Book Review: The English Patient

There is only one story in this book. A story of how war damages people and how they survive. Four people come together in an Italian villa just as World War II has ended. The English patient who was burned beyond recognition. His real name is a mystery throughout novel. He is the main narrator in a morphine filled haze. Hana, a young woman, who had been a nurse in field hospitals full of the never ending dead, dying and injured, feeds him and cares for him, gives him the morphine to ease the pain of his scarred burns. From Toronto, she goes through each day in the routines she learned in this broken land, and misses home. The villa they were in had been a field hospital. 

All patients and staff left to a better location but Hana and the English patient refused to leave. Caravaggio, also Canadian and an old friend of Hana’s father, arrived after he learned of Hana’s whereabouts. He had been a thief and pickpocket before the war and became part of the secret spy world. Tortured and both thumbs removed, he was also addicted to morphine. The fourth person in this single story was Kirpal Singh, nicknamed Kip as a joke, part of a team of sappers. Sappers that defused the thousands of bombs that had been laid by the Germans during the war and on their retreat. 

So each story within the single story of devastation and always potential death, is woven into the other until they become their own unit. But never really together in their minds and hearts. The English patient takes us on many treks through the desert and an impatient love he had in that lost time. Kip’s job doesn’t stop. Michael Ondaatje describes the meticulous, focussed actions of this young man. How and where he learned about bomb defusing. The daily danger that he puts out of his mind to solve the puzzle of the next bomb. Ondaatje also describes beautiful scenes of the sharing of human touch, sometimes love making, sometimes just being together. There is much beauty in the relationships that do blossom out of that need for the human touch. There are games that they play. Hana reads books to the English patient. One belonging to him, but some from a bombed out library of books in the villa. Caravaggio does not seem to have a place in the story which may be because of the life he had always lived in shadows. Never really there, but being present. One name keeps cropping up: Almásy. A master spy that no one could catch. The end of this story comes over Kip’s radio phones. The radio phones that kept him away from the world while he worked in a pit, or in an ordinary room, to diffuse a bomb that could kill. 

Were any medical issues believable? The severe burns, the physical care that would be required, and the amount and availability of morphine. Not to my mind, but I was able to discount all of these for the sake of the story. The reality of the destruction to not just the land and homes, but to the minds and spirits of those involved in war. This single story is a beautiful metaphor of the lives of four people: The English Patient, Hana, Caravaggio and Kirpal Singh.

“A novel is a mirror walking down a road.”

~ Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient

Title: The English Patient

Author: Michael Ondaatje

Copyright: 1992

Publisher: Vintage Books Canada

Format: Soft Cover

Type: Novel

ISBN: o-394-28013-x

ISBN: 9780307700872 (hard cover)

ISBN: 9780676514209 (Paper back)

Chapter Two, Episode 155 - Safe Zone - Situationally Theirs

“Really, Em! You can’t do that. You know nothing about farming. You barely know anything about how to run Michael’s estate or you wouldn’t be running out of money.” Emelina was stunned. Jeremy had never spoken to her like that before. If he was in a bad mood or tired from a bad shift, he might be a big snappy. He had always supported whatever she wanted to do until now. “I think I’d better go, Jeremy. I really thought you would be at least interested.” Putting her coat back on, she turned to leave. “I’ll be out at the Estate. If you want to know more about my new endeavour, you’ll know where to find me.” Her hand on the door, she turned back to him. “We can’t keep on like this. Every time I come in there is something bothering you. You won’t talk about it.” She looked at him, still wet from his shower, and sighed. “When you’re ready to talk….” She left their apartment, closed the door, stood still a moment before she went to the elevator. Whispering to herself she said “What will I tell the others?” Straightening her shoulders, she dried her eyes. 

~~~~~

It was Jeremy’s turn to be stunned. No one had ever walked out on him without slamming a door. “Tone of voice, Jeremy.” That’s what his grandfather would have said without interrupting whatever he’d been doing. He also knew that his wife could and would do anything she set her mind to since the pandemic. And he let her go out the door. He was tired of apologizing for his bad temper. This time he had just been mean, even after seeing the sparkle in her eyes when she started telling him the plans she and Dez had. “What the hell is wrong with me?! All I wanted was one evening without someone shouting at me to fix someone, write orders, speak to a family, do this, do that.” Standing in the middle of the open apartment, its emptiness frightened him. Water dribbled from his hair, he shivered and pulled his bathrobe tight. 

