Mrs. Dunkin #19

This is an ongoing story I've decided to write and put on my blog every Monday.   Please excuse the errors, I'm only doing limited editing.  Constructive criticism welcome.  I wish I had a cute button on the side where the story could go but I don't know how to make a button.  Even if I did I wouldn't know how to link up the story LOL.   So if you miss a chapter, you'll have to look at my sidebar for it.  The first chapter was written on October 23, 2011 so that should at least be some help, ha.

19

I walked into the room and settled at the computer.  I signed into my email account and started going through it.   Spam, spam and more spam.  Then I came to an email from Stella.  I eagerly opened it up.

Hi Annie,

I know you said not to email but I thought I would take a chance that you might get on your email account. 

I hope you are doing well.  Me not so much, I’ve come down with the flu.  Can you believe it?   Who gets the flu in October?  Me I guess, LOL. 

When I’m better I will high-tail it over there.  If you need anything, email me back and I can bring it when I come.

How about a phone number so I can at least call you?

Love ya’ girl,

Stella

I hit reply

Hi,

Too bad you’re ill.  I feel for you.  Did you get the flu shot?  I got mine early for a change. 

I’m doing pretty well here.  Really, it’s not so bad.

I’ll have to email you my phone number later.  I don’t know it by heart yet. 

Talk to you later.

Love,

Annie

I hit send and then I heard “Mrs. Dunkin?”

I turned around and said “Yes.”

“Hi, my name is Emma.  I’m Clara’s daughter.”

“It’s so nice to meet you Emma.”

“I hope you don’t mind but I asked the nurse who you were.  Mom was so excited and told me she made a new friend.  Since Helen has gotten worse, Mom hasn’t been very happy.  Your friendship seems to have put the spark back into her.”

“Well, I don’t know if I’m responsible but if I am, I’m glad.”

“I won’t keep you; I just wanted to say thanks” and she hurried out the door.

I went back to deleting some jokes off email.  I noticed an email again from Stella and opened it.

Hi Annie,

I received your email and was happy to hear from you.  I’ve been worried about you but I feel better knowing that I can at least correspond with you through email sometimes.

I’ll see you soon when I’m better.

Love,

Stella

I closed the email and then logged out of my account. 

It was almost lunch time so I went out to the day-room and sat at the table.  I looked around and there were some families visiting with the residents. 

I could see Clara wheeling herself down the hall.  She pulled up to the table and asked “How was your visit with your son?”

“It was nice.  It’s really gorgeous outside.  There won’t be too many days like this anymore.  Perhaps after lunch, I’ll see if we can go out and sit in the courtyard for a while.”

“That would be great.”

“Will your son be coming today?”

“I highly doubt it.  The one that thinks she’s my daughter was here.  I don’t know how she does it but she brought me some Hershey bars.  They are my favorite candy.”

“That was very nice of her.”

“Yes, I guess.  I am beginning to like her.  She treats me way better than my own son.  I’m lucky if he makes it here once a month.”

“I’ll be right back.  I’m going to go get a sweater” and Clara took off down the hall.

I walked over to Sheila at the nurse’s station.

“Hi Annie, do you need something?"

“I was wondering since it’s such a beautiful day out if Clara and I can go out in the courtyard for a while after lunch?”

“Sure, I don’t see why not.  We always have a lot of visitors on Sundays and some residents go out with their families for the day.  I’ll have one of the aides go with you.  They always love to go outside.  Let me know when you two are ready.”

“Thanks, dear.”

“You’re welcome.”

When Clara got back to the table, I mentioned that I had talked to the nurse and that we would go outside after lunch. 

After finishing lunch, I went to get a sweater for myself and the phone was ringing.

“Hello?”

“Hi Mom, I was just about to hang up.”

“I was in the day-room eating lunch and then Clara and I were going to go outside for a while.”

“I don’t know if you remember but its Ralph’s birthday today.  We were wondering if you’d like to go out to dinner with us about 5:00.”

“Sure, I would like that.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later.”

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