by Steve Tanham
“Grandad!”
The little girl was shouting his name from the far bank of the river. She was waving something at him; her excited voice carried across the water. “Look, Grandad, I’ve got your book… the one you wrote…the one you read me the stories from!”
His world was unravelling. Memories came crashing back; real memories, not confusion… not the fog. Sunday stared across the river at Vicky, his grandaughter, who was no running and waving their shared copy of Inspector Sunday and the Cheng Mysteries, his first and only novel.
“We don’t live here any more, Dad,” The voice was soft and came from behind him. Emotions flooded his soul as he turned to see the redhead: his daughter, Jessica. Her hand was held out to him. She wore the yellow jacket with the marigold-patterned belt – the image of her that he always carried.
Sunday realised what he had done… saw the concern in Jessica’s eyes. “I… I went into the house…the old house.” he said. “I had to see it one more time…” He heard the age in his voice, the bravado gone. “I’m hungry,” he whispered.
Jessica said, softly, “It’s okay, Dad. The nice people who bought it said that someone had been in… They had been away for the weekend… but we explained that you may have kept a key…”
She was crying now, the redhead – his daughter. ‘They were only concerned that we found you.” She came a step closer.” He could hear the relief in her voice. He took her hand. She swept him into a hug. They held each other, uncertain but together.
“She knew… Vicky knew you’d be here.”
The tears were wet on his shoulder. “I can’t make it better, Dad, but we can surround you with love…”
Vicky had been running across the old wooden bridge. She arrived, breathless, and took his free hand, clutching the first two fingers, tightly. She looked up as he looked down.
“You can keep your cat, Grandad. Mummy says so…”
End of Inspector Sunday
Dementia affects many people and families. Within the shrinking prison of the condition, people are very much alive – and still as they were before they lost their ability to remember and handle complex things.
Nearly a million people have dementia in the UK. My mother is one of them. Kindness and consideration go a long way to making them feel they still have a place in life…
©Stephen Tanham
Other parts of this short story:
Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven
Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten
Sun in Gemini 
Such a wicked condition… Sad to witness…A story well told, Steve 🙂
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Thank you, Carol x
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You are welcome, Steve 🙂
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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I wasn’t expecting this kind of ending, and it really was too sad. But beautifully written…
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Thank you, Jaye. My experience is that people with dementia have a very spiritual existence, as long as they are not weighed down by worry. As such, it can have a very ‘pure’ aspect to it. I was trying to show that…. thank you for the reblog x
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I just pray I don’t get it, as I can worry for England…
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I know that feeling, Jaye, and my mother has it!!
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Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo.
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This is lovely Steve. Mum used to get so angry with herself for forgetting things, often repeating the same thing over and over having no recollection of previously saying it.
I could do very little being so far away and phone calls confused her most of the time, which made the situation more stressful. I was glad to have had her up for holidays before it really set in, and we visited as often as our circumstances would allow.
I so agree with your last paragraph. Mum didn’t want to be a nuisance or a burden, but as long as she felt needed, she coped remarkably well. I miss her and miss writing to her, sometimes having to remind myself that she is no longer with us in our world.
My thoughts are with you and the family. Dementia affects us all.
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Thank you, Pensivity. I have a feeling that medicine is close to great advances in its treatment. Good sleep is also one of the keys.
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Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is like dying a thousand deaths. My heart and best wishes are with you.
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Thank you, Jo.
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Reblogged this on Writing, events, competitions and even some self-penned bits and commented:
So many of us will be affected by this emotional tale of a plague we need to eradicate
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A beautiful telling Steve on a very sad topic. I will share the awareness. 🙂
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Thank you, Diana 😊
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Sorry, Debbie. Got bad cold! Sent correction from car but didn’t get through 😩
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Just saw it, no worries Steve. Get well! 🙂
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Sorry, Debby – full of a head cold and getting things wrong! 😀
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Lol, I know that happens sometimes. No worries Steve 🙂
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