~~~~~

Em knew her husband was right. She didn’t know anything about farming and she barely knew how to run the Estate. She drove out of the city and turned onto the highway towards home. That didn’t mean she couldn’t learn, and he did know that. At first she had felt beaten down and wrong. Now she was angry. What right did he have to assume that she hadn’t given the farm a lot of thought. And where was he when she wanted to discuss it days ago! Sure he was a doctor and worked in a hospital. She’d heard all the sob stories about lousy shifts, other doctors mistakes, poor report from nurses but that didn’t give him the right to treat her like she was one of them. As she settled into the short drive home, her anger softened. She’d need to talk with Dez about it. Maybe tonight. Maybe she’d keep it all to herself and just go home to bed.

~~~~~

Dez could see headlights, the car was turning down the lane. “Wonder who that could be? Matt’s gone to his orchard, Martha and James are home having supper, Samuel’s still working in the garden and Cook has gone to get him for their supper, Em’s gone in to spend a couple of nights with Jeremy. But that looks like the vehicle Em took…….it is Em!” Her sister’s lights shone on Dez where she was sorting out where a Farmgate Stand could be. She pulled to the side of the lane, put it in park took her hands off the wheel. White knuckles, her hands sore, she stretched her fingers out. Dez knocked on the window, worried when she saw her sister’s red, wet face. “Em. Open the door! What’s wrong! Is it Jeremy? Is he hurt? Why are you back so soon?” Em did open the door and practically tumbled into her sister's arms. Sobbing, she just let her sister hold her. Dez glanced in both directions for any other vehicles coming. “Let’s get you sitting down, Em. Here, we’ve put a bench here where we think the Stand might be. Do you want to go home?” All her sister could do was shake her head. “But we can’t stay out here, it’s almost dark as it is and it’s pretty damp tonight. Why don’t I take you to my place and get you some hot tea. You can stay with me tonight. You don’t have to talk about any of it until you’re ready. Just let me know that Jeremy is ok.” Em nodded her head. Her voice low she said ‘He’s all right. I just don’t want to see him right now.” Dez had no idea what was going on, but she did know her sister needed her help. “Ok, come back to your car. I’ll drive and get you to my place.” Her sister looked up at her “Please don’t tell anybody any of this. It’s probably just me. Maybe he’ll come out and apologize.” She gave Dez her cell phone. “If he calls don’t answer it. If he calls your phone, just let him know I’m ok, if he wants to know.”

~~~~~

Jeremy had no close family or friends. His friends were the doctors and nurses he worked with but only at work. He didn’t know any of them outside work. Could he call James? Never. That would be crossing some kind of a line. Giles? He hardly knew him at all. Samuel? He wasn’t ready to hear some of his old time-y stories. He definitely couldn’t call Dez, that was really too close to home. Besides that Em would need her sister and he didn’t want to put Dez in the middle. That only left Matt. They were about the same age. Maybe they could meet for coffee. It wasn’t all that late, so he’d give it a try. Satisfied, he found his number and called. After the fourth ring, Matt answered. 

~~~~~

“Every couple needs to argue now and then. Just to prove 

that the relationship is strong enough to survive. 

Long-term relationships, the ones that matter 

are all about weathering the peaks and the valleys.’

~ Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven

Back in Time

Back in Time

Intimacy came slowly to the young couple. So slowly, that neither were prepared for the day they met again. Childhood sweethearts, they had not considered their futures. Five year olds seldom do. Elementary school passed and when high school came separation was inevitable. She got involved with drama and the arts. He got involved in every sports team he could. Dreams were longer shared. They still looked at each other wistfully, but there was nothing more. She went to a university across the country. He was a first pick for a major league hockey team. She married a man in one of her drama classes. A family of five and acting kept her busy and happy. Camping trips to the mountains with their children were special times for them. In the city, they introduced their children to museums and art galleries. When he passed too early, leaving her with children to raise, she felt his loss like a knife in her heart. They had loved each other dearly. The hockey star also married and had a wonderful family. His wife made his career and their family her priority. A stay at home mom, she was also a hockey mom. Because her husband was away so much of the time, their cell phones and iPads were invaluable. Between games, wherever he was, there would be a home game video to watch and many times, he watched the games from a distance but with his family. They would each order up nachos and share that time with each other. When he closed his eyes at night he was proud and happy of his wife and children. His heart ached that he had to be so far away so often.

