Sunday

I had a hunch that Mum might be waking up today. Her last Active phase had been strangely short – barely two days instead of the normal three or four. Reggie’s duty rotation meant he was working downstairs for a while and Sean was on leave so there wasn’t anyone I could sneak a quick message to to ask but my guess was that this Sleepy phase would be short too.

Reggie was in the dining room when I got to The Home. He was keeping one of the residents company as Sunday Tea was being cleared away.

“HEY!!! IT’S NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!!” he shouted as I walked past.

It’s no wonder everyone there knows who I am.

I wandered over and joined the conversation. His companion was most intrigued by my kilt and wanted to know why I was wearing it. I went through the standard explanation – The Dog was a real menace when we first got her and she tore all my shorts, harder wearing than denim, more comfortable than jeans, warmer than shorts when it’s cold, cooler than shorts when it’s hot and I don’t show my “Builder’s Cleavage” when I bend over.

“So it’s not for religious reasons then?” she asked.

“No. Comfort and practicality.”

“And you wear it all the time? Outside? On the street?”

“Of course he doesn’t!” Reggie said before I could say “Of course I do!”

“But he does! I’ve seen him!”

I hadn’t seen this lady before so now I was intrigued.

“Have you seen me? Where?”

I’d never heard of the place she named as the location of her previous sighting. There must be another bekilted dog-walker in the area.

When I got to the top floor the first thing I was aware of was Eleanor shouting and sobbing. In fact she continued berating anyone and everyone and sobbing because no-one would let her go home the entire time I was there.

I found Mum asleep when I walked in her room. She fallen asleep with some milkshake in her mouth judging by what was dribbling down her chin. Getting her cleaned up also woke her up.

She told me she was glad someone had come to see her. When I asked how she was feeling she said she was feeling better but she said it in a way that showed she knew she wasn’t going to convince anyone. She just looked sad and tired.

After that, all her communication was non-verbal. A single nod or shake of her head was all she could manage. She didn’t move at all but then she was normally stiff from being completely immobile during a Sleepy phase.

“Do you want some of your milkshake Mum? It must be that nice nurse on again. She’s the only one who warms the milk.”

She nodded.

Half way through the milkshake, Mum’s carer for the day came in to check on her.

“I’m sorry about all the noise.” she said.

“Eleanor’s really struggling this afternoon. I know she gets worse as the day goes on but it’s a bit early for her to be this bad.”

“I know. Her sons visited her earlier. She’s been like this since they left.”

Mum finished her milkshake and I read to her until she went back to sleep. Half a chapter was all it took.

Eleanor spotted me as I left Mum’s room.

“PLEASE!! PLEASE!! WILL YOU HELP ME!?”

“What can I do for you dear?”

“Help me get out! I want to go home!”

“Ah. OK. I can do that but I’m going to have to go and get some petrol in the car first. Will you stay there and wait for me while I do that?”

“Alright. You will come back for me?”

“Yep. But I might be a while. Just sit there for a bit.”

I popped my head in the nurse’s office on my way to the lift.

“I’m off now. Mum’s finished her milkshake..”

“Oh good. Thank-you.”

“… and if Eleanor remembers, I’ve told her that I’ll give her a lift home after I’ve gone and got some petrol. Oh, wait, she’s forgotten already. She’s shouting at someone else to take her home.”

Bloody hell.

Author’s Note

My Mum is in a nursing home in a small village in the Thames Valley. The photo is not of the home. I used an AI image generator to give the reader some idea of the home she’s in.

All, some or maybe even none (you’ll never know!) of the names have been changed to protect privacy and hide real identities. If you think you recognise someone then let me know and I’ll edit the post or remove it entirely