THE NEXT DAY
This morning when I was getting dressed, John knocked on my bedroom door. I quickly pulled my on dressing gown and invited him in. He sat down on my bed and said to me in a quiet voice ‘Nan, I need a word with you’. I said impatiently ‘and what would this word be concerning?’. Well, ‘Sarah and I have been thinking, maybe its time to start going to look around some nursing homes or warden controlled flats.’ I was horrified! Me? In a home? I don’t think so! I said to him ‘if you think you’re putting me in a home then you’ve got another thing coming! Now go away so I can get dressed in peace. The cheek of it! He scarpered, but then at breakfast, I spotted a brochure for some flats on the kitchen table. I didn’t say anything, but it actually looked okay. But not for me, I mean for old people who actually need to go there, not someone like me who’s got nothing wrong with them! [Rubs forehead]
I was really cheered up this evening; I spotted some brochures on the kitchen table, it looks like they might be booking a nice holiday somewhere, I didn’t look though just in case it’s meant to be a surprise and I don’t want to spoil it if it is! [Looks dreamy]
Audrey visited today. She bought with her a lovely homemade apple pie. She is such great company. Known her for thirty odd years I have. Our children grew up together. They’re still close friends today, just like me and her. Christmas and birthdays wouldn’t be the same without her. She’s been so lonely since Alfie died last year. Now, I can read Audrey like a book, and I could tell there was something wrong with her today because she seemed a little agitated, so I asked her if everything was okay. Well, she gave me such a look, which told me there certainly was something wrong! I had to prise it out of her. ‘Mavis, you were supposed to meet me at the entrance to the bus station yesterday, and I waited there for an hour, and you didn’t turn up’ she told me. I was mortified and couldn’t apologise enough; I couldn’t believe I had forgotten yet another thing. Flicking through my diary after she left I discovered that I was supposed have been meeting her at 11:30 to go to Tescos. Perhaps I should go and see the doctor; maybe he could give me something that could help me to remember things. [Sighs and cups forehead in hands]
Strangely Audrey must have read my mind as she rang me later and asked me if I would like her to take me in her car to the doctors, I wonder how she knew I was thinking of making an appointment.
THE NEXT DAY
My appointment had been made for 9:15am, so I awoke early so I could prepare. I didn’t tell John, I didn’t want him to think I was giving in to him and wrongly admitting that I’m ill and need to go into a home, which I can quite categorically say, I’m not. I’m glad he doesn’t know really, otherwise he would insist on coming with me, and that nosey girlfriend of his would want to come along too. I thought Audrey said she was coming at 8:15 so I was all ready to go, but after 15 minutes of waiting, I checked my diary, and she had written in there that she would be round at 8:45. I had a few minutes to spare, so I turned the TV on and watched 10 minutes of a Deal or No Deal repeat.
When Audrey arrived, I went straight out to the car as we were late enough already, and we drove off straight away. We didn’t really talk on the way there, she asked me how I was, and I replied that I was fine, and that was it really. Like me, I think she’s a bit nervous. Never liked the doctors, me. Give me the creeps, and you can never read what they write on your prescription. [Tuts and shakes head]
When we got there, we didn’t hang around. I just wanted to get in and out of there as quick as possible. Luckily, the patient before me had just come out, so the doctor just had to re-organise himself and he called me in. ‘So, Mavis, I understand that you have been forgetting things recently.’
‘Yes doctor’ I replied ‘And I was wondering whether you could give me any medication that could make it better.’ He said in a quiet voice ‘Well, Mavis, I can’t be too certain, and there’s no easy way to say this, but I think you may have Alzheimer’s disease. As I say, I can’t be too certain, so I’m going to refer you to the hospital for some further tests.’ I simply couldn’t believe it. Me? Alzheimer’s? Audrey sat there speechless. Back at home now, I still haven’t quite come to terms with it. I recalled the doctor’s words which he said the phone to the hospital. Alzheimer’s… terminally ill. The words whizzed round my head. I thought back to when John said that I may need help when he and Sarah moved out, he must have known all along. Maybe he’s right [pauses]; maybe I do need to go into a home. [Sighs]