~~~~~

An invitation in the mail to Melanie’s hometown 150th anniversary came in the mail. She set it aside while she looked at the flyers from toy stores and big box stores. She sighed. “This is where my life has ended? Looking at flyers and wondering if I should go home for the anniversary.” She shook her head. Talking to her parrot while he preened his feathers, she said. “I haven’t been in touch with anyone from there in years. We’re all old and probably wouldn’t recognize anyone anyway.” Her children had married and lived in different parts of the country. They had their own families to care for. She saw her grandchildren regularly on Skype, always on their birthdays and took trips to see them. Her acting career had shrivelled to almost nothing. 

Just herself and her parrot. “Enough of feeling sorry for myself.” She picked up the invitation and called the number. “Harry, it’s good to talk to you!……..Yes, I’m coming, just got the invitation today.”

~~~~~

Harry returned to his hometown after his wife’s death the year before. He didn’t know if he’d be happy there, but at least he’d be closer to one of his sons. That had been a surprise. “Why on earth do you want to live out in the sticks, Ben?”  His son was the one to be surprised. “Really, dad? The three of us came out here every summer to grandma and grandpa’s. I have a ton of friends out there. One of the guys and I are opening a sports equipment business out there. We’ll stay connected with the major supplier in the city and will be able to get equipment faster for all the surrounding towns.” Harry didn’t say anything but worried that their eagerness didn’t match reality. But, turned out it did. So Harry moved 'out to the sticks' too. Involved with the town’s 150th anniversary, he was put in charge of researching and sending out the invitations. When he came upon Melanie’s name, his heart did a little flip. “Naw. She won’t even remember me. We were quite a pair when we were five, but that was a long time ago.” He addressed it and put it in the mail with all the others.

~~~~~

“Before we belonged to anyone else, we were each other’s.”

