She’s just dropped my smart-phone into a sink of hot soapy water.
“I was only looking,” she whines.
“You – don’t – look – with – your – hands.” I fairly spit the words into her worried face, and she blinks, recoiling.
I turn away, awash with shame and regret. I’m not cut out for this – my sister must be a saint.
“Sorry,” she whispers.
“No… I’m sorry, sweetheart. How about we go to the park for an ice-cream?”
“Oh yes please….”
And then her sun emerges; I glow under the warmth of her delighted approval.
Just as I did more than fifty years ago.
Back in the comforting arms of technology after roughing it for a few weeks, it’s soppy stuff from me this week, I’m afraid. Delighted to be participating in Friday Fictioneers from home, under the stalwart leadership of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Thanks to Marie-Gail for her photo prompt this week.
I’m not sure why, but I felt like this was related to someone with alzheimer’s. Excellently done.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Miles. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful. Such a difficult time of life but you’ve expressed it beautifully Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks Irene. A difficult time indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra,
You’ve captured the poignant cycle of life. We start out as children and all too many return to that state. Perhaps they’re the happy ones. Well done as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
I hope so Rochelle; I always wonder how frustrating it might be. Or otherwise, perhaps. Thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
My mum looks after her mother one day a week and my son another day a week. 80 years between them but they have so much in common. She could relate to your story!
LikeLike
Thanks Jessie. Yes, the arc spans childhood to childhood.
LikeLike
If you love someone enough, the years mean nothing.
Good piece.
LikeLike
Patience though, can sometimes be in short supply. Thanks Mick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interestingly, I went to thinking the “she” was a mother/wife, to a child, and then back again.
LikeLike
It was a half hearted attempt to lead the reader to believe she was talking to a child, but having to get the ‘sister’ into it kind of messed it up.
LikeLike
I wouldn’t say half-hearted – it’s amazingly done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Big story without a lot being said. Very nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Caerlynn.
LikeLike
The music and your words create a sad and beautiful story.
LikeLike
I really love that song. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad tale from you this week. Well done.
LikeLike
Thanks Alicia.
LikeLike
Ah, love this so much.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did soppy just right, Sandra, and left us to interpret your story in various and perhaps apply it to our lives.
janet
LikeLike
Thanks Janet. Hope your mother is progressing well.
LikeLike
She’s doing great, Sandra. Thanks for asking. Love to Neville.
LikeLike
So sweet and poignant. At first I didn’t get the roles but when I did–there is just so much there. Nicely done!
LikeLike
Thank you Karen!
LikeLike
This almost brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful story.
LikeLike
Many thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Touching story – The mother’s condition is shown well without providing any details. Nicely done.
LikeLike
Thank you, glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Oh, that was like a punch in the gut. Damn fine writing.
LikeLike
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
A beautiful portraits of mothers and daughters and the life cycle we are all a part of. Plus I’m missing my mom more than a little these days. (She has moved from PA to Savannah, Georgia.)
LikeLike
Thanks Kir; hope you’re managing to keep in touch though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are, we talk every day and I have taken to pretending she is simply on vacation at the moment. Denial is easy(er).
LikeLike
Mother, daughter, or sister? No matter. The feelings in this vignette tell a truth. A poignant and well told story, Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks Lynda. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How difficult is can be in these circumstances. The sister seems to be carrying the load; your character (well drawn as is the other) should be grateful.
LikeLike
The burden of responsibility always seems to fall more heavily on one sibling, I think. Thanks for reading Patrick.
LikeLike
Didn’t get it at first, but the comments made it clear. On a re-read it really hit home. So sad how people end up this way – born helpless, die helpless. Tragic.
LikeLike
Shakespeare had it right with his seven ages stuff, Paul. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Painful to read…even more painful to live and yet there are so many beautiful moments too.
LikeLike
Thank you for reading Joseph.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always a pleasure Sandra
LikeLiked by 1 person
My first thought was the narrator was giving the sister a break from taking care of her mentally handicapped child. (I should have realised as my grand-mother used to give her sister a break by taking in their mother…) Sweet.
LikeLike
Glad you got it Dale. I hadn’t thought it could be read that way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s one of the wonderful things about FF, don’t you think?
LikeLike
I absolutely love this piece. Very well written; beautifully conveys a raft of emotions. I’ve read it 3 times and I think I’ll keep coming back to it. Wonderful!
LikeLike
Thank you SarCou, so glad you liked it.
LikeLike
There is a sweetness in this though.. somehow they stay happy though. Maybe it’s worse to see it happen. My mother is on her way this road, and some days she is mostly happy.
LikeLike
The sad thing is that we can’t know just how it feels, although we might. Thanks for visiting Bjorn.
