Bigelow grasps Roger's hand and helps him strum her guitar as she changes chords. He strains to curl his twisted fingers enough to run them over the strings. The idea is to get him to improve his motor skills.

The three guitarists play song after song. Roger sings — bellows — along with each one. He sounds more like a bull than a bird. But it is beautiful noise.

Roger's rendition of the song usually ends about five seconds after the guitars stop. He used to go on solo for another 20 seconds. Wendel said she doesn't know if he just lags behind or is so caught up in singing that he can't stop.

"He's working hard on that," she said.

Singing does his body good. It forces him sit up straight, inhale and exhale, Wendel said.

Roger really gets going when the guitarists launch into "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad."

"Roger won't you blow, Roger won't you blow, Roger won't you blow your horn," Wendel croons in his ear. Then she pulls a wooden train whistle from his backpack and puts it to his lips. He musters a deep breath and blows, "Whoo, whoo!"

Each participant gets a personalized goodbye song to end the session.

Roger doesn't like to say goodbye. He prefers "Be back," as in, "I will see you again." Ackman had to change the time of her nightly long-distance call because Roger wouldn't hang up. She now phones before dinner.

There was no need for telephone calls on this week. Ackman spent it in person with Roger. "It makes you feel good to be around him," she says.

At Roger's birthday party, Ackman places each present on his lap and gently takes his hand in hers to tear off the wrapping paper. There's a parka, a stamp collection kit, clothes, videos, a toy truck, and, of course, a wooden locomotive.

Roger studies it with his typical glee. "Whoo, whoo!"

Monday: The center's caretakers: a change to give back.

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E-mail: romboy@desnews.com