~ Elizabeth Noble, The Way We Were

Chapter Two, Episode 120 - Winter’s Thaw - Situationally Theirs

Winter’s Thaw

Brigitte’s mother was nervous. Helen Smithson had changed her clothes four or five times trying to find just the right ‘ensemble’. “I haven’t been out for so long, I don’t know what to wear to such a fancy function!” Watching her mother twisting and turning in front of the full length mirror in a deep blue, ‘swishy’ dress, Brigitte smiled.”Mom, it’s not fancy at all. Just friends having supper in the kitchen. Cook said it’s pot roast and salad. I know she’ll have more than that because she always does. Definitely not black tie and tails.” Brigitte felt a hand on her shoulder. “How do I look, daughter?” Her father, Herbert, stood straight and adjusted his red silk tie. “You both look wonderful! You’re wearing that chocolate brown sweater I sent you for Christmas and it fits you so well.” She looked at her watch. “We’d better get going. Mom, stop fussing. You look perfect.”

~~~~~

Happy that the icy tension between her parents had thawed, even if only a bit, Brigitte relaxed in the back seat. But they still weren’t talking. When her mother saw her husband all dressed up, there was a short sharp intake of breath. As they were walking out the door she said. “Herb, you look very handsome.” Then hurried to get in the car. On the way, and without taking his eyes off the road, her father said “We should do this more often, Helen.” Silence. “Where would we go?” Silence. “Maybe you could wear that dress and we could go dancing like we used to.” Silence. “I’m not sick you know. I’ve just been feeling empty.” Silence. They pulled up to the Estate house, just as Digby and Martha arrived from their cottage. They waited on the steps for their guests. Almost whispering, Martha said “My, aren’t they a handsome couple. I can see where Brigitte get’s her good looks from. Now, James we must make them feel welcome. Doesn’t look to be anything troubling Mr. Smithson.” 

“Martha. Digby. These are my parents ~ Herbert and Helen.” She practically pushed them forward. “Please call me James.” He extended his hand to Herbert, and then to Helen. “James and I are so pleased you could come out tonight. We haven’t had guests here for a very long time. Brigitte, your parents just fit the bill perfectly. Come with me into the kitchen and meet Elizabeth. That’s the woman that Brigitte calls Cook. Well, that’s what many people call her, but we’ve been friends for many years, so I’ve always known her as Elizabeth. My goodness, I’m chattering on. Not letting you get a word in edgewise! James always tells me I talk too much. Tell me, are you glad Brigitte’s back home with you?” Before Helen could say anything, Helen was being introduced to Elizabeth, who, still behind her apron, was just getting supper on the table. She set the pot roast and vegetables on the table and wiped her hands on her apron. “It’s good to meet you. Helen, is it? Brigitte calls me Cook, but please call me Elizabeth. Your Brigitte has been sorely missed out here. Miss Em is well now so doesn’t have a need for being taken care of, but may need her for another job.” She turned to Martha. “Did you see Samuel when you came in? Hope he’s not late. We’ll eat without him so the food doesn’t get cold. There’s the timer ~ rolls are done, so we’ll have them fresh and hot with our meal. Brigitte, call your father and James.” Helen was warmed by the welcome from the two women, but just little overwhelmed by their attention. Supper smelled wonderful. She hadn’t eaten well in the last many weeks and her hunger suddenly overtook her. “Mom, you look faint!  Are you all right?” 

“Yes dear, I think I just need a glass of water.” Brigitte sat her mother down, Martha brought her a glass of water. “Helen dear, you don’t look very well ~ so pale.” Helen took a big drink of water and smiled up at her. “I’m just hungry, that’s all. I’ve not been eating well. It’s good to have someone else do the cooking. Don’t worry, I’m just fine now.” She was feeling quite embarrassed, getting so dizzy on this first meeting. “You’ve all been so good to me, thank you, thank you.” She stood up, a bit wobbly. “Now, what can I do to help?” She steadied herself on the table, just as the men came in. James, Herbert and Samuel. Elizabeth, taking off her apron, shooed them all to the table. “Samuel, here’s the carving knife. You do a better job than I do.” Without a word, he took it and set to work. “Best sit down everyone and hand me your plates.” With much shuffling of chairs, they all did as they were told and one by one was served up generous portions of meat. “Are you all right, Helen?” Herbert had noticed his wife’s pale countenance when he came in, and made certain to sit beside her. He pressed her hand resting on the table. “I’m fine Herbert, just need to eat my supper is all. Thank you.” Very grateful that he was beside her, she said quietly so no one else would hear. “Yes, we do need to go dancing.” After that, the only sounds were the scraping of plates, or ‘Pass the potatoes’ and sighs of satisfaction.

Declining dessert, at least right away, they cleared the table and got out playing cards. Brigitte excused herself from the games and said she needed to get some things from upstairs. “Not much, just some things I left when I went away. Miss Em said I could store them upstairs.” Just an excuse, she wanted to just let her parents get to know their hosts. They didn’t need a daughter there. At the head of the stairs, laughter floated up the stairs, her parents having fun with new friends. Brigitte took a book from the nearest bookshelf and sat down to read.

“The next best thing to being wise oneself 

is to live in a circle of those who are.”

~ C.S.Lewis

Chapter Two, Episode 119 - A Walk in the Park - Situationally Theirs

 A Walk in the Park

Brigitte had come home to Hartley to care for her parents. Actually only her father, according to her mother. “You know, your mother thinks I need home care. But I’m fine! I get out walking every day and sometimes she even comes with me. But she tells me I don’t sleep well and that I wake her up. She is looking awfully tired. I don’t know what I can do to help.” It was a cool day, but warm enough to sit out on their little patio. Most of the snow from previous weeks was gone leaving yards wet, with little pockets of snow in sheltered corners. A few snowdrops were poking up through the sodden earth. Sweaters, blankets and hot tea made it pleasant enough for Brigitte and her father. A few snowdrops were poking up through the sodden earth. “That seems a different story, dad. Mom wrote me a short note, not the nice newsy ones she usually sent, just worrying about your health. She did tell me that you call out in your sleep and wanted me to come home. So here I am.”

Her father smiled at her. “And I’m glad you’re here. We’ve missed you. Left your room for you. Neither one of us wanted to change a thing.” He saw the little frown that passed across his daughter’s face. “Dad, I’m grown - a long time ago. You’re talking to me like I had gone to my first day at school.”  He threw his head back and laughed. “Silly of us. Your mother had always wanted a sewing room, and I wanted a den. We could have fixed up our spare room for a den, and your room for your mother’s sewing room.” Brigitte stood, pulling her sweater tight, and folded her woolly blanket. “Let’s go for that walk that you take. My tea is empty and I’m feeling a bit restless. Do you think mom will join us?” She picked up their tea mugs and started into the house. Her father followed her, bringing their blankets. “Mom! Are you busy? Stop what you’re doing and come with Dad and I for a walk.”

Her mother had watched them from the kitchen window, pleased that her husband was finally getting some attention. Since his retirement, he’d been increasingly hard to get along with. At first, he just acted like he was on an extended holiday, but then the dreaming started. Calling out at night, waking her up. Sometimes she’d go into her daughter's room just to get to sleep. If she said anything about it to him, he’d just growl at her and go off on a huff. As the weeks and months went by, neither one of them were getting any sleep. Sometimes silence was only broken by the radio. If they did talk, it was short and blunt. ‘Coffee’s ready’  ‘Dinner’s ready’ ‘I’m going out.’ On this morning, when she was invited for a walk, she hesitated. But then decided that because Brigitte was along, it would be ok. “I’ll be right there.”

