The Last Move

    “Well now, Dad, how are you feeling, today?” 

    “Tired, love, tired. I don’t like to say it but the stairs are really getting a little steep these days, do you know what I mean? Old age is a burden at times. I still miss your mother, God bless her. She loved this old house as much as I do. We’ve been here over forty years but it is really too big for one man. I don’t need three bedrooms anymore and those stairs are going to be the death of me at this rate!”

    “You really want to sell up, Dad? It’ll be a big wrench won’t it? All those memories and all the bits and pieces you two collected. You can’t take it all with you, you know.” 

    “I know, Mary, but we all have to move on. Jane died two years ago this May and here we are, August, the weather due to turn soon and I could do without the expense of heating this place again. You know I’m not broke but why waste money? I have been out looking and there is a nice residential estate over Compton way. I’ve been there on the bus and it’s only ten miles or so from your place. I’ve been in to the estate, “Winter Rest” it’s called, and met a Mrs Margaret Sims. Lovely woman, in her forties I think, she manages the estate. There are a total of ten homes there. They are all sorts, and they have a lovely one bed unit available at the moment. It’s on the ground floor of a two storey block, so I won’t have any stairs to worry about.”

    “Are you sure, Dad? It’s obviously up to you, Dennis and I will back you up, no question. It’s your life, old darling, we just want you to be happy and well.”

    “In that case let’s drive over to Compton and I’ll show you Winter Rest. O.K?”

    “O.K., get your coat, you’ve pulled.” James laughed at that and got up from his armchair and made his way to the hall, where he got his coat and cap and changed from his slippers into his shoes. Mary joined him, after putting their tea cups in the kitchen sink. She knew James would wash up later. He liked to have the odd job waiting as it gave him ‘something to do’, as he put it.

    The drive to Compton was easy and took them through the village and out towards the downs, at James’ directions. About twenty minutes after leaving the house Mary was directed to a curving driveway, off the main road. As they rounded the curve she saw a group of two storey, brick built, four to a block, apartments; each with an enclosed lobby area leading to the front doors, stairwell and lifts. At first glance they looked to be fairly new, no more than a few years old. The surrounding gardens were well established and neat and tidy.

    There was a small grass verge between the driveway and the front of the apartments. Each block was separated by well kept grass pathways, inset with cement blocks like stepping stones, and the three blocks formed the sides of an inverted U shape, with the drive leading visitors to a large car park area in the middle of the U. In all Winter Rest looked to be well maintained.

    “How did you find this place, Father?” asked Mary.

    “I went to the library and did a search on residential homes and a young man there helped on the computer and we found several. I wrote off and got brochures and checked some out. This was my favourite and, as the bus stops just about a hundred yards up the main road, I came out last month for a gander and met Mrs. Sims. She showed me around and put me on the list. Last Friday she rang and said that one of the residents was leaving. She has had to go to a secure rest home, poor dear. She isn’t doing too well, Alzheimer’s you know. Well, she can’t look after herself properly anymore so she needs proper care. Anyway, my name was on the list for a flat and so Mrs. Sims gave me a call.”

    “You were lucky it was so fast. I thought these were like gold dust, damned hard to get hold of,” said Mary. “So did I but, luckily, not a lot of people in the area are looking to spend their money on these places. Apparently a lot of us old fogies want to either stay put or go into rest homes. I like my independence, I can afford the rent, especially if I sell the old house, and I know the area. Bus on the doorstep, village five minutes away, town twenty minutes, pub up the road there, we passed it on the way. What more can I need? Come on, love, let’s go see Mrs. Sims. You’ll like her, I’m sure.”

With that James opened his door and got out of the car and Mary followed suit. They then walked across the car park towards the main reception area at the left-hand side of the U, in the first building.

    As they entered Mary saw that there was a lift and a staircase opposite the entrance door. To the right of the lift and stairs was a solid wood front door and, to the left of the lift, was an all glass door, leading to a lounge area with various sofas and armchairs arranged in front of a bar. The bar was closed at the moment but three people were sitting around a coffee table drinking tea or coffee and chatting. There was a wide screen television against the wall, opposite the bar and seats.

To the right was a reception area, currently unmanned, with various brochures and newspapers on it. There was a small kitchen bar behind the reception desk where tea and coffee could be made. Opposite the front door, at the back of the lounge, was another door leading further into the building. James approached the reception desk and rang the bell sitting on the end of it. A woman came into the lounge through the far door and smiled at him and Mary.

    “Hello, Mr. Clark. It’s nice to see you again,” she said, smiling.

    “Hello Mrs. Sims. Please, call me James, and this my daughter, Mary. Mary, this is Mrs. Sims.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Mary, my name’s Margaret.”

