Short Story: The Coffee Afternoon.

Short Story: The Coffee Afternoon.

--Hi Grandad. How are you today?

-Well my legs are a bit better, look, they are not as swollen.

-Good. Hello ladies. This is nice, a coffee afternoon, you usually hear of coffee mornings.

-Do you? Where is that?

-Well most places Mary. I think it is usually a coffee morning because people usually have coffee in the morning.

-Do they?

-Yes Granddad. They have coffee mornings and tea dances in the afternoon.

-Yes, we went to one yesterday didn't we Mary.

-No, we didn't.

-Well we went for a walk on the beach.

-No, we didn't.

-Now then you two are you going to have coffee?

-Yes please nurse and can my granddaughter have some?

-No it's alright I don't drink coffee thanks.

-Oh that's right, she only drinks it in the morning.

-No I just don't drink coffee.

-Would you like some raffle tickets, the prizes are on the table in the hall.

-I got some on the way in thank you nurse.

-So how are you liking it here Granddad. Mum and Dad said you really liked the food and you were getting all the right tablets at the right time so that is good.

-Well I don't know yet because I only arrived yesterday. It was a surprize to me when I woke up here.

-No you have been living here for a month now Granddad.

-Here? No that's not right, is it Mary?

-I don't know I only just came here myself. I have a place further down the road.

-Ok. Shall we play cards Granddad. Mary likes to play too so if we move the table nearer.

-Have we got any cards?

-They will be under the cushion of Mary's chair with your photo album and the magazines I brought you.

-Well they would get pinched if I didn't hide them.

-Yes I know Mary. That's ok, but can we use the cards.

-Are you sure they are here I can't see them.

-There should be 3 packs with the ones I brought last week.

-Oh here they are. I'll deal them.

-Now no cheating Granddad. You must put a card down when you have picked one up.

-You are just jealous because I always win. Have you seen my legs? They have gone down. The nurse came in to dress them today and she says they have gone down.

-Yes they look less swollen. You can put your trouser legs down. Wasn't there an Ace on top just now?

-Not sure. This coffee is nice. Oh there are more people coming in. We don't usually have this many people.

-It's a coffee afternoon Mary. We were all invited to come for coffee.

-I thought you said you don't like coffee.

-That's right I don't but I came to join in the fun.

-What fun?

-Well the raffle and the chat and we are having a good game of cards.

-Did you say we went to a tea dance?

-No Granddad. You used to go to them years ago when you were younger and your legs were better.

-The nurse says they are less swollen today. Don't you think so?

-Yes I do now it is your turn Granddad and you can put your trouser legs down. Mary are you sure all the cards are here?

-Well if you keep them all together someone will steal them all together.

-But no-one can win if we haven't got.........

-I've won!

-How did you manage that with only half a pack Granddad?

-Skill.

-I think I will have a cup of coffee now please nurse.