LikeLike
Well done, Sandra. My dad has days even now when he doesn’t track well, and the temptation to lash out at him in frustration is often near the surface. But how will I feel when he isn’t around to annoy me.
Your story struck a nerve.
All my best,
MG
LikeLike
Thanks MG, yes I’ve got an uncomfortable recall of several snappy reactions I’ve been guilty of in the past.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra, I love your story and it is so life-like and seems real! Great job! Maybe I will start writing again – it’s been a very busy (good) summer. Nan
LikeLike
Missed you Nan, but glad you’ve enjoyed your summer.
LikeLike
it takes some getting used taking care of someone else – especially someone else’s someone else.
Ice cream is always good for getting over an annoyance.
Randy
LikeLike
A glass of wine does it for me, Randy. 😉
LikeLike
this is so true to life. writtedn with compassion in mind.
LikeLike
Thanks Plaridel. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
aww…i feel so melted by the spirit of the story…sweet….
LikeLike
Thank you Sumana. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, you just pinched my heart, Sandra. This one hits close to home… for many, I’m sure. Well done, as always.
And nice new photo; I like it! Welcome home!
LikeLike
Thanks Dawn. And yes, I thought I’d ring some changes with the photo for a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is beautiful!
LikeLike
Thanks very much. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story Sandra. And I can relate to it because my Mum’s in my care now and I find it hard to be patient sometimes, and she still treats me like a child sometimes.
LikeLike
I’m sorry if this proved painful for you. This must be a sad time.
LikeLike
Good story, Sandra. My mother had Alzheimer’s. She also enjoyed simple things. She was no trouble most of the seven years she was with us after my dad died.. We finally couldn’t meet her physical needs at home, and had to put her in a good nursing home. The attendants there loved her as she was nice to all of them. It’s often harder on the caregiver than the patient. She died peacefully at 93, but thought she was in her 30’s. She dreamed at night that she was traveling to visit relatives. I said at the time she traveled more than I did. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLike
We can never know, can we, what goes on in the mind of Alzheimers patients. You can only hope they’re protected from some of the fears that plague others. Thanks for reading Suzanne. I hope it didn’t bring back painful memories.
LikeLike
Loving the one’s we love… A heart-wrenching task… Both physically and mentally! Well done!
LikeLike
The commitment can be difficult, but the rewards worthwhile Roger. Thanks for reading Roger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad but at the same time beautiful. Nicely written!
LikeLike
I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
LikeLike
Pass the Kleenex tissues, please. 🙂 Very sensitive, wrenches the heart and speaks of the contrast between a sister who’s quick to react out of anger, and the other whose simple, honest response brings regret and shame to the former. I could see them clearly and happy their hearts were united in the end.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Joyce, it was good to see you back at Friday Fictioneers this week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been there, done that. It was so hard to hold my tongue, and now she’s gone forever. I wish I could have been more patient.
LikeLike
I know what you mean Tracey; I often think with painful regret about the times I came back with a sharp response. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s hard to watch a parent declining like that and staying patient even harder. Another thought provoking story Sandra well done.
LikeLike
You’re right. I remember occasionally feeling cross and irritated with my father, not about what he was doing, but that he was succumbing to the ravages of age at all. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Powerful, poignant, punchy.
Perfect.
LikeLike
Thanks CE. 🙂 Positively preening, I am.
LikeLike
Beautifully done – I wasn’t surprised it turned out to be her mother. I have similar experiences going on in my life now.
LikeLike
I’m sorry to hear that Liz. I wish you more patience than my protagonist (and me).
LikeLike
Very nice. This is the cycle of life encapsulated. I can relate to this very well. In our older years, we become kids again. Well done, Sandra.
LikeLike
Shakespeare had it right with his seven ages of man, Amy. Sadly. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You hit soppy just right. It is so hard to watch a loved one practically disappear in front of you, losing all sense of reason and the ability to communicate as they once did. Well done.
LikeLike
Aw thanks Dee. You’re so right.
LikeLike
Nice! Reminds me of my beautiful Mother.
LikeLike
Thank you Arl. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully told, and so true to life – I’m sure we’ve all said things we regret in moments of frustration, whatever the situation. Not soppy at all, in my view.
LikeLike
Thank you Margaret. I think you’re right.
LikeLike
A wonderful touching story. This is a good one Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks Dawn, glad it reached out to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Touchingly told. I could feel your protagonist’s frustration, guilt and love so strongly.
LikeLike
Thanks Sarah Ann. It seems a long time since you were here at FF.
LikeLike
It is a long time since I was here. I hope to stick around now I’m back.
LikeLike
What a creative take on this prompt, Sandra. The emotions you portray are almost raw enough to make the reader feel them with the main characters. Very nicely done.
LikeLike
Thank you Sandra. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Old fools become like babies again. Touching story.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Subroto.
LikeLike