    “And I, you,” said Mary, as they shook hands. Mrs. Sims was an elegant lady, in her forties, as James had said. Neat and tidy in appearance, with dark brown, shoulder length, hair. A trim figure, dressed in a blouse and sweater and a print skirt, and wearing low heeled, ‘sensible’, shoes.

The other residents had looked up when they entered the lounge but were now chatting again and paying them scant attention. “Let me show you around,” said Mrs. Sims. “This, as you have seen, is the bar-lounge. We open the bar at seven in the evening and close about ten. Some of the residents aren’t able to get out to The Fox and Hounds so we provide for their needs here. It is also a little cheaper as we don’t have to strive to make a profit, unlike the pub.” She smiled as she said this and Mary warmed to her. Here was a lady who seemed to really care about the old folk in her care.  
    “Now then, through here is our main office and storage area.”

    They walked through the far door into a corridor off which were four doors. The first two were marked Toilets, the third was marked Stores and on the opposite side was the door marked Office.

    “There we keep all the supplies and drinks,” said Mrs. Simms, pointing to the door marked Stores. “We can also order anything anyone needs and keep the dry goods here if the resident is away when they are delivered. We then take them to the resident’s flat when they return. It works very well. We have been here just over five years now. We have ironed out the wrinkles and everyone seems very happy here. We have a handyman, Frank, on call if anything needs fixing and Richard does the gardens so we are self-suffient, really. Now, come and meet my husband, John.” They entered the office where a man of similar age was talking on the phone as they entered.

    “O.K. Frank, I’ll tell Edward you’ll be up about two o’clock. Yes, I’ll see you then. I know he’s looking forward to the film. See you later, `bye.” He looked up from the phone and rose to greet his visitors. “Good day, Mr, Clark, how are you?”

    “I’m fine, John, good to see you again. This is my daughter, Mary, and please, as I have just said to your good lady wife, call me James .”

    “Pleased to meet you,” said Mary.

    “Please, take a seat,” said John. “Margaret could you tell Edward that Frank will be up about two to pick him up. The film starts at three so they’ll have plenty of time. Thanks. Now then, what can I do for you two? Would you like tea or coffee?”

    “No, thanks, John. We’re fine just now. I’ve told Mary about this place and I would like to show her around, if that’s possible.”

    “Of course. We can go and see the free flat and I’ll give you all the details. O.K. Margaret?”

    “Yes dear. You three get off. I’ll tell Edward about Frank, he was in the lounge a minute ago, chatting with Edna & Gladys. I’ll see you later, Mary, James.”

    “See you later, Mrs. Sims,” said James.

    “Come through here, out the back way,” said John, as he led them to the end of the passage and out of the back door. This led to a large area of lawn with flower beds beyond, the whole surrounded, at the far end, by a large yew hedge.

    “This must take a lot of maintenance,” said Mary.
    “Oh no, not too bad actually. We have a local jobbing gardener in who maintains the whole thing. He is paid by the residents and he tries to keep it looking good for everyone. We run this place as something of a commune actually. All for one and one for all, sort of thing. Everyone pays towards the upkeep, thus everyone takes care of the place. Also, splitting it between the residents it ends up each person paying about a hundred pounds a year instead of a big bill. We just take a two pounds a week and pay him as the work is done. It is a simple system and works well.”

    They had walked across to the second block and were standing outside the left-hand, ground floor flat. “Now then, here’s the free unit. Number five.”

    “Dad said the lady has had to go into a secure residential home.”

    “Yes, poor old Liz, she just can’t take care of herself anymore. She started to forget how to get back from the village and then she forgot which flat was hers, etc. It is a very cruel disease, Alzheimer’s. She is now ensconced in a residential home in Barford and we understand she has settled in well. Now, here we are.”

    John opened the front door of the flat and they entered a small hall which led to a door and turned left to form a passage leading to a glass internal door. “Opposite you, as you come in, is the bedroom. Turn left and the first door is the kitchen. At the end, through the glass door is the lounge. The door on your left, opposite the kitchen, is the airing cupboard, with the boiler etc. The other door on that side is the storage cupboard, see.” He opened the cupboard door to show a deep cupboard with shelving on one side and room on the other to put an ironing board, brooms, hoover, etc, “Plenty of room for odds and sods. Now, here’s the kitchen.”

    The kitchen was a reasonable size with worktops on the left and in front of them, with the sink, opposite the door, set into the worktop. The right-hand wall had a gas cooker and hood and there were cupboards beside the cooker and below the worktops. There was a washer/dryer below the draining board and a fridge-freezer behind the door. There were also some wall cupboards on the left-hand wall. The window, above the sink, looked out onto the lawns at the rear of the flats.

