The Word Cloud

Josie was on the phone, ‘No but listen Phil, I just feel bad for the woman, after all it was me who had left the residents file on the desk.’ Phil couldn’t quite grasp the logic of Josie’s thought pattern. She had left a file on the desk just at a point when another member of staff’s wayward daughter just happens to be on the prowl for some information. Apparently she’d called into the rest home to borrow some ‘lunch’ money from her Mother and then this information she passes on to her addict brother. ‘So Josie, I’m sorry but I just don’t see how you inviting her for supper is going to make any difference to the outcome of the story.’ Josie’s pause was all but a split second, ‘Phil I’ve already told Sandra that you’re the best cook in Polgareth, we’ll be back at about 8.30, set an extra place, there’s a love.’
The receiver was placed back into the telephone cradle with a clunk of despair; Phil really did not need other people’s life complications encroaching into his and Josie’s time.

Earlier in the day Phil had been back to the hospital to get the results of some tests that the doctor had wanted to run. After the fall, sometime near Christmas, blood samples had been taken and an anomaly had been found. Today the doctor had informed Phil that he has Osteogenesis imperfecta, “Brittle bone disease” the doctor had reaffirmed. Before the fall the only health issues Phil had been experiencing were a few problems with ear infections and a number of ‘off days’ which were also associated to his hearing problems.
The hospital had given Phil a leaflet, sometimes comfort blankets are a metaphorical thing, in some ways this had accentuated a depressive mood and then having ‘googled ’ the term brittle bone, all sorts of emotions had started to over shadow Phil’s mood. Perhaps it was the recurring resentment of his biological Mother or just the overflow of feelings and memories.

Early in Phil and Josie’s marriage it had been established that Phil was not capable of ‘giving’ Josie a child. Together with a succession of tests the clinic had asked for some family history and then this subsequently had lead Phil onto the affecting rollercoaster-ride of trying to find his biological Mother. The letterhead is still imprinted in his subconscious. “It is with regret that the above named person has opted not to regain contact with yourself.” The above mentioned was a Miss Ruth Mabeliene Cutler.

Sister Abell had called Sandra into her office; all things considered Cheryl Abell had been quite understanding of Sandra’s predicament and “was in no way wanting to subject her to any further upset”. In a roundabout way Cheryl had pointed to the shortcomings of the rest-homes’ security and promised Sandra, “A valued member of the team”, that things would sort themselves out. Sister Abell was a great believer in the old adage that, “There is a time and a place for everything.”

Soon after Sandra had been relieved of her employment status, Josie had been set the task of sorting through the resident files before they were to be put in their new resting place. She couldn’t help but read the background information in the documents, some of the residents she had known for some time and others who had only recently been admitted. Josie’s phone played a tune, “It’s a long way to...”, Sandra had left a text message on Josie’s mobile to say that she wouldn’t be joining them for supper.

Later when Josie had arrived home the look of relief on Phil’s face gave her a funny feeling which somehow made her aware of some impending upset. ‘Phil, how are you love, how did it go at the hospital, listen you'll never guess...’ Josie hadn’t even taken her coat off before she started to give Phil the run-down of the day’s events.

‘ So anyway I comes across this stack of files, while I remember I came across a name, which I can’t just remember... it’s on the tip of my tongue. Bugger I’ll have a think and see if I can remember, I’m almost certain you’ll know the name.’ Josie put a mock look of deep-thought onto her face and then started up again with her characteristic rapid-fire delivery.
‘ Anyway this one was a surprise, Charles Souter, no next of kin, known by Charlie, how bizarre I thought to myself, out of all the residents Charlie is the one guaranteed to have regular visits from his Grandson and the little toddler. You remember Phil I’ve told you about him, quite dapper he is.’ Josie could see that Phil had his mind in another place, she knew the signs. ‘Charlie’s occupation was listed as a Librarian’, Josie’s mind flicked the imaginary pages she had in her mind and pictured the adventure stories he told. As Josie, in her minds eye was placing the pile of files into the lockable metal box-file the name she had seen earlier seemed to lift itself from the paper. Phil had come to sit opposite Josie; he was holding both of her hands in his. Josie knew that the name was familiar; she just couldn’t place it. ‘Phil, whatever is it love?’ Josie could feel the tremble running through her husbands’ body.

An enjoyable read. Requires standard editing. Also the wall to wall paragraphs would need breaking up, as they make reading the material a chore.

Greyowl59

As expected this concluded as an enjoyable read, indeed, and an interesting piece. It had my attention throughout.
Editing will make certain un-understandable things look appropriate and flow with the story.
Great work.
Write on.
Has'san