I couldn’t move much after my operation. First-year nursing students, an auxiliary or, very occasionally, a qualified nurse would appear up to five times a day to check our temperatures and blood pressures - basically make sure we weren’t going downhill. Most of them were female. That’s when I first heard Albert, in the bed … Continue reading A Hospital Experience
The Holidays
“Well, then?” enquired Alice of the assembled guests “What’s everyone planning for holidays this year?” There was a general clinking and clattering as guests put down glasses and cutlery and dabbed at mouths with napkins. The dinner parties held by the Smythes were the stuff of legends and you put a foot wrong at your … Continue reading The Holidays
Memories of Childhood
I see her now in the light grey coat with the astrakhan collar, a rather masculine-style hat at an angle over her bun. I am so proud of her ‘my aunt Helen’ in that coat, that lovely collar. We are in a church, sitting down for the sermon. Uncle Jim has taken us with him … Continue reading Memories of Childhood
Corpus Christi
The lane behind the church was secluded as it led only to Father LeFevre´s house, through a pair of wrought iron gates that squealed loudly when opening. He rarely had cause to use them preferring the church's direct side door access from his home.. It was only for the use of his car that the … Continue reading Corpus Christi
The Alley
John turned to look back; he was puzzled. Grandad wasn’t by his side but had stopped and was standing, staring intently down an extremely narrow alleyway between two ancient buildings. Earlier that year, during Spring break, he had suggested that Grandad join him for a trip to France in the summer. Fiercely independent still at … Continue reading The Alley
Different
In the past family doctors were treated with a strange reverence as though nearer to the divine than the rest of us. When our doctor came to the house a shrouded quiet would fall and my mother would scurry around tidying what was already oppressively tidy. I don’t believe in God but our doctor might … Continue reading Different
The Shortcut
I’m running late – nothing new there you might think – but I can normally make up the time by taking a short cut down a little alleyway. It’s well-lit so it doesn’t feel scary, and it cuts off a good ten minutes compared with going the long way round, often even longer as I … Continue reading The Shortcut
Shade
It occupied a corner of the attic, waiting. Once long, long ago it had been more substantial but now just a shadow remained, a chill in the air, a feeling of being observed, of threat and dark malevolence. Shipmates had lived as he had but they were gone now. It was alone. In a dusty … Continue reading Shade
Letting Go
Another troubled night. He showered and dressed in his best suit (a description that dignified it far beyond its age and condition). Upon inspection the fridge in his tiny flat revealed little. However, stale bread toasted well enough and once the mould was scraped from the solitary chunk of cheese it made a half decent … Continue reading Letting Go
Footsteps
He awoke. It was dark. He shivered violently, the cold biting into him. Hunger was gnawing at his stomach; he couldn’t remember the last time they had allowed him to eat. He tried to move but pain shot through his body. He stilled himself. He realised that the darkness wasn’t absolute but he couldn’t tell … Continue reading Footsteps