They then entered the lounge, which was currently unfurnished and thus showed the size of the room. The main window had the same garden view. There was also a smaller window, opposite the glass door, which gave a view of the side of the next block of flats. The third window, on the left as they entered the lounge, gave a view of the driveway and car park. The sun was streaming in through the windows and Mary judged that the flat would be quite light most of the day.

    “Right, now, back to the bedroom, folks. Here we go. As you may have noticed there is no separate bathroom. That is because it is en-suite. That is why there is that big gap between the bedroom door and the kitchen door, that’s where the bathroom is.” As they entered the light, airy, bedroom Mary again saw the garden and thought that it was a nice view to wake up to. A door on the left led to the en-suite, which was compact but adequate. She was pleased to see grab bars on the wall behind the walk-in bath. The sink was to the right, at the end of the bath, with the toilet beside the tap end, to the left of the door. There was a wall cabinet above the sink and a small extractor fan in the wall above the toilet.

    “The fan comes on when you turn on the light, as you saw, and, although it is small, I think there is all you need in here, eh James? Margaret and I live in the flat above the offices and all of the flats are similar. We are very comfortable there.”

    “It looks fine to me, John. What do you think, Mary?”

    “It serves its purpose, Dad, that’s all you need. I like the bedroom too. I see you have a built-in wardrobe and a nice big window. In fact the whole flat is nice and light and airy. I like it, what about you?”

    “Well my girl, I think it is just fine. I can potter about in here without any bother and Smokey can enjoy the garden without my worrying about him and traffic.”

    “Oh lord,” said Mary. “I’d forgotten about Smokey. Is it all right…?”

    “No problem at all,” said John. “Several residents have pets; two dogs and three cats, two budgies and about three fish tanks at the last count. And no, the dogs don’t chase the cats, the cats don’t let them!” John chuckled as he said this and Mary decided that both he and Margaret were ‘good’ people, and her qualms about her father moving in with strangers began to dissipate. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all. “Well, Dad, it’s up to you. Let’s go to the pub and have a chat, eh?” said Mary.

    “Good idea, my love. Thank you John, I’ll be in touch soon. Regards to Margaret.”

    “Goodbye James, Mary. Enjoy your lunch.”

# # # # #

    James sold his house and moved into Winter Rest in the middle of October, with the blessing of Mary and Dennis, who had helped with the house sale and arranging the furniture in the flat. A lot of his old belongings and furniture had been sold at auction and James settled into number 5 with a healthy bank balance and a steady income from his investments and pension. He had moved in time for bonfire night and was looking forward to the promised firework display and party in the bar.

The community at Winter Rest enjoyed a modest display of ground based fireworks, as it was a chilly November night and none fancied standing on the lawn to watch rockets shooting skyward. After the show those who wished to congregated in the bar and James got to meet his other neighbours.

    He was already acquainted with Edward and Edna, from number 4, and Gladys, his neighbour at number 3. He had not yet met John and Betty, his upstairs neighbours, as they were away on a Nile cruise and not due back until next week. Jim, from number 7, he had met in Edward’s flat the previous week when Edward had invited him up for a drink, to welcome him to the block. Jim’s wife, Hilda, had called in on James when Mary & Dennis had left, after moving him in.

    “Hello, my dear, I’m Hilda, from over the way there, number 7. I saw you moving in and I thought you could probably do with a nice cup of tea and some fruitcake. I’ve got the tea and that in this bag if you’ve managed to discover the kettle.”

    “Why, that’s very kind, please come in. I’m James, by the way, pleased to meet you. Move out of the way, Smokey, you silly cat.”

    “Oh, don’t mind me, James. I’ve got a cat too, probably why he came over. Tabbatha is always rubbing round my legs so he can doubtless smell her. How old is he?”

    “Four years, five in January. How old is Tabbatha?”

    “She’s about six now, they should get on. She’s neutered, so no trouble there,” said Hilda, with a smile.

    “So’s he,” said James, “so, definitely no problem. Now then, kettle. Yes, where it belongs, in the kitchen,” said James, filling the kettle and taking the cups, saucers and side plates out of the cupboard.

    “You’ve done well, it took us days to find all the bits when we moved in.”

    They made the tea and had tea and fruit cake in the lounge, whilst Hilda explained some of the benefits of living at Winter Rest to James. She pointed to the welcome pack lying on the cupboard unit under the window and asked if he had read it yet. When he said not she said that it was very good but the main bits were these. In the kitchen she had seen his ‘panic button’ necklace lying on the worktop.

