If I Fell

~5~

Morning

I fell off the couch with a thud, ok so I'm awake!

Sun was streaming through the sheer curtains that hung on the front window, perhaps the bluebells will finally make an appearance today. As I slowly turn over to clamber up off the floor I spot Jim's glasses beside the leg the couch and remember.. thoughts of bluebells disappearing from view.... I had better take the specs to the hospital today.

It's beautiful outside thankfully, so I won't have to worry about the chill of sleeting rain that had been forecast for today.

I make myself a quick breakfast of toast and tea and should be able to catch the Number six bus, get off at the bus depot then catch the number 22 to go on to the hospital.

Finding a brown print dress and brushing my long dark hair I tie it quickly in a ponytail, no makeup and I'm out the door.

The red double decker bus with black strip arrives as I rush to the stop, I climb quickly aboard and sit close to the window.

I hope Jim is ok... he's so lovely, like my own father, he is.

My dad never came back from the war, shot down over Germany serving his country they said– where was his country when mother was single and struggling to hold everything together. I was just a babe in arms so I have no memories of father which is sad but I really try not to dwell on those things. 

Life is today, tomorrow and beyond... not lots of yesterdays that can't be undone or changed.

The sun's rays dance off the window beside me, I try to gaze out but the glare is rather blinding. All I could see on an angle was tired looking brown eyes staring back at me.

Entering the hospital just after nine, I found Jim on the ward, just missing the doctors making rounds. Slowly walking to the foot of the bed I grabbed the cold metal using it to hold me upright. Jim, he might as well have been my dad, he was as close as I would ever get to one anyway; He wasn't my boss today and I was shocked at his appearance this morning he seemed, thinner, older, looking suddenly so much weaker overnight.

A nurse, that was sitting beside the bed filling in the chart, finished off her entry then stood and approached me.

"Hello are you Jim's daughter?" The nurse hugged me gingerly as I wavered unsurely at the foot of the bed and sat me in the chair beside Jim that she had just vacated.

My 'sort of my' father lay alone looking so frail and helpless my heart broke into a thousand pieces; in that moment, he truly was Da.

"Yes, my father" I lied, I never ever lie. I'm sorry Mister James, but I do love you so, and this is so I can get the information for your sons isn't it really.

"Alright then, Jim here has had a moderate sized stroke. He will need lots of bed rest and rehabilitation, he will sleep a lot these next few days. Oh don't cry, here, here, have a tissue darling...... There now.....Look; now, he will sleep lots but that's good, you see. His body is trying to heal itself...... It is envisaged though that it will be two weeks at the very least on the hospital ward and rehab for however long- like for learning to stir tea again and eating with a fork, understand?"

"Yes, I understand. Thank-you very much" I shook the nurses hand as she walked off to her next patient, pushing the blood pressure monitor with it's three wobbly squeaky wheels. I then sat and spoke quietly to Jim, telling him all about the phone call and silly conversation. Placing his reading glasses on the little table I pulled his sheets straight and combed his hair from his eyes. Watching him breath for a few silent minutes I then sat quietly beside him and wrote everything the nurse had imparted down, as close to what she said, for Mr Ramone.

I missed the number 22 bus so walked two miles to the depot, just managing to jump on the number six, 2nd run, which I nearly missed also after having to run and thump on the window to get the driver to stop.

The clouds were black... heavy, dark and ominous and the heavens opened as I stepped into the cold empty house. The silence that should have embraced me was wrecked by the shrill ringing of the telephone. Setting my bag aside, quickly shucking my shoes, I grabbed the phone, wrestling with the cord to get the phone to my ear.

Ramone: Where were you? I've been calling for bloody hours, I have ya'know.

Me: I was at the hospital then I missed the bus and had to walk.

Ramone: oh ok then, no car?

Me: I'm a student and a housekeeper, sir. So yes, no car.

Ramone: So da, any news?

Me: Yes of course.... Umm, unfortunately, it was a stroke.

Ramone: sobbing and banging, the phone fell onto something hard, another person picked it up, dragging it up the table by the sounds of it ...

     ??: "Ello zis is 'ohn, ramoneees zend. Nah this is his partner Bill, he's crying, luv.

Me: Look it's not too bad tell him. Jim's asleep now and will be for a while but they think, nearly full recovery over time.

Ramone/Bill: (I heard that thanks Abby, I mean Abigail, you're a doll) Bill: Hear that wuv you're a piece of porcelain or plastic, what a charmer this bloke it, eh?!

Me: Yes wow, I'm so chuffed. Look tell him I'll try to call back or does he want to call here again?

Bill: It's still Bill, how old are you, Abigail?

Me: None of your business, Bill!

 Bill: We have a live one 'er! I say 21 am I right?

Me: Its only need to know and I don't need you to know.

The telephone went silent again, I wondered if I had scared the man off or had the international line been disconnected.

Me: Hello, Mister Ramone?

Bill: Abby, it's still Bill.

Me: Yes Bill, how are the knife sales going?

Bill: Ha she thinks we sell .... 

 Ramone: Stop it Bill, Hi Abigail Mister Ramone again.. sorry. Well yes, knife sales are going very well. We'll talk again in ten hours or so ok? Alright? (Mister Ramone?!? good God man, you sound like a right prat with that name mate)

Click and he.... or should I say they.... were gone.