking about someone I have known for years.” (He appeared angry and I was very confused as I read his body language.)

“And you said you talked to me. You never talked to me.” (I immediately thought of the name of the persons the lady had mentioned. She must have been taking about him, not the son.)

“Oh, I am sorry. I was told to ask someone, and I thought she was talking about someone I had spoken already to. I was asking about a friend I know.” (I was attempting to explain myself, hoping I too would receive an explanation.)

“Well, you could ask him yourself.” (I felt there was something going on, but no one wanted to say anything.)

“I don’t have his information. I knew him from here and even from the old building we used to have.” (I was smiling, but also expressing my sense of confusion.)

“Well, I don’t know, but that’s private information.” (He started to walk away.)

“I am sorry, but I don’t know anything of what is going on.” (When he was about ten feet away from me, and still feeling oh so confused, I spoke up to catch his attention.) “Are we ok?” (He turned, but his body wasn’t facing me directly.) “I apologize if I stepped on anyone’s toes. It was not my intention. I am so sorry if I caused any problems.”

(He started to turn away.) “It’s ok.”

I was very confused. I walked away flooded by thoughts and emotions. As I went to my car, drove for about 45 minutes, and into the afternoon I felt overwhelmingly disappointed in myself.