Short Story: An Ideal Match

Short Story: An Ideal Match

There were obviously some life-changing decisions to be made and I felt some sympathy with the large family who came and went, with lots of anxious whisperings, to the bed-side of the elderly lady next to my mother.

During the two hours of evening visiting I sat with my elderly mother who, on a good day, enjoyed the stories I told of her grand children and on a bad day racked her brain to think who I was.

It was a Monday evening when the cracks began to show in the family solidarity at the next bed. Following a meeting, off the ward with the doctor, the family trooped into the ward in their numbers to visit their mother. Voices soon became raised when the husband of the eldest daughter told the eldest son that there was “...not enough room in their house as it was.” He suggested that the eldest son should “......clear out your spare room for Mother to live with you.” (15/love) “With a bathroom on each floor it will be ideal.” He finished. (30/love)

“No it is not ideal at all,” replied the son, “and that is not a spare room it is my office.” (30/15) “Do you want Mother to move into your office.” (30 all)

“You could put your office in your attic,” the younger son seeing the opportunity to get at the oldest son turned it into a doubles match, “there is enough room for two offices up there.” (40/30)

Just then a nurse rounded the partition to see where the raised voices were coming from. (Back to your seats for orange juice.)

As the nurse disappeared the whispering began again. (New balls please.)

“I thought it was decided our Jean was going to look after her.” The eldest son drew the attention away from his attic. “After all she is the nurse in the family.” (Deuce)

“Jean has hurt her back.” The eldest sister came out in defence of her younger sister, “she can’t even climb the stairs.” (Advantage big sister)

The eldest son began to pace the floor like a caged animal then stopped to announce. “Well we will probably be selling up and moving down south to be near Janet’s mother so we can’t take Mother.” (Game, set and match.)

Following a final assessment with the occupational therapist, my Mother was to be discharged the following day. When I popped in with her clothes that morning she was asleep, her neighbour was sat up smiling.

“Are your family coming to see you later?” I chatted

“Oh yes she smiled, they are always visiting. They each want me to go to live with them but I want to go to live with my sister Maud. It is quieter and everything is on one floor. We are both widows now and she says we would be good company for each other.” (The ladies trophy is presented to Maud.)