    “Now, that you should get into the habit of wearing, James. Jim and I always wear ours, except in the bath! Put it on and forget it. Jim has his under his shirt, it doesn’t show but I know it’s there if he ever needs it, heaven forbid. If you are ever in need of help, like after a fall or something, you just press the button. It doesn’t matter where you are in Winter Rest, inside a flat or in the grounds. It is a very clever system, wireless or something. Anyway, there are, whatsits, receptors, all over the flats and in those garden light posts in the gardens and driveway. Apparently if you press the button this rings a bell in the Sims’ flat and office and they have a gizmo that tells them whose alarm it is and where you are, flat 7, bedroom, or garden, area x, etc. They can get to you quickly and help or call the doctor, etc. It’s all very clever and a relief, if you follow me. Thankfully Jim and I haven’t had to use ours but dear old Liz, she had this flat before you, well she had a fall in the kitchen once and Mrs. Sims was over in a flash. Oh yes, and there are two red pull thingies in the bathroom if you have trouble in the bath, they do the same, rings their bell.”

    “That is good to know, but what happens in the middle of the night?”

    “Oh, no problem, you’d get one of the night staff, then. There are two teams, they alternate, except for holidays, when they do two weeks at a time. That’s Agnes and Tom or Michael and Rowena. Nice young folk, all of them. Basic medical training too, like Margaret and John, so nothing to worry about. Eh, I need to get away from disaster and tell you the good bits. Now then, the buses run every hour, they leave for Compton and Barford at half past from 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. and return from Barford on the hour from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. so you can get to Barford about nine in the morning and stay until eleven at night, if you’re so inclined.” She was smiling a roguish smile as she said this.

    “I doubt I’ll be out that late, young lady, I’m eighty eight not twenty eight!”

    “Ah, don’t give me that, you’re as old as you want to be and that’s a fact, and you look to me like a sprightly eighty eight, not a doddering one.” Hilda was smiling as she said this and James felt that she would prove to be a good friend and neighbour.
     “Thanks for that, Hilda. I must admit I have my slow days and right now I feel a hundred and eight but, generally, I’m in fine fettle and I aim to visit Compton and Barford when the weather permits. I also aim to re-visit the Fox and Hounds at the weekend. Are you and Jim up for a visit?”

    “Oh, I think you may be able to twist our arms, good sir, yes I think we can manage a half mile stagger, there and back,” laughed Hilda.

    Thus had James started his life at Winter Rest. Now he was in the lounge having a drink with Alice and meeting up with Grace, from number 9, and her upstairs neighbours, Charles and Mavis, the youngest community members, both of whom had only recently retired and who had opted to move into the residential block when the last set of flats was completed, some two years ago.

    “Well, we were living in a nice council estate in Barford but it was getting a bit expensive, one way and another, what with high rates and that, because of living in town. We used to come out this way at weekends to walk the dog on the downs,” said Charles. “So, when we saw the building work going on here we made enquiries as to what was happening and met the Sims’. The rest, as they say, is history. When the Sims’ told us they were building a residential retirement community we thought that it sounded like a good idea. We then found out a bit more about what they were about. John’s father made a fortune in the building industry and John was the only child so he was set for life. Unlike his dad he is not ‘practically’ minded but he has a good business head. He saw a lack of affordable residential housing for the elderly so he thought he’d do something about it. Thus was Winter Rest born. When we came across it it was about half done and we put our name down for the last available unit. We have been here two years now and I don’t think we are likely to move out. We have the lift if we can’t cope with the stairs but that’s, hopefully, well in the future.”

    “What I like is the delivery service that they arranged with the supermarket,” said Alice, from number 8. “You just trundle in on the bus, place your order, pay at the checkout and they deliver later that day, or the next.”

    “I don’t think the Sims’ arranged that, Alice. I think it’s a national thing, dear,” said Mavis.

    “Well, whatever, it makes life much easier for me. I can’t lug a load of shopping around at my age. I’m seventy seven and getting onto the bus with bulging bags is just not my idea of fun,” said Alice. She then finished her glass of port and said, “Right, my round, what are we all having?”

    After the evening in the lounge James headed back to his flat and let Smokey out of the lounge window into the garden for a few minutes. Smokey had taken to the flat as well as James had done. He would get up on the unit under the window when he needed to go out and would announce his return by scratching on the widow, whilst standing on the window ledge outside, when he wanted back in. Both James and Smokey had settled into a steady routine and they were content and happy together.

    James had made an impression on Gladys and she was pleased to know that he was there if she fancied a little company. They had discovered that they were both reasonably independent but they had some common interests and enjoyed each other’s company. Just the last week they had been to the cinema together and they were both looking forward to Christmas and had been out shopping together. Bouncing gift ideas off of each other as they strove to buy things for their families.

