If I Fell

~3~

Breakfast

Angie and Ruth disappeared into the darkness, the cab ferrying them away to Heathrow airport located nearby.
I wondered what travelling to a different country would be like - scary, exciting, eye opening, tiring.. probably all of that rolled into one. Maybe one day I should be so lucky to travel.

"So how is school going, understand all that gibberish do you? Shorthand, pff, it's like that Egyptian hieroglyphics isn't it, all goobly gook if you ask me" Jim crunched down on his toast slowly eating half and pushing the rest away, he usually had a good appetite.

"Schools good and the goobly-gook is going well, si- sorry Jim" I nearly called him sir and he watched me over his tea, steam swirled over his face and he looked quiet cheeky as he smiled through the little cloud, his eyes were a chocolate brown and lovely, they shone brightly beaming amusment and jest, so my next question about his health was a not at all warranted as, from his sparkling eyes, he was nothing but bright eyed and bushy tailed as they say. "Mister James, Jim are you ok, you just seem to be off eating and I'm a little worried about you"

"You're as my son calls 'em, a doll, Abigail. Always worrying about me, a silly old man. I just aren't hungry my dear, nothing against your fabulous food of course"

"Well if you're up to it how about a piano lesson, I am poorly out of practice, dont you think. Its been a week or more since our last lesson" And we went and had a lovely morning me crashing on keys and him, suddenly bursting out golden oldies, the tunes flowing through his body making him happy and pushing me out of my shyness to sing along, I often caught him smiling up at the lovely photograph of his first wife which sat just atop the piano, saying she loved this, or that, song as we used up all the hours of the morning.

"Ok here's the newspaper, I'll be off to the green grocers for the week's lot, now. You needing any Ale or imbibing liquors Jim? just the one though!"

"Cheeky lass....No, nothing for me thank-you dear. I do like those new chocolate biscuits.... can you pick up a packet. Can you remember the name?"

"Arrr Chocolate Olivers, mmmm good choice, Mister sorry... Jim" I kissed his cheek and fetched my coat and hat putting them on in front of him so he knew I was rugged up from the chilly weather.

I had a little pull along with me, sometimes I felt like I was way older than my twenty years, maybe seventy or eighty, the contraption was an old ladies vehicle for lugging groceries about, not a young about the town lass, I wasn't either one particularly, I was a homebody through and through. First stop the pay phone on the corner a quick unpredicable chat to mother in the 'pool and off to get the groceries. I say  unpredicable because mother was a bit 'funny' from time to time. Nothing major but she could cut with that tongue of hers on occasion.

Sam the grocery boy was always chatty, a half hour trip taking two if I wasn't careful, he was nice enough, my age, tall, ginger haired and quite handsome with his smattering of freckles but he could talk the hind leg off a donkey if you let him, and I had to bite my tongue more than once when he retold various tales of his adventures around town. He would usually ask if I'd like to go down the local for an ale on a Friday night but I hadn't the nerve to go. His antics were filled with booze and scantily clad ladies always.

It was overcast and drizzling by the time I got back to Jim's, bloody spring my foot! I circled the date on the calendar- February the 8th, unloaded the granny cart and pulled out two Chocolate Oliver's from the packet and took them, and a cuppa, through to Jim.

"Jim, chocolate oliver's fresh from the store......... Jim. Ohhh Mister James. Mister James" I dropped the cup, saucer and biscuits on the table,the tea cup clattered and spilt some of it's contents all over the place. Something was awfully wrong I crouched down beside Jim but he didn't respond, to my shaking his shoulder gently. I felt for a pulse in his neck, he had a faint pulse, his eyes were staring blankly and never took my presence in at all.

I quickly dashed to the phone.

"Yes Ambulance please. Please hurry" I spoke quickly and firmly telling the operator the address, unlocked the front door and turned the front porch light on then went back to sit with Jim.

"I've called the ambulance Jim and they will have you right as rain soon.. I'll sort the house don't you worry about a thing. Jim please stay awake, look at me. "Jims eyes cleared a little "...Hello. There you are. You have beautiful eyes, so wise they are" I rattled on and on, aimless chatter to keep him lucid and aware that someone was with him "Jim please hold my hand, there you go. I can hear the ambulance" I continued blabbering away tucking his hand in mine, chattering more and more, some to keep Jim aware but some to keep me from falling apart and crying. Where is the blasted ambulance, I was trying so hard to not cry and help him, he was fading in and out of lucidity and it scared me.

Flashes of red and blue lights heralded the lagging ambulances' arrival, taking a deep breath I thanked the lord and asked for a miracle for Jim.

As the ambulance officers ran in I stood back watching the fast working men, sure in their duties, meticulous in their notes and observations. A gurney was brought in, Jim was then lifted gently upon it. As the second officer pushed Jim to the ambulance, I gave him a kiss on his forehead then the officer pushed him out the front door to the ambulance, the other officer asked "Daughter, are you?"

"No house-keeper, there's no one here but me" Tumbled from my anxious lips.

"Alright then luv, take a breath. In my opinion I think he has had a quite severe stroke but a proper diagnosis is up to the doctors to make, get hold of his family"

"Shall I come with you?"

The officer spoke on as I followed him out the door to help load the gurney, a soft sincere smile gracing his face. "No miss. Come in the morning or ring later tonight. Otherwise you will just be waiting all night and hopefully Jim here will be tucked in bed before we can say Jiminy Cricket, right Jim lad!"

I shivered from the cold breeze that pushed around us, they then slammed the doors firmly shut. I stood a long time after the flashing lights disappeared round the corner of the street.

I let tears fall, I was now alone, the turmoil of the events of the evening hit me hard as I shut the front door and wandered back into the living room.

Jim was so kind and wonderful I dearly wished him home with me now not alone in a stark, cold hospital but this was for the best. He needed that hospital now more than ever.