Story Time – Remember When

This week I thought I’d introduce you to a couple of characters whom I love dearly.

Madge and Poppy.

They first appeared in this story which I wrote in response to a 500-word story prompt on Wattpad and have continued to entertain me with snippets of their lives ever since.  I’m hoping one day I’ll have gathered enough of their stories to make a book. We’ll see.



Please enjoy. 

‘They have so much energy.’ Madge shifted on her high-backed chair and sighed.

‘Exhausting to watch.’ Poppy shouted. ‘But fun.’

Madge winced and tapped her ear.

‘Oh, yes. Forgot I turned ‘em off.’ Poppy switched on her hearing aids. ‘It’s the high pitch of their little voices, cuts right through my head.’

‘Can you remember what it was like to be young?’ Madge picked up her knitting.

‘That young?’ Poppy gestured out the conservatory windows. ‘Running and jumping like a flea, racing and chasing like a fox and hounds?’ She shook her head. ‘No. Hard enough to remember walking without a stick.’

Madge nodded. ‘I used to walk for miles.’ She dropped a needle, rubbed her cramping fingers and peered at the mess of wool in her lap. ‘I hope my daughter finds time to visit today. I’ve gone wrong somewhere.’

‘My whole body’s gone wrong.’ Poppy grumbled. ‘There was a time I danced. Imagine that? Now I can’t stand without creaking and groaning.’

‘You don’t do anything without moaning.’ Madge muttered.

‘I heard that.’ Poppy knocked Madge’s ball of wool onto the floor.

Madge leaned down and froze. ‘Ah.’ She rubbed her back. ‘I think I’m stuck.’

‘Now who’s moaning?’ Poppy stretched out her shaking hand. Madge grabbed it and sat up.

‘I’d thank you, but it was your fault.’

‘Everything alright over here?’ A care assistant asked. ‘I hope I don’t have to separate you two again.’

Madge nudged Poppy. ‘We argue like youngsters.’

‘That you do.’ The care assistant nodded. ‘Do you need anything?’

‘A cup of tea would be nice.’ Madge said.

‘With a dash of something stronger to make us forget our age.’ Poppy added.

‘And can you sort this out?’ Madge held out her knitting.

‘I’ll get you both a cup of tea.’ The care assistant looked at the bundle of knotted wool. ‘But that and the tot of something stronger is beyond my pay grade.’ She grinned and walked towards the tea trolley.

‘Remember when you could make your own tea?’ Poppy asked. ‘Hot and strong, not the gnat’s pee they serve here.’

‘I was a coffee drinker, but high blood pressure stopped that pleasure.’ Madge squashed her knitting into a bag.

‘Here you are.’ The care assistant placed two double handled mugs on Poppy’s chair tray. ‘Do you need help?’

‘No, thank you, dear.’ Madge picked up a mug and sipped.

Poppy sighed. ‘Put it into my hands, and I’ll manage.’ She glared at the care assistant. ‘I remember drinking tea without someone hovering to catch the drips.’

The care assistant shook her head and moved away.

‘You’re as rude as a toddler.’ Madge put her mug down and supported Poppy’s hands.

Poppy shuddered and grimaced.

Madge grabbed the mug. ‘It doesn’t taste that bad, Poppy.’

‘No.’ Poppy rubbed her stomach. ‘Indigestion. Oh. I remember when I could fart without following through too.’

Madge sniffed the air and laughed.

‘And I remember a time I could laugh without peeing my pants.’