    “Well, Smokey, when you get back in I’m off to bed. Mary and James are coming over tomorrow, we’re off to that new super mall over in Lower Standing, do some Christmas shopping and have some lunch. What’s the time? Right, news in a minute, get the telly on and see what’s happening in the world.” James watched the late news, let Smokey in, when he appeared at the window, and got to bed just after eleven. He was looking forward to his shopping trip in the morning. It was nice to get the chance to visit the new shopping centre. It was a long way to Lower Standing on the bus and no delivery service!

    “Morning Dad, how are you?” Mary was at the front door, wearing her furry parka and looking slightly chilled. “It’s a cold morning this morning, get your hat as well as your coat, O.K?” she said, as James let her in to the hall.

    “Yes, mother hen,” said James, with a smile. “I may be old but I’m not senile, yet, young lady. Come in a minute, I’ve got to put the breakfast dishes away. Morning Dennis, how goes it?”

    “Fine, thanks James, you?”

    “Very well, thanks. Now then, that’s them away,” said James, putting his plate, mug and cutlery away. “Now then, Smokey, in or out? I’m off for the day. O.K., out it is, a good choice as I was putting you out, anyway,” he said, as Smokey strolled passed Dennis and out of the front door, followed by Dennis, Mary and James, who locked the door and joined the others at the car.

    “Right, off we go,” said James, getting into the car. “Lunch is on me Dennis, no arguing, you’re providing the transport and fair’s fair. I expect it will be busy today. Only two weekends to go to Christmas. Where does the time go? I realised this morning I’ve been here about two months. We had a good fireworks night and I’ve been busy with Gladys Mayborne, shopping and doing crosswords and things. This was a good move you know.”

    “I’m glad you’re settled, James,” said Dennis. “Mary and I were a little worried you know. It must have been a big wrench, leaving you old house.”
    “Actually it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, you know. There were a lot of old memories in the old place, I kept seeing Jane in various odd bits and pieces and sometimes it made me sad and depressed. Fifty four years is a long time with one person. Now I have a fresh start. Jane is still with me in my head and some knickknacks but I am starting afresh and I fell invigorated. Is that wrong?”

    “Of course not, Dad. It is good that you are still enjoying life. Mum would approve, you know that. So, whose this Gladys woman? Your new fancy piece?” said Mary, with a little laugh.

    “I should be so lucky!” Chuckled James. “No, she lives at number 3, next to the lounge. We hit it off when we discovered we both like crosswords and the like and she took me into Barford and showed me around. I also go out with Hilda and Jim. He has some fascinating stories when you get him going. He was a merchant seaman and has been around the world several times. Then there’s John and Betty, above me. He’s ex police and she was a nurse. Nice people. In fact we usually congregate on a Wednesday evening in the bar for an hour or so.”
    “You mean for a whisky or two I suspect,” laughed Mary.

    “Of course, my dear. A man can’t survive on tea alone, you know.”

    “Are you coming to us for Christmas this year, James?” asked Dennis.

    “No, I won’t be bothering you folk this year. There is a Christmas drink on at the lounge and I have been invited upstairs by John and Betty for lunch. I’m supplying the Christmas pud and the wine and they are supplying the goose. I haven’t had goose in a long time and I’m looking forward to it. I would like to see you two on Boxing Day, though. I’ll take you to the Fox and Hounds, the landlord does a special Boxing Day lunch apparently, all seafood, as a relief from the turkey and I know you two like seafood.”

    “That sounds good to me, Dad, you’re on. Now then, let’s get through to the hypermarket and get some serious shopping done.”

    “Tell me James, was Jane such a shopaholic?”

    “I’m afraid so, Dennis. So is Gladys and, according to John, so is Betty. I think it’s in their genes, young man. We earn it and they spend it!”

    “That’s what money is for, you old fogies, spending! Now come on guys, get me to the shops.”
    “Women!” exclaimed James and Dennis, simultaneously, and all three laughed.

    The trip to the shopping centre was a success and they returned home in a laden car and helped James to put away the various bottles of booze and the other small presents that he had bought for his new friends and neighbours. After staying for tea they left him at about six o’clock and he settled down to watch the evening news and thought about what he would do tomorrow. He wanted to see Richard, the gardener, to ask him if he could suggest some easy to look after houseplants, as he felt like some greenery indoors but he had never become involved in plants, that had been Jane’s area. He was fine on paints, basic car maintenance, changing a plug, but plants, no idea.

    Richard was happy to have a chat over tea the next day and recommended a couple of plants to James and offered to run him over to the local nursery next Wednesday.

