Member-only story
Vignettes — #2
Miriam
[I will be publishing a series of intertwined vignettes — 25 in all — over twenty-five weeks of Sundays.]
Miriam sits at a table, her wheely walker beside her. She watches other nursing home residents with their family visitors, chatting, laughing.
One of the carers approaches her. “Would you like a cuppa while you’re waiting?”
“No thanks, Dear. They should be here soon.” Miriam sighs. “It is Tuesday, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Do you want me to phone your daughter to check? We have her mobile number.”
“That’s okay. Thank you.” She hesitates. “Maybe a glass of orange juice. That would be nice.”
When the carer comes back with the juice, Miriam says, “Perhaps you would phone Hannah for me. Just in case something has gone wrong.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.”
Miriam sips her drink, slowly, careful not to choke. She is half-way through it when the carer returns.
“Hannah’s phone is ringing out, Miriam.”
“What does that mean? Is that bad?”
“It means no-one’s answering it. It could mean that she has left her phone at home, or she has the ringer turned off. I’ll try again in a while if she hasn’t arrived yet.”