~~~~~ 

It was mid week in the tiny park. Few people were out. On weekends there were families with kids and dogs. Brigitte had hoped to see some of her friends but at the same time was glad they had the park almost to themselves. So far, she hadn’t seen a problem with her father. She always slept heavily, so if he had called out last night, she hadn’t heard him. Both her parents seemed fine. Having cared for Miss Em when she was grieving, as well as the many other people she’d cared for or waited on while she was away, she knew that a short visit wouldn’t really tell her anything. But now, she was concerned about her mother’s state of mind, Was her father really in trouble, or was he just bored! He’d never been one for social men’s groups, so had few friends outside of work and church. Being retired cut a lot of that out. But she needed to take her mom’s concern’s seriously. Breaking their silence, awkwardly she said “Did you enjoy the stew I brought home from the Estate last night? Martha said I was too skinny and not eating right. Cook made sure I ate from her latest batch of scones. And now I’m babbling. So what’s up with you two?” Her father’s jaw clenched, the muscles popping out in little knots.

Her mother wiped a hand across her eyes as though she were brushing hair out of her eyes. “We’re fine. We’re not used to spending this much time together.” Her father strode on ahead. Brigitte looped her arm in her mother’s. “Dad and I had a good visit this morning. So far, he seems just fine.” Her mother stiffened and pulled away. “I knew you’d say that. Didn’t you hear him last night? He woke me up again. I slept in the living room.” Brigitte sighed to herself. Her parents had always had such a peaceful relationship. Or at least she thought they had. Maybe if she could get them out to the Estate for a dinner. With Samuel and Digby there for her dad, and Martha and Cook there for her mom they might……..she didn’t know what that would help. But it may give them a break. “You and dad have stayed in Hartley, in the house, since I’ve been gone….Mom…..you have haven’t you?” Stopping, and stepping off the path, her mother pushed her clenched fists in her pockets and stared out at the little manmade lake. After a moment, quietly she said. “He goes for walks every day. Sometimes I go with him. But it’s not very pleasant.”

