Nothing ever changes at Miller’s Merry Manor. Certainly, nothing exciting ever happens.
The folks file in for supper at the same time every evening, 5:00, and sit at the very
same table each and every time. Separate tables for guys and girls just like high
school.
“He stares at me. At every meal. It’s not right.” Complains Yolanda.
“Maybe
he wants your hot body.” Josephine rolls her eyes.
“What’d
she say?” Yolanda leans over to Midge.
“She
said, ‘He’s liked you ever since sophomore year when you did that musical
together. Remember your hearing aids for dinner, dear.”
“Well,
it’s rude. Doesn’t he realize I’m still grieving my Henry?”
“Henry
died ten years ago. I think he’d approve of you being cordial to Robert.
They were friends after all.”
“Robert
was sweet on me, wasn’t he, all those years ago? But I had Henry. I don’t think
I’ve lost my figure much either, do you?” Yola sighed.
“He’s
not bad for 83. I’d entertain him,” Midge giggled.
“Then
get busy. Maybe he’ll stop mooning over me. It’s becoming bothersome.”
After
dinner, they progress to the television room for Wheel of Fortune, then reruns
of The Golden Girls or whatever else plays on Channel Nine. The men follow
staking out the card table for a few hands of gin rummy or a ballgame.
At
precisely 8:00, they march down the drab gray halls of the town’s only state-run
nursing home. Canes and walkers at the ready.
“Why
does Robert always run out of here?” Josephine asks.
“He
must have one of those enlarged prostates. Pees all the time.”
Yola
opens her door.
“Damn
woman! I know you can move a lot faster than that!” Robert shouts.
“I’m
sorry darling. It’s important to me.”
Frisky, he pulls her onto the bed.
Frisky, he pulls her onto the bed.
“It’s
a bitch keeping up this sham. They gotta know a man wants what a man wants. But you’re
the best actress I know, sweetheart.”
Friday night. Not routine at all…for some seniors.
*********************
33-333 words using the 3rd definition of:
1: the female of the dog or some other carnivorous
mammals
2 a : a lewd or immoral woman
b : a malicious, spiteful, or
overbearing woman —sometimes used as a generalized term of abuse
Frisky seniors... I love it. I like how she says she doesn't think she's lost her figure. That's great. My mother in law was like this in her 80's. Had an old friend of her husband's courting her, coming over every week or so. She provided a few too many details of the coupling, but I was happy for her. Nice writing, Gina!
ReplyDeleteI've heard there's a lot of "frisky" going on in those places. Good for them so long as it's not hurting anyone else. I hope when I'm 80, I still feel like a...I don't know what age but not that one.
DeleteThis is great! It's nice to read a piece in which seniors are active and living their lives. I also love the name, "Miller's Merry Manor"!
ReplyDeleteThat's the name of the local nursing home where I live in Indiana. We drive past it everyday and I only can imagine what goes on in there! I hope to be one of those "active" ones.
DeleteHa! Ha! Very good!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joe!
DeleteHmm. I wasn't expecting that! Nice set up, nicely crafted story.
ReplyDeleteWell thanks, Kymm. I'm happy you weren't expecting that! I appreciate your comment.
DeleteWow! Great story with a wonderful surpise ending. My parents are in assisted living and my 95 YO dad tells me stories about ladies hitting on him. He's not intersted (I think). The whole thing makes me squirm.
ReplyDeleteThanks, lum. I'm glad you were surprised. I bet there are ladies hitting on those men. Women!!! I think it's funny. And I'd probably be squirmy too.
DeleteHa! I love this!
ReplyDeletechuckle - Gina you surprise me - and delight me. :)
ReplyDeleteAwwwww....Thank you so much Barbara. Coming from you, particularly, makes me very pleased.
DeleteI love this. You have got something great going with these characters. My husband did a mediation with a senior's facility and learned all about the bed check. Sounds like there is a lot of hopping around from bed-to-bed if you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jamie! I'm now kind of fond of Yolanda and Robert as they lived in my brain a bit yesterday. Did you know that there's tons of STDs passed around those places? YUCK!
DeleteI love this story! My mom is director of development at a continuum care organization for seniors, and I am sending her this story right now. She'll love it!
ReplyDeleteSo fun! I hope she does like it. It was fun to write. If the the word count were higher who knows what they'd be up to at 500 words!!! ;-)
DeleteFrisky at 83-how cute!Liked the wily Yolanda,pretending that Robert was bothersome & even asking Midge to "get busy",lol!Deliciously naughty;-)loved it Gina:-)
ReplyDelete"Deliciously naughty" is my very favorite comment and so fun! Thank you so much Atreyee!
Deleteoh man does this bring up a hysterical story my dad shared with me once. he lives in a retirement community- mostly independant living but attached to a dependant living place.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I thought of this but I did. I know stuff goes down in those places. Do share!
DeleteA nice break from routine lol
ReplyDeleteI'll say!
DeleteWhat Fun!
ReplyDeleteYES!!!
DeleteMy grandmother once made a comment about how some of the ladies were providing more than just talk to the men who could still move at her retirement home.
ReplyDeleteI pretended not to hear.
Those women! Sheesh! All over men all the time ;-)
DeleteThis is great-I love that she's so worried about what her friends think, even at that age!
ReplyDeleteShe is all worried that she doesn't, at 83, come off as trampy. A girl's gotta have some fun. And Yolanda's running out of time for that!
DeleteGreat job Gina! I really enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteLoved that ending. . . wasn't sure what to expect. It's good to imagine that I (we) won't lose our sex drive when we're that age. Right!? :)
ReplyDelete