Copyright Marie-Gail Stratford
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.
castelsarrasin 
I’m not sure why, but I felt like this was related to someone with alzheimer’s. Excellently done.
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Thanks for reading Miles. 🙂
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Beautiful. Such a difficult time of life but you’ve expressed it beautifully Sandra.
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Thanks Irene. A difficult time indeed.
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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
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I hope so Rochelle; I always wonder how frustrating it might be. Or otherwise, perhaps. Thanks for visiting.
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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!
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Thanks Jessie. Yes, the arc spans childhood to childhood.
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If you love someone enough, the years mean nothing.
Good piece.
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Patience though, can sometimes be in short supply. Thanks Mick.
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Interestingly, I went to thinking the “she” was a mother/wife, to a child, and then back again.
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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.
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I wouldn’t say half-hearted – it’s amazingly done!
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Big story without a lot being said. Very nice.
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Thanks Caerlynn.
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The music and your words create a sad and beautiful story.
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I really love that song. Thanks for reading.
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Sad tale from you this week. Well done.
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Thanks Alicia.
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Ah, love this so much.
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Thank you!
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You did soppy just right, Sandra, and left us to interpret your story in various and perhaps apply it to our lives.
janet
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Thanks Janet. Hope your mother is progressing well.
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She’s doing great, Sandra. Thanks for asking. Love to Neville.
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So sweet and poignant. At first I didn’t get the roles but when I did–there is just so much there. Nicely done!
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Thank you Karen!
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This almost brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful story.
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Many thanks!
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Touching story – The mother’s condition is shown well without providing any details. Nicely done.
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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Oh, that was like a punch in the gut. Damn fine writing.
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Thank you! 🙂
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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.)
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Thanks Kir; hope you’re managing to keep in touch though.
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We are, we talk every day and I have taken to pretending she is simply on vacation at the moment. Denial is easy(er).
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Mother, daughter, or sister? No matter. The feelings in this vignette tell a truth. A poignant and well told story, Sandra.
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Thanks Lynda. 🙂
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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.
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The burden of responsibility always seems to fall more heavily on one sibling, I think. Thanks for reading Patrick.
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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.
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Shakespeare had it right with his seven ages stuff, Paul. Thanks for reading.
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Painful to read…even more painful to live and yet there are so many beautiful moments too.
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Thank you for reading Joseph.
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Always a pleasure Sandra
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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.
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Glad you got it Dale. I hadn’t thought it could be read that way.
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That’s one of the wonderful things about FF, don’t you think?
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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!
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Thank you SarCou, so glad you liked it.
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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.
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The sad thing is that we can’t know just how it feels, although we might. Thanks for visiting Bjorn.
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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
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Thanks MG, yes I’ve got an uncomfortable recall of several snappy reactions I’ve been guilty of in the past.
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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
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Missed you Nan, but glad you’ve enjoyed your summer.
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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
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A glass of wine does it for me, Randy. 😉
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this is so true to life. writtedn with compassion in mind.
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Thanks Plaridel. 🙂
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aww…i feel so melted by the spirit of the story…sweet….
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Thank you Sumana. 🙂
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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!
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Thanks Dawn. And yes, I thought I’d ring some changes with the photo for a while.
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This is beautiful!
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Thanks very much. 🙂
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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.
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I’m sorry if this proved painful for you. This must be a sad time.
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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
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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.
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Loving the one’s we love… A heart-wrenching task… Both physically and mentally! Well done!
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The commitment can be difficult, but the rewards worthwhile Roger. Thanks for reading Roger.
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Sad but at the same time beautiful. Nicely written!
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I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
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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.
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Thanks for reading Joyce, it was good to see you back at Friday Fictioneers this week.
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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.
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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.
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It’s hard to watch a parent declining like that and staying patient even harder. Another thought provoking story Sandra well done.
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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.
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Powerful, poignant, punchy.
Perfect.
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Thanks CE. 🙂 Positively preening, I am.
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Beautifully done – I wasn’t surprised it turned out to be her mother. I have similar experiences going on in my life now.
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I’m sorry to hear that Liz. I wish you more patience than my protagonist (and me).
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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.
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Shakespeare had it right with his seven ages of man, Amy. Sadly. Thanks for reading.
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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.
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Aw thanks Dee. You’re so right.
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Nice! Reminds me of my beautiful Mother.
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Thank you Arl. 🙂
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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.
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Thank you Margaret. I think you’re right.
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A wonderful touching story. This is a good one Sandra.
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Thanks Dawn, glad it reached out to you.
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Touchingly told. I could feel your protagonist’s frustration, guilt and love so strongly.
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Thanks Sarah Ann. It seems a long time since you were here at FF.
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It is a long time since I was here. I hope to stick around now I’m back.
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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.
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Thank you Sandra. Glad you liked it.
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Old fools become like babies again. Touching story.
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Thanks for reading Subroto.
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