WEP 28 DAYS - CHANGES

Here is my entry for WEP February 2019 challenge

28 DAYS

CHANGES

The couple sat in the lounge by the fireplace

Surrounded by wood panelling and heartache

Two souls not talking, no conversation

With each other for a long duration

The spell was broken as she turned her head

At the sound of the birds fighting over the bread

Burnt toast crumbs scattered over the lawn

Hetty broke the silence and said, look at those birds, Sean

The warmer weather is coming, there’ll be worms galore

Waiting for the hard-baked soil to warm up some more

Her husband tore his gaze away from the window

Looked at his wife’s face, her wrinkled brow

His gaze took in the years of love and happiness

Joy and comfort and of course some sadness.

They didn’t have long left in this place

Their home for many years, their base

For many long years their memories encased

In the fabric of the walls, cement, bricks and mortar

The fights of their two children, a son and a daughter

They’d turned the page of the calendar

Although the numbers were a blur

February had finally come

It was time to leave their home

The tears welled up in her eyes

Pupils dilated with her fears

A journey in to the unknown

A different part of town

New people to meet and greet

Independence slowly abating

The loss of dignity

Superseded by security

So said their family

With love in their hearts

They helped them depart

Their lovely home and abode

As the minutes sped and time slowed

Their lives past before their eyes

They gathered their supplies

Speeding up and slowing down

With a laugh or a frown

They were ready to say goodbye

Hetty marked off the last day of February on the calendar.  Twenty-eight days they had lived here now.  When would it feel like home?  Probably never she thought.  Her home was gone.  A lively, young and vibrant family of four had bought it and would make their own memories there. 

She could hear Sean moving around, he would be out of the bedroom soon, dressed in his shirt and tie, blazer ready over his arm.  Not for him the casual look of today nor her if she was honest.  She styled her hair every day, she wore clean clothes every day, used a pinafore to keep her clothes clean when she cooked.  She wasn't going to be a little old lady with grease spots and old food marks all down her front.

Sean settled himself in the armchair with the newspaper while Hetty scurried round in the kitchen readying the teapot and cups and saucers, checking the biscuit tin was full of Liz’s favourites.

Their granddaughter was a great comfort and support to them.  Always ready to take them to their appointments now they were no longer able to drive.  That was a big blow to their independence.  Hetty sighed deeply, life goes in cycles she thought and this was the start of the last cycle of their life. 

They were safe, secure in the knowledge that they had some independence but with help on hand if it was needed.   What more could she ask for?  Her youth back?  No point in looking back she chided herself, things weren't always rosy back in her younger days, two small children, none of the benefits of central heating.  Life wasn't hard just different from today’s conveniences.  They managed.  In some ways there was less stress, still stress but a different kind of stress.  

So now here they were still in love after 66 years although there were times when they weren't happy with each other – ha!  They worked through their differences and didn’t give up on each other.

Sean stood to open the door and greet Liz.  She was the apple of his eye, his one and only granddaughter, the one most like his beloved Hetty.  The generation gap seemed so small to him today as he saw hope and love and comfort in her eyes.

Settling down to their tea and biscuits Liz announced her good news. 

‘Ben and I are going to be parents which makes you great-grandparents.’  Beaming with delight Liz accepted the hugs and kisses from the two members of the older generation.

Such wonderful news to complete the first 28 days of this new phase of their lives.  Hetty was already planning many knitted outfits for this new life to come, neutral colours to begin with until Liz told them the sex of the baby.  No surprises or guesses what the baby would be for this young couple. 

‘This was the best move we could have made,’ muttered Sean in to Hetty’s grey hair.  She wrapped her arms around his thickening waist.  ‘We’ll make the best of it, you’ll see,’ came her response.

Word count: 796