By Kate Jones
Max stands with his hand on the frame of my metal chair. Throw your bread to the duckies, Sal, he says. He pushes a crust into my hands. I’m wearing a pair of hideous orange woollen mittens, knitted by somebody colour blind at the day centre. I stare back at his expectant face. My tongue sits like a piece of dried ham, as little use as my legs.
I wonder why he thinks, at age 78, I’d want to feed ducks every Sunday afternoon like some overgrown toddler. But I’m unable to remind him who I was.
Who I still am.
this is a great story. Very simple, but full of insights into both characters.
Thanks so much Hazel! : )
Anyone, that talks about how great retirement is or the gentleness of old age is young ,and does not not know what their are talking about . well done!
How very true, Derrick…I really wanted to capture how people often write the elderly off without thinking of what they might actually want to do. ie, not feed the ducks in this case! ; )
Wow! Loved this.
Oh thanks so much, Denise! Glad you enjoyed it : )
Friends for life with a childhood memory’s, bonding into old age like fabled wine..
Wow. Loved the quiet, truthful ending!
Great and poignant vignette, Kate. I can’t agree with the prior comment that retirement can’t be great or old age gentle. Depends a lot on your health, both physical and mental. And whether people who retired from, say. a nine-to-five job have other things going on their lives besides “work” to give them meaning and purpose. Lots don’t, particularly men. Now nearing 84, I find that “retirement” allows me time and energy for many creative things, including, e.g., acting, singing, writing, more time with family, etc. – than I did previously in full-time paid work which, at the time I found quite purposeful. Different strokes, I guess. Speaking of which, if I got one (that is, a stroke) tomorrow, and survived, I might feel quite differently about the gentleness of old age!
this is a wonderful story, and so true about how people treat the elderly. well done.
Those last 4 words nail this. Kudos.
Thanks for a great story Kate. I took the story to be not so much about age, although your story certainly contains those elements, but I also saw that sometimes assumptions are made for those that can’t express or communitcate their desires and wishes. You know it is a great story when it elicits so many view points and comments.
Really powerful. And an important reminder.
great piece great imagery and evocative inner thought. Marred by this terrible bit of syntax inversion though. “knitted by somebody colour blind at the day centre” – suggesting the colour-blindness (hyphenated and one word by the way) exists only at the day centre and associated with the location rather than the person. . by a colour-blind biddy/lady/patient at the day centre is more accurate.