April A-Z
blogging challenge 2012
P is the next of 26 short stories - 250 words or fewer - about
the life and times of a fictional character called Alice.
It is a truism that the child is father to the man. As
children become parents and their own parents turn into grandparents it is inevitable
that roles begin to reverse. Alice was pleased her parents lived nearby and could
see her little boy so frequently but she worried about her father.
John had retired from the police force when he was sixty, the
year before she married. Until then he had received regular medical check-ups
and was an active, fit man. Since his retirement he had been more sedentary and
gained a lot of weight. Now, four years later, he was breathless after the slightest
exertion and inclined to sit for long periods, reading the paper or listening
to the radio. Ivy fussed after him, cooking his favourite meals and encouraging
him to ‘take it easy.’
Alice told John he should see the doctor about his
breathlessness and lack of energy. As she had predicted, the doctor advised more
exercise and a stricter diet, reducing fats and sugar. He also prescribed
tablets to moderate his blood pressure and regulate his heart. Ivy clucked her tongue,
maintaining, ‘A little of what you fancy does you good.’ Alice agreed but
suggested her father didn’t really need three cooked meals a day with puddings
after two of them. Ivy nodded and carried on baking cakes and biscuits for them
to enjoy with elevenses and afternoon tea.
Alice continued to worry. John continued to be breathless. Ivy
continued to spoil her husband.
Nice work, I am really glad to be 1 of several visitants on this awful site : D
ReplyDeleteThis story is so close to many of my friends' realities. You write well.
ReplyDeleteOH NO! I'm afraid to read the next post! I hate to see John not taking good care of himself.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Ivy has it in for John.
ReplyDeleteI can understand Alice's worry about her father. Sounds like Ivy just likes to cook. She needs some other interests to get her out of the kitchen. Perhaps she should babysit the grandchild!! (Poor John.)
ReplyDeleteAfter retirement my father, always quite a physically vain man, became quite rotund - for exactly the same reasons! Alice is right to be concerned and Ivy needs to channel her energies else where - do they have a soup kitchen nearby?
ReplyDeleteHi Janice .. interesting turn the story is taking .. people don't realise do they ..
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
Very true about roles reversing. Oh Ivy. I can imagine John feeling probably smothered and overfed.mmmh I know a woman just like that. Your characters are so true to life. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm always feeding the people I love with good healthy food & a little treat every now & then; it's how I love them. :)
ReplyDeleteKate
A to Z http://whenkateblogs.blogspot.com/
It's been a long time I haven't been here, I had so many comments to answer that I forgot my Google reader !
ReplyDeleteMr. G. is not fat but breathless and gets backaches with the slightes movement. He would need to smoke less and exercise more. But it's like talking to a wall. Your story reminded my of our "job" as grandparents, he plays with Toby a lot but when he can sit, lol !
Like some of the others above I have seen this same scene in friend's homes. The outcome is usually not good.
ReplyDelete