    “I’ve got to go myself for some things and I have to pass here to get there, if you follow me, so it would not be any trouble.”

    “Are you sure? Well, I’d be happy to come and you can point me in the right direction. Thanks, Richard.”

    As promised they went to the nursery and James returned with two cacti and two violets. He was happy to see something green and living in the lounge and his bedroom. “Now, don’t you knock them over, Smokey, you daft cat.” James stroked Smokey behind the ears as he sat on his master’s lap. “Eh, son, I miss dear old Jane at this time of year you know.” Smokey looked up at James with a knowing, feline expression. “Ah, I know, she’s probably having a whale of a time somewhere else and looking down on me, now and then, just to check that I’m alright. Well, Darling, if you’re watching at the moment, I’m a bit sombre but I am still enjoying life and I am very happy here, so you go on gallivanting, but it will have to stop when I come and join you, and that won’t be too far in the future my girl. I’m not in any hurry but I’m not getting any younger, mind.”

    James looked out at the garden, dimly lit by the lamps set at regular intervals along the paths, and watched as Jim walked his scottie dog along the back path, by the hedge, scoop and bag in hand. “That’s one thing I don’t need to worry about with you, son, isn’t it. You go for a walk alone and bury your own. That’s the problem with dogs. Lovely animals but very dependant. Now then, what’s tonight’s film? Are, here we go ‘Last Train to Paris’ well, we’ll give it a try. Up you get Smokey. I’m sorry but I’ve got to go to the toilet and then I’ll make some coffee and we can watch the film. You spend most of the day asleep on my lap as it is. That’s right, get a mood on and curl up in your bed. Who’d have a cat, eh? Now then, bathroom.”

    James enjoyed the film and went to bed contented. He dreamt of Jane that night and in his dream they were away in France, visiting Paris and, needless to say, shopping. He slept with a smile on his face and was pleased, when he awoke, to remember his dream, which he did not often do. “I reckon you were there last night, Old Girl, listening in on me and Smokey. Thanks, lass, it’s good to know you’re still with me. Happy days, my dear, happy days.”

    After breakfast he decided to call on Gladys and see if she fancied a trip into town to do some shopping and maybe a spot of lunch in the little Italian restaurant in Barford.

“Come on in, James, I’m just having a cuppa, fancy one?”

“Aye, I’ll have a cuppa, thanks Gladys,” said James, following her into the lounge. The flat was a mirror image of his own and the decor was very floral, which seemed to him to sum up Gladys, who was very fond of flowers. She also had a florid complexion when he thought about it. Anyway, she had a pot of tea and some biscuits ready in the lounge and went to the kitchen for a cup and saucer.

    “I came on the off chance of a cuppa, why else would I traipse all the way from my flat? Goodness me, it’s almost as far as the bar!” laughed James. “I came to see if you fancied a trip to Barford. I’m going in on the eleven thirty bus. I’ve got to go to the opticians to collect my new glasses and I fancy some lunch in Luigi’s. Would you care to join me, young lady?”

    “Flatterer. I haven’t been young for forty odd years! Yes, I could do with a trip to town. I want to check out the stationers and the toy shop for a new jigsaw as I’ve finished the one I was doing for Simon. That’s it over on the dining table. I finished it on Saturday and I expect Simon over tonight to collect it.”

    “Collect it?”

    “Yes, he’ll take it away and frame it. Oh, I forgot, you haven’t seen any, have you. Come into my bedroom, as the actress said to the bishop, and I’ll show you.”

    James followed Gladys to the bedroom, having briefly glanced at the dining table which held a large jigsaw on a sheet of plywood.

    When he entered Gladys’ bedroom he saw a picture on the wall opposite her bed. The picture was of a small, thatched cottage set in a garden of bright flowers and shrubs. The picture was about twelve by eight inches, framed, but without any glass. On approaching closer he realised that the picture was, in fact, a completed jigsaw puzzle, mounted on plywood and framed by wooden beading. The effect was simple but impressive, as he said to Gladys.

