Lively

by Carleton Raisbeck (August 2018)

Two Old Ones Eating, Francisco Goya, 1819-23

 

        “Morning, Alan,” I said

        “Wuh,” he said, laying in his bed, reaching down and rubbing between his legs.

        “Oh,” he said, and his lips turned into a smile “nuffin”, and he let out a cheeky laugh.       

        “You little devil,” I said, laughing as well. “What are we going to do with you, eh?” I said.

        “Wuh.”

        “Wuh.”

        “Wuh” he said.

        “Wuh.” I said back.

        “Wahhh” he said.

        “Wahhhhh.” I said in response.

        He was getting louder and louder. This was absurd. I reached out and yanked the wipe from his grip and tossed it into my black bag. Then I pulled the shower head off its holder and aimed it at his body, first at his smelly genitals and then his sticky feet. He started to scream at this point, and then he stood up, kicked me in the shins and spat in my face.

        “Is he playing up, again?”

        While she saw to him I went down to the kitchen, where I drank the remains of a cold cup of coffee and started making sandwiches for afternoon tea.

        “I think Laura is just finishing him off.” I said, “he should be down in a minute.”

        We stood awkwardly in silence for a moment. Laura appeared with Alan at the top of the stairs. The daughter turned to me and said, “you all do such a good job here,” and handed me a box of Liquorice AllSorts to “share between the staff”.

        We stood watching him descend. He wore black trousers, black shoes, a white shirt, and his Air Force jacket with military badges attached.

        “How has he been recently?” she asked me quickly, just before he reached the bottom.

        I struggled to come up with anything.

        “uh” I said

        “Wuh.” he said, smiling.

        “Nice of her to come and see him this year.” said Laura.

        “Wuh.” I said.

 

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Carleton Raisbeck is a writer from Dorset.

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