A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME 

By Tessa Harvey


    She saw now her mum was gone. Those had been her last words. Her last thoughts for Peggy..... As she left to call the doctor from a phone box, the wee girl across the road waved. Peggy had no idea the prayers her mum had prayed would lead to the child one day marrying a mighty man of God. A warrior.
    1960
    Elsie was sad. The stroke had robbed her of speech. She knew the end was near, but had no regrets really. Will had wanted more children at first, but not after Jim got so sick.
    It had been a hard road for them both at the time. Doubts flickered like flashes of light in her mind. Was she good enough for God? Her two oldest grandchildren came in. Both had tiny balls of polystyrene decorating their pullovers. Inwardly she chuckled.
In the Waiting Room there was some kind of display in a bowl surrounded by the pellets.
    Her tongue felt awful in her mouth and came out a little, to her shame and embarrassment.
    "Grandma is looking at us with love," thought Lucy. "I hope I never get old and sick."
    The young girl squeezed grandma's knobbly fingers. Her dad had told her how hard the old lady had fought to retain mobility in her fingers, knitting as long as possible.
    Johnny pulled her away. He wanted to go home.
    At Grandpa's house, the old man had fallen asleep in the ancient armchair by the fireplace. For days he had been at the hospital, sitting with Elsie. His pipe slid from his fingers onto the worn grey carpet. Ash singed the old chair.

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