    “Yes, I like it. It was the first that Simon mounted actually. The picture reminded me of a cottage we used to stay in when we went on holiday as children. That was why I bought the puzzle. When Simon saw me doing it he asked for the size and came back the next day with the sheet of ply cut just slightly larger. I hadn’t done much so we moved it onto the ply. I finished the puzzle and he came over with a large sheet of ply, put it on top of the picture, then wrapped the ‘sandwich’ in string, took it home and mounted it. He turns the ‘sandwich’ over, so that it’s face down. Undoes the string, coats the back of the puzzle and the back sheet of ply with glue, then puts the back sheet back onto the puzzle, turns the whole bundle right way over, takes off the top sheet, firms down the puzzle, puts the top sheet back on, adds some weights, I think he uses old telephone directories, and leaves it for a day or two. Then he takes the top ply sheet off and coats the picture with a couple of layers of clear varnish, like they do with a painting, and he frames it with beading. He did this one as a present, but I thought it was brilliant and told him to keep it up. Well, now it’s a bit of a cottage industry for us. He owns a picture framing shop, you see, and he displays some of these and sells them to customers. We also do commissions. People say they want one so he lets them find the jigsaw and he passes it to me. I do the puzzle, which I love to do, he mounts it and sells it to the customer. They pay a price set by the size of the puzzle. I charge a penny a piece, a thousand pieces, ten pounds to ‘do’ and he adds for the ply, beading, etc. I think it’s tuppence a piece all told, so the thousand piece picture would cost you thirty pounds to have it done and mounted. Say eight pounds for the jigsaw and you have a nice picture, of your choice, for less than forty pounds, which is reasonable for a picture, so I’m told. I know a lot of the pictures he frames and sells cost a lot more than forty pounds, that’s for certain.”

    “That is a wonderful job, Gladys. Would you like some help? Because I love a good jigsaw myself. We could go into business together, my dear. G S & J, jigsaws done to order!”

    “What about JIGS? Our initials plus an ‘I’. That would tickle Simon. We’ll call in on him in Barford and see what he says. I know that he gets a lot of enquiries about the jigsaw pictures. You may well wish you hadn’t had that idea, James. Now then, you go and check out my York Minster picture whilst I clear the cups and get my coat. The bus is due in about fifteen minutes and we aren’t in a fit state to run for it, so, I want to give us five minutes to get up the drive and over the road.”

    As Gladys had suggested Simon was very taken with the idea of ‘Jigs’ and the three of them agreed that they would try the idea out. Simon was able to promote the service in his shop and between them James and Gladys were producing eight or nine jigsaw pictures a year. The orders were not regular and often they worked a jigsaw jointly simply for their own pleasure. They often took these, once done and disassembled, to the charity shop in the village, where they would sometimes find another jigsaw to keep them occupied for a few days. They also got together occasionally in the lounge-bar to work on crosswords over a coffee or a drink in the evenings.

    Mary was pleased to hear James discussing things he and Gladys had been doing when she went to see him one Sunday afternoon. Occasionally he had voiced the idea that she may feel he was being disloyal to Jane’s memory but she pooh poohed that idea. “You have to enjoy yourself, Father. Mum would approve, you old fool. Just don’t propose. I don’t want a step mum at my age!”

James laughed at her comment and assured her that he was not planning any weddings. “Gladys and I are good friends, my darling, but we both value our independence too much to change now. We loved our partners but we don’t want to start nest building again. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to shut the front door and enjoy your own company.”

    Thus life for James settled into a happy routine. He went to the Fox and Hounds every Saturday afternoon, after his weekly visit to the supermarket. He had joined a group of other retired men who used to gather on Saturdays for a game of dominoes and a couple of drinks whilst their wives prepared their dinners or tidied the house or visited friends, whatever women did on a Saturday afternoon. They really didn’t care, this was ‘time for the boys’ and the women were happy to get them out from under their feet for a while; which suited the men perfectly well.

Then James would return to his flat where he would check on Smokey and then he would go to the lounge-bar and collect his groceries, which were delivered by the supermarket at about four o’clock. If the van had not been he would have a chat with anyone in the lounge or he would watch the television for a while until his shopping arrived.

    Once his shopping was delivered he returned to his flat and made his dinner. Then he settled down to some more television or a book or a jigsaw, whatever he felt like at the time. Life was good, he felt. He had been at Winter Rest for four years now. It had passed in a flash but he had moved in four years ago last October. Last week he had celebrated his birthday with a party night in the lounge bar and he and Gladys had sold over thirty jigsaw pictures in the last four years.

“Who would have thought it, Smokey, old man, eh? Ninety two years old and still earning. Well, where there’s a will there’s a way, isn’t there? Now, what time is that film on? Ah, here we go, eight thirty, ‘The Long Goodnight‘. Right, just time to make the coffee.”

    James settled down in his armchair to enjoy the film. On the table in the corner was his latest puzzle, which he had just finished. He planned on inviting Gladys over for Sunday tea and to show her the finished picture. It had been tricky to do as his eyesight was getting somewhat worse, not really bad but not as good as it used to be. That was old age for you!

    When the film ended he turned off the television and went to the toilet. Then he sat down again to have a last look at the crossword before turning in for the night. Smokey jumped onto his lap and he

relinquished the paper in order to pet his cat. His head lent back on the chair and he dozed for a while. Then he came awake with a slight start, feeling as though there was someone in the room with him. He looked towards the door and realised what had awoken him.