Gently Brigitte asked “Why do you think he needs home care, mom?” She waited, giving her mother all the time she needed. “Because I can’t take care of him the way I used to. He’s not eating - he ate more last night than he has in….in… I don’t know. He must be sick and not telling me. If I ask him to go the doctor, he just jams his hat on his head and goes for another walk. At least he’s not turned to drinking like his father.” She ran out of breath. Anger and frustration poured out of her. Brigitte felt like she was dealing with teenagers! “I’m being foolish aren’t I, Brigitte. I had all these dreams about when he’d retire we travel across the globe, maybe just the country and then this stupid pandemic just grounded us.” Brigitte had not seen this side of her mother. She would like them to kiss and make up but that would take some time. “Dad! Where did you come from?” Her father had come up behind them just as her mother finished talking. “I’ve been around the park while the two of you were talking about me.” Brigitte could see that he was more relaxed, but still rather crusty. 

Her phone buzzed. She was about to ignore it, but caller ID said it was Martha. “Hi Martha….” Stepping away from her parents, she listened and smiled. “Yes…..yes……that would be great…….I was just about to call you and Cook for that very thing…….You are a saviour…….who all will be there?…….Excellent….See you on Saturday!” 

“In the absence of facts…..we tell ourselves stories.”

~ Noah Hawley

Another Time

’Twas another time ~ 

a time for umbrellas that sprouted like flowers, when each rainy day softened the world, when raindrops, like jewels, clung to branches and to flowers with sequins

’Twas another time ~ 

busy, fun, yet gentle when relationships budded and grew;

like raindrops nourished my being, 

succoured and taught me about living

softening rough and raw edges with their smiles.

“I have witnessed the softening of the hardest of hearts by a simple smile.”

~ Goldie Hawn

Chapter Two, Episode 105 - Autumn Air - Situationally Theirs

Autumn Air

Samuel and Elizabeth had disappeared at the same time for the last two weeks. Emelina wouldn’t have known except, from her dining room window, she had seen Samuel leave the garden just as the kitchen door closed. She guessed that it was Cook. It could have been Digby, but it was too early for him to leave. Most days, he was here till well after six. Of course, Emelina didn’t stand at her window every day at four-thirty. She may have been in the kitchen, on the jogging track, or anywhere on the estate. She smiled to herself, feeling as though she was in on some kind of secret. Glad for them both. 

Today was different. Today Elizabeth was back in the kitchen. Autumn on the Island was still warm, but she had already started the soup making and beef stews for the changing season. She was busy organizing her fall and winter menus, talking with Miss Em about what she wanted. In the first year after pandemic restrictions had been lifted, she was often unsure about what she wanted. “You know my tastes, Cook. You just set the menus.” As she gathered strength, physically and otherwise, her tastes changed. She was not as interested in the complex meals she had once demanded. “Just simple things, Cook. I don’t need or want elaborate menus any more. Just your good food.” Since Dr. Jeremy had come into the picture, Cook found that she needed Miss Em’s approval for more groceries more often. “The poor man needs feeding on his time off. Hospital food is no better for the doctors than their patients.” 

~~~~~

Samuel had his shed in order, his summer tools cleaned and hung on pegboard in rows as straight as his garden plantings in spring. One faithful tomato plant left in the garden was still producing tomatoes. Whistling softly, he thought of the previous weeks with Elizabeth. He re-tied the supports he’d put in as the plant grew. From that one plant, he had a small basket of the ripe red fruit for Elizabeth. He would take it up to her when he went to talk with Digby. They also had a regular autumn meeting about the year’s produce and what would be best for the next year. Now that the restaurants were open, they were resuming their fall meetings over lunch off of the estate. He and Digby talked about much more than Samuel’s work ~ Elizabeth’s name came up frequently. “We don’t want anything more than what we have. Each have our own home. We do spend time together. There are times we even go away together for a weekend.” He paused and looked up at the ceiling. “I like those weekends. Always thought it was because we were away.” He pushed his plate away, finished his lunch. “I’d best get back. Whenever you’re ready, James. Need to get tidying up the yard.” James hadn’t said a word, just kept to himself. He had always wondered if the two of them really needed to change anything. He and Martha were quite happy being married after all the years they spent ignoring it. But it just didn’t seem right for Samuel and Elizabeth.

