Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: BORED - Begins 1-11-18 / Ends 1-18-18 (01/11/18)
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TITLE: The Visit | Previous Challenge Entry
By Heather MacInnis
01/17/18 -
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Jenny leaned on her walker in the doorway of the room she shared with Ida and watched as the nurses put the finishing touches of rearranging the room.
From her rocking chair by the window, Ida replied , “I couldn't stand being stuck over there in the corner while you got to see everything going on outside. So, I asked the girls to switch the beds around.” She huffed and turned to enjoy her new view.
Jenny rolled her eyes and shuffled towards her new corner. “When your bed was there last month, you said it was drafty, that the staff was trying to give you pneumonia so you'd die.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Jenny shared an understanding smile with the nurses as they left, eased herself into her armchair, and picked up her crossword puzzle.
“Hi Mom, how are you today?” Ida's daughter, Grace, and fourteen-year old grandson, Mark, entered the room.
Ida glared. “What do you think? Stuck in this drafty, miserable place, with no one to talk to, or nothing to do.”
Grace gave her mom a peck on the cheek. “I'm sorry, Mom. Have you tried going to any of the programs? Or read the magazine I got you? Or visited any of the other residents?”
“Listen to the nonsense coming out of your mouth! The programs here are childish and stupid. Pitiful. Downright insulting! And you know my arms are too sore to hold a magazine up to read. And the residents here are all crazy! I want nothing to do with them!”
Grace looked apologetically over at Jenny who pretended to be deeply in thought over her puzzle.
“Oh, Mom,” Grace continued, “you have to try and be happy here. I gave you this little stand for books and magazines. You could . . .”
While Grace tried to reason with her mother, Mark stood by the doorway wishing he was anywhere else in the world.
Jenny peeked over her newspaper and gave him a smile. “There are some chocolates on the bureau there if you would like some,” she offered.
He shook his head mournfully.
Jenny cocked her head and studied him. “Want to go for a walk?”
“Um, no thanks.”
Jenny pushed herself to a standing position. “Come on, I need exercise and company.”
Mark looked to his mother and grandmother for rescue, but Grace was busy trying to sell Ida on the program of events. He shrugged and awkwardly followed Jenny out the door.
Jenny stopped and waited for him to come up beside her. “You don't like coming here much, do you?”
“It's pretty boring.” He jerked his head toward the room they had just left. “Mom and her have the same conversation every time we come.”
“Why do you come?”
“Mom makes me. Says I'll be sorry someday if I don't see her while I can.”
Jenny thought for a moment. “Were you close to your grandmother before she came here?”
“Not really, but it was more fun when she had her house. It was big, and she used to pay me to do odd jobs. I could play games on her computer, and I used to walk her dog for her every day.”
“I see. So,you like computer games and dogs.”
Mark nodded.
“Where is Ida's dog now?”
“He came to live with us. He's a little cocker spaniel. Gram called him Jake.”
“You know, Mark, your grandmother lost a lot when she came here—her house and everything she was used to, her times with you and Jake. Both of you might be less bored if you tried to cheer her up when you came to visit instead of sulking in the corner.”
“Mom tries. Doesn't seem to work very well for her.”
“No offence, but your mom sympathizes with her and pities her instead of distracting her and making her smile.”
“You can't make someone smile if they don't want to.”
Jenny thought for a minute. “You could be right, but I bet a smart boy like you could come up with something if he tried. Think of it as an obstacle in a computer game.” She tapped her chin. “Now, what would make the old girl giggle?”
Mark chuckled and shook his head.
Jenny poked him in the ribs. “See you can make someone smile in spite of themselves.”
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