Serge by Robert

 

A lot of times, when we got together, our conversation would turn to our brother Serge. He was born in March 1956. Shortly after he came home, he began to have convulsions. After a slew of exams, it was discovered he had a brain tumor. An operation was necessary, since he wouldn’t live past 2. He lived to the age of 55 and died due to complications of a flu. Not covid, but just as bad.

The operation was successful, but he did have some disabilities. His left side was always weaker than the right and it also affected his brain. He did things that we laugh about now, some were funny, but others were dangerous.

For some reason he never picked on me as he did with my other brothers, however his favorite person to do things to was Uncle Roy. I’ve always wondered if Uncle hadn’t used the words, “don’t you dare”, he would not have been as frequent a target for Serge’s tricks.

It was almost a daily routine, when Uncle Roy came in after work, suddenly an air

Robert, Denis and Serge

inflated ball would strike him in the chest or head. Thank God he always wore a safety helmet. Uncle Roy even tried to change entry, still the ball came flying from that hallway and got him every time. One meal time, Serge was at the far end of the table while Uncle Roy was at the other. Serge was holding a spoon since we had soup. Uncle Roy looked up and said. “Don’t you dare throw that spoon at me.” Serge put his spoon down into his bowl and everyone continued to eat. Serge however moved his spoon around so that the spoon handle was away from himself. He then tapped the end of the spoon handle, causing the spoon to fly out of his own bowl. In a great arch it flew across the table and landed in Uncle Roy’s bowl splashing the soup up onto Uncle Roy. One morning as Uncle Roy was putting on his work boots, he suddenly asked. “Who put this sucker in my boot?” All was quiet for a few moments when Serge said. “Did you find two?” Sure enough the other boot had a sucker in it.

One day Uncle Roy had taken Serge for a drive. On the way home Serge said. “I want out.” Before Uncle Roy could explain he couldn’t stop at that moment, Serge pulled the car door handle and opened the door. Uncle Roy was fast enough to grab a hold of Serge before he got out.

Apparently one afternoon he played a trick on Aunt Maggy. I wasn’t there to witness it, but from what I heard it happened like this.  Aunt Maggy was sitting in the rocking chair and had fallen asleep. Serge undid the belt at the back of her apron and tied her to the chair. He lobbed the ball at her, which woke her up. As she tried to stand to go after him she fell over. Fortunately she wasn’t hurt.

I’m sure my other brothers could add more stories. As for me, I was very lucky. My mother always remarked that he was always jealous of any girl I brought home. For this reason I would always make sure no girl was left alone with Serge. There was one exception. I had brought a new girlfriend home and we were in the living room along with Serge listening to music. At one point I asked her to follow me to get a drink in the kitchen. I tried to explain to her that it would be better for her to come along, having given her a bit of a warning about Serge and his tricks. Her reply was that she had worked with kids at camp and could handle the situation. I knew something had gone on, when I saw Serge do a little dance step in the hallway as I was heading back. When I arrived in the living room the girl was sitting bent over trying to catch her breath. When she finally recovered from the blow to her stomach, she said. “Boy, he’s fast, I never saw it coming.” She never did sit alone with Serge afterwards. I do remember when I yelled at him for doing it.  He gave me a look, I’ll never forget.  I’ve seen that look on many patients while I worked in the hospitals over the years.   It’s the look of someone in pain, near tears. I don’t recall ever yelling at him again.

The one thing that would keep Serge calm, was music. He would sit and rock as music from the record player went on. Sometimes we would both sing along with the music and sometimes I would sing for him.  On one occasion I was singing and forgot a verse from the song. I just sang la la la till I remembered the rest of the song.  He waited until I had finished and smiled and said. “You forgot.” and then sang the verse perfectly.  He loved Elvis, songs, movies and even pictures of Elvis.  I don’t think there isn’t a song Elvis sang that Serge didn’t know by heart.

Every few months, Serge would undergo follow up exams at the hospital. It was always Mom who would go along with him.  One day upon returning home, she said to Dad.   “I can’t do this anymore, you will have to come with me.  He’s out of control.”  Apparently on the way home, he had started to throw pebbles at her as they were walking, forcing her to duck and weave around.  Perhaps it seemed I had the knack of calming Serge down, when the next visit came along, I went with them. Serge was calm while we waited and, when the doctor called his name, Mom went into the room with Serge.  I stood to join them, but the doctor insisted I remain in the waiting area.  It wasn’t long before Mom and Serge came out.  She was holding him by the arm real tight.  She looked more embarrassed than angry. As we walked out she related how Serge had asked for a glass of water. Mom had told the doctor he didn’t need water since Serge had drunk water from the fountain in the waiting room, just before they went into the exam room. The doctor insisted on pouring a nice tall glass of water. Serge sat a few moments holding the glass. As the doctor started to ask questions about Serge’s behaviour since the last time he was examined, he found himself wet from face to chest from the water Serge had thrown at him. Fortunately Serge had kept a good grip on the glass. The next time I went with Mom and Serge I was invited to attend the exam.

Serge and Marcel at Smith Falls

His tricks got more and more dangerous as he grew older and he finally had to be placed in a special care home, in Smith Falls Ontario. By that time I was in the army so I wasn’t there when he was driven to his new residence. Uncle Roy went along as Mom and Dad drove Serge down. Uncle Roy would always recall how he himself broke down in tears, when Serge began to sing a french song. Just a few words of translation here. “Why have you broken my heart?”

He lived in Smith Falls quite a few years, until the government decided to close the place. We visited often over the years and

Serge, Denis and Marcel

would bring him home on holidays. He was controlled with medication which helped a lot.

The first time Alicia met Serge was when I brought him home for a visit. She had never met Serge before but had been around long enough to hear all the stories of Serge’s tricks, especially to my girl friends. It was a Friday and I had picked him up at the residence and brought him to our apartment. I had to go into the office and since this was to be a surprise for the spaghetti night, I left him in the care of Alicia. I knew she was worried, but told her as I left to just let him watch a movie and I would be right back. There was a look of relief on her face when I came in after a couple hours. To this day she maintains that she never bothered to rewind the movies she put on, just put the next movie on right away.

Mom learned to drive in her sixties. On one occasion I arrived at her house and Serge was there. Mom had gone and picked him up. I asked Serge how was the drive home. “It was pretty good.” He replied and added. “Even when she drove into the field and came out again with no problems.” Apparently she had gone off the road.

I have a lot of great memories of Serge. I sometimes wonder, if the calming effect I had on him would have lasted longer, if I hadn’t joined the army and left home, when he was 8.

Serge