Call me what you like but don't call call me late for my dinner!

Blanche lay listening to the dawn chorus, inside, the house was silent, be awhile yet before the day staff arrived to make her shake a leg.
Warm and cosy under her pretty lemon,brushed cotton duvet (she'd always had crisp, white cotton sheets and blankets at home, Alf [her dear late hubby] had not liked change. She had tried to introduce a new look once but he'd spent all night tossing and turning, in the end he resembled a 'pig-in-a-blanket' and she, as a consequence, was cold!).

Alf sadly died, few years back now, she couldn't rightly remember the exact date. At first her and young Willy had managed best they could.
Social worker were good, see Willy (Christened William Alfred but he'd always been their little Willy, because he was a bit special).

Blanche had been so thrilled when he arrived in the world, ( Alf's chest was a bit puffed up too and he sort of swagged now instead of walked, he'd called her a clever gal so she'd guessed it was worth the wait for him as well). However, being exhausted, after her part required for him to land on this earth, she hadn't noticed his eyes were little different.

Strange names were being whispered, Mongol (she didn't think that could be right, Alf and her being English, why they'd hardly heard of, let alone been to Mongolia?).
Downs syndrome, well she'd visited Auntie Lil once in Bedfordshire so she did know about the Downs at Dunstable, but what that had to do with the price of eggs she'd no idea.
Then came handicapped but they didn't even bother considering that one, where would they ever have the money for him to play golf?.
Later years they said poor Willy had learning difficulties but Alf said "show me somebody that hasn't" so they settled for that label , after all that meant at last young Willy was just the same as everyone else!

Actually, that wasn't strictly true either, her Willy loved unconditionally, rich or poor, fat or thin, black or white, he didn't care, he'd cheer them up, he just said "I love 'em all".................

p/s There was another nice bloke did that, but he ended up nailed to a cross!

Happy Mothering Sunday!

Priory View
(Residential Home for those whose bodies are in the Autumn of Life but Spiritually it's High Summer)


Dear Mrs Maebie,

Thank you for your letter dated 26th February 2008, informing us of your decision to accept the ground floor, mini- suite at Priory View.

We understand this is a difficult time for you but would like to give reassurance, that we will support you in anyway possible, trusting you will be happy and content here.

Please contact us at any time if you have any queries, otherwise, we look forward to you moving in on April 1st 2008.

Yours sincerely,

Gorden Limey

Manager

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Joy loosen the frail grip of her painful, arthritic fingers allowing the letter to fall, she sniffed and took a crumpled tissue from her pink floral apron pocket. After dabbing at moist eyes she vigorously blew her nose,
trying to muster some of that spirit, that got her through other rough patches of her life's journey......during the war, being widowed at 54 and orphaned in the same year, she could do it!
A new adventure at the age of 92 , it'd be a piece of cake compared with the excitement of the last 38 years, but that's another story...........

Mist the Boat

Jed pushed his plate away......appetite gone, just like that day, 36 years ago?
Elbows pressed hard against the table, hair covered chin cradled between both hands, staring, misty eyes penetrated the vastness that lay ahead.

Would it, could it, have been different ?.............If only he hadn't been so cautious, such an pillar of society, so darned determined to do the right thing.

He should have bitten the bullet, after all he was no coward, everyone knew that. If only he'd taken that leap in faith, again, all understood he was a God fearing man. But.......it would have been such a risk............or would it? Life's so much easier with hindsight!

A tear began it's long journey, over weather beaten skin that covered a well defined cheek bone, he hadn't lost any of his rugged handsomeness.
The tear, somewhat smaller, having had to fight it's way through that silvery beard fell silently, finally being absorbed into the blue square of the pretty gingham cloth.

"Wakey wake, you were miles away, Oh Mr Butt's you've hardly eaten any of that toad-in-the-hole or the vegi. I know your not a sprout's man but the carrots are okay and they're new potatoes, well nearly!
Thelma laughed at her own joke but Jed struggled to raise a smile, feeling a bit resentful at being brought back to reality with such a bump.

If only he'd taken the plunge and said Yes instead of No on that bitterly cold, wet, 29th February 1976...........................