Under the Surface | Deloris’ Story
Published June 19, 2024
With headphones over her ears and her attention on the task in front of her, Deloris is unlikely to acknowledge the casual visitor to Room C of Merrick’s Enhanced Services (ES) area. After all, she has a large pile of Medtox lead test kits in front of her to assemble and has little time for frivolous conversations while she’s on the clock. So, she quietly continues working with only the music of Usher in her ear for company, seemingly unconcerned with the activities of others.
Dede knows better. As she enters the room, Deloris glimpses Dede out of the corner of her eye, and her face immediately breaks into a radiant smile. “Did you get a haircut, Dede?” Deloris asks. “It looks nice.”
“Yes, I did get a new haircut. I’m glad you like it.” Dede replies. Having worked for Merrick for over 35 years, Dede has known Deloris since she first enrolled at Merrick in 2006. She knows that behind Deloris’ stoic demeanor is an incredibly observant, intuitive, kindhearted person. Hence, Dede was not surprised that Deloris noticed her new haircut. In fact, she expected it. However, Deloris’ intuitive nature was not always so apparent.
During her early years at Merrick, Deloris worked on a recycling crew, traveling from business to business to pick-up recyclable materials to bring back to Merrick. Though she quickly proved herself a capable and determined worker, she struggled to trust others and to communicate her needs. Whenever she was upset, Deloris found it difficult to manage her behavior and would often remain agitated for days.
It would take years of hard work from both Deloris and Merrick support staff before Deloris readily trusted others with her well-being. And if you were one of the lucky few whom Deloris deemed worthy of her trust, then you quickly learned that there was a lot more to her lying just under the surface.
Dede was one of those lucky few. For Dede and others whom she trusted, Deloris made it known that she was a person worth taking note of. Everything she did, from the way she dressed to the way she walked, she did with swag as if to say, “Don’t mess with me because I’m as cool as they come.”
Today, Deloris rarely exhibits behaviors akin to that from when she first started at Merrick. Though she still has plenty of work to do, her current goals tend to focus more on maintaining a healthier lifestyle by improving her diet, drinking more water, and exercising than working through her behaviors.
As for Dede, she officially retired from Merrick in 2021 but continues to do seasonal contract work for the company. Whenever she’s around, Dede often visits her old friend in ES. Having worked so hard to gain Deloris’ trust and having gotten to know the person under the surface, Dede understands that their friendship is a friendship for life. And she would not have it any other way.