~~~~~

It is odd in any community, how people ‘pair off’, just as though it were expected of them. Even the small community of the Beaufort Estate. In rapid succession, Digby and Martha ~ butler and housekeeper ~ then Emelina Beaufort, the lady of the Manor with Dr Jeremy Crawford, an old friend of the Beaufort family. The most recent was Emelina’s sister Dez Eliot and Matt Hamilton. Dez had known him for quite some time but they had recently reconnected over apple orchards and bees. It seemed a new love. Elizabeth, the Estate Cook and Samuel, the Estate yardman were a different pair. Their lives separate but as loving as any of the others. Giles Thornton, the Estate chauffeur, was already married and had children. Not on the Estate as often as he once was, he still kept in close touch with them all. He had the advantage of that distance to watch them all and wonder about such things. Relationships ~ always changing without notice. He and Melanie had been young and in University when they fell head over heels. These friends were long out of high school. As he drove home to his wife, Melanie, he wondered aloud “What will be next for them all?” He rolled down his window to the cool island air, took a deep breath and drove on.

“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace 

as I have seen in one autumnal face.”

~ John Donne

Chapter Two, Episode Sixty-Eight - What Will Be - Situationally Theirs

What Will Be

“Dez, do you think we are taking this Covid thing seriously?” Emelina and her sister were upstairs in the living room after a good supper. Cook had made them a hearty chicken stew, Dez made a green salad and Em set the table for the three of them. Cook was going to go home, but they convinced her to stay. When they were finished they shooed Cook off home with a good portion of her chocolate cake. They tidied up themselves, took their tea and chocolate cake upstairs. “What do you mean Em? Of course we’ve taking it seriously. We all wear our masks, we wear our masks when we’re going to be around others and otherwise, social distancing. How much more can we do?”

Finishing the last crumb of cake and licking the fork, she paced to the window. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just worrying too much. After isolating with Jeremy for the two weeks, it did make me think. So much is going on at the hospitals and in clinics. Then there’s been the people picketing outside of them. It’s just so unfair and really makes me quite angry. I just want Jeremy to be safe and well and come home…….Oh, let’s not talk about it. You’re right. We are doing what we can do. It just gets so strange sometimes. Making sure I’ve got my keys and money with me, and a new mask. ”