    “I’ve been expecting you, you know. I just wasn’t sure when you would get here. Anyway, I think I’m about ready to go. I have just finished the jigsaw that Mary gave me for Christmas.”

    “Yes, it has taken a while, Well, about ten weeks actually. I got started just after our New Year party, on the second. I was not really in the mood on the first. Yes, well, I did have a few scotches on the thirty first. Well, it was my ninety first. New Year! Eh? Yes, ninety two is a good age. Had another party last week to celebrate that, so I’ve had a boozy year so far.”

    “Oh yes, I am pleased with the jigsaw, two thousand five hundred pieces, mainly brickwork. Yes, it’s the Tower of London. I took the grandchildren there years ago. Too many years to remember really, the youngest is thirty two now. Time flies doesn’t it? It seems like yesterday that Jane died and she went what? six years ago, now? Yes, six years this May, hey ho, it just zooms by, you know. Well, yes, you would know, wouldn’t you. Mind you, I suppose it’s just a blink of the eye to you.”

    “You know I remember our wedding day very well and I remember her going into hospital to have Mary. How long ago was that, now? I forget. She must be in her sixties now, isn’t she. Yes, she must be. Eh? Yes, I know we have to go but, just give me a minute or two more, just a minute or two.”

    “Dear Mary, apple of our eyes she was. I’m glad she and Dennis are so happy together. It is good to see your daughter happily married, and she is. Her boys are nice young men and both doing very well, a cabbie and a builder. Good lads.”

    “Hello Smokey, what’s up lad? Yes, you can get on my lap. Sorry, I can’t make a fuss of you just now, I have to go soon and I can’t get around to stroking you, sorry old puss.”

    “Look, do you think Mary will look after him? Yes, I suppose she will. There’s always Gladys, next door, she may be able to take him in, because he can’t come with us, can he? No, of course not.”

    “What’s that, the others are waiting. Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to cause a hold up. Yes, yes, I’m as ready as I can be. See you sometime, maybe, Smokey. You be a good cat, now. That’s fine, you curl up and sleep, I have to be going.”

# # # # #

    The phone rang as Mary and Dennis started to put away the shopping. Mary answered it on the kitchen extension.

    “Hello, Mrs. Watson? Hello, it’s Mrs. Simms from Winter Rest here. Yes, I’m afraid it is about your father. I’m sorry to say that he has passed on. We think it was early this morning. I went round with his paper about half past eight and, when he didn’t answer the doorbell, I let myself in and found him in his armchair."

    Mary took a deep breath, to clear her head and glanced across at Dennis, who was still emptying carrier bags. “Do you know what happened to him? Was it quick?”

    Dennis stopped what he was doing and went over to Mary, a concerned look on his face. She nodded to him and listened to Mrs. Simms as she continued.

    “Yes, I think it was fairly quick. I don’t think he suffered at all. I know it’s a cliché but he honestly looked quite content. Old Smokey was lying on his lap and was quite reluctant to move, actually. I am pleased, if that’s the right word, to be able to tell you that he finished that jigsaw you gave him. It looks very impressive. He had it on the table in the lounge. I know that he and Gladys Mayborne spent many hours on that puzzle."

    “Gladys will be upset, too. They were good friends weren’t they?”

    “Yes, and she will miss him. They were good together, I don’t know who she will chum up with now. They were quite ‘a couple’ weren’t they?"

    “She was very good for him. We think. She stopped him from becoming a recluse. They seemed to be busy all the time, which was good for them both. We liked her a lot. Oh well, we knew this was going to happen, eventually. What do you need us to do?”

    “The doctor has been and done the necessary. If you could get over here sometime today we can sort out his things and arrange to move his stuff out of the house. I appreciate that this isn’t easy but the rent is paid to the end of the month so don’t worry. Two weeks is plenty of time."

    “He seemed well last week at his party. This seems so sudden. He was a wiry old man. I can’t seem to take this in yet. It just seems unfair. He was so busy enjoying himself.”

    “Yes, he did enjoy his birthday party, last week. In fact he was quite a party animal wasn’t he?"

    “Yes he was, he liked his little tipple. Dennis and I will be over in the next hour, O.K? We will have to get his stuff together and sort out what to do with Smokey and all his stuff. I’m sorry, Mrs. Simms, I need to get my head together. We’ll see you soon. Thanks for calling, I’m sorry that this happened but it was only a matter of time, wasn’t it?”

    “Look, I’ll get off now. Take care, Mary. We will miss him too, you know. He was a true Gentleman. Goodbye for now, my dear.”