Dez shook her head and smiled. “And it is getting so I want to just stay out here and away from everyone else. I haven’t seen Matt for ages, but just stay away to feel safe.” Her smile faded. “We really need to talk about something else.”

~~~~~

“Thanks for tidying up, girls. I have to get home. Good night!” 

“I don’t suppose they noticed how much cake I took. Samuel will be wondering where I am!” Elizabeth and Samuel, such good friends, were pretty shy about what some would call a relationship. One that had gone long past good friends. Some nights he would come to Elizabeth’s, they would sit and talk about cooking, or gardening, the weather ~ actually just about anything. Then he’d go home and they may not have such an evening for weeks. But Elizabeth always made sure he had meals and tea when he was out working the yard. Samuel always brought Elizabeth the best vegetables and made sure her little yard was tidy and weeded. On this night, Elizabeth was going to visit him. She had actually made the cake for him, with plans to take it all to him. When the sisters practically begged her to stay and eat, she did. She knew that they often just wanted someone with them. “I couldn’t say no. They are two such good people.” Outside into fresh rain drizzled air, she could talk to herself. She stood still for a moment, taking a deep breath of the clean air. “Best get on.” Slowing her normally busy stride, she walked toward Samuel’s home, enjoying the quiet of the evening. The darkness did not bother her, but she relished it’s calmness. “Elizabeth! It’s about time you got here. Coffee’s been ready for twenty minutes. Good thing you gave me that thermos for Christmas. Sure does come in handy.” He came down off the porch to relieve her of her burden. “Samuel Forrester! Don’t you start eating that cake until we sit down and have our coffee.” Her tone was sharp but the smile on her face did not match at all. The two friends went in the house, closing the door on the night. 

“A relationship isn’t about one person putting in their all 

into that one relationship. It’s about two people putting 

in their all no matter what happens.”

~ Diana Tellez, 

quotation from searchquotes.com

One Year Ago Today

Thomas Wolfe wrote

‘You can’t go home again’

~ and yet here I am

This past year has been filled 

with masks and distancing

isolating myself and Zooming

Walking on new paths around 

a lake instead of by the ocean

Free reigning rabbits instead of deer, arrogant Canada geese instead of prideful peacocks

One year ago today

I turned over my apartment keys,

said good bye to friends new and old

to return to my prairie home to

renew, rebuild relationships with 

precious family and dear friends.

“There is a kind of magicness about going far away

 and then coming back all changed.”

~ Kate Douglas Wiggin, New Chronicles of Rebecca

Chapter Two, Episode Twenty - Sisters Again - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

The most revision was done in the last section. Reading much of my writing, I see I am still writing very stilted sentences: telling rather than showing. That last section really needed more work. I could keep tinkering, but decided that would be enough,

Sisters Again

As Dez drove up the long gravelled driveway of the Beaufort Estate, she could see them. Her sister, Emelina and Jeremy Crawford on the front porch out of the cold winter rain. She gave two sharp toots of her horn and swung around to the back of the house. Shutting off the car, pulling up the hood of her rain jacket, she stepped out on the rain slick parking pad. Shivering, she ran up the steps to the back porch, just as the back door opened. “Dez! Come in the house. You’ll get soaked.” Em and Jeremy had come through the house to the back door. Opening the door wide, Em ushered her sister into the mudroom just off the kitchen. “Cook’s got coffee and soup on, Dez. It sure didn’t take you long to get here.”

“There wasn’t any traffic and I was so excited to see you both. Jeremy - there you are! You both look great. It must have been a great holiday. Let me hang up my coat so it doesn’t drip all over everything.”  Pandemic advice had discouraged hugging but a group hug ensued anyway. “We didn’t see anyone else while we were away………” Jeremy finished Emelina’s thought…..” And we’ve been on the road for about four days. Except for being on the ferry…….” Emelina continued….” We stayed in our car so we didn’t see anyone on the ferry.” 

Laughing, Dez held up her hands, palms out. “Whoa, you two! Are you an old married couple or what?”

“Sorry Dez. We’re just really happy and so glad to be home.” The couple leaned in to each other, smiling and contented. 

Cook set out soup bowls, cutlery and a plate of fresh scones. “Are you three coming to eat, or are you just going to stand there talking?” She smiled even though she sounded very stern. 

“Sorry, Cook. Come ladies. We don’t want to get the chef upset.” Jeremy held out bent elbows to the sisters. They accepted his gallant offer and walked the three steps to the long kitchen table. With a scraping of chairs, they sat, served up fresh soup from the big pot Cook set on the table. Delicious butter melted into still warm scones before being devoured. Silence, broken only by the click of spoons on pottery, hovered in the kitchen.

~~~~~

Jeremy wiped soup bowl clean with his last scone. “That was so good, Cook! Absolutely delicious. I’ll be out here a bit more often now, so I will become your official taste tester.”

“Oh, you will, will you? I didn’t know there was a vacancy for that position, Dr.” Cook chuckled. “I suppose if you’re living here…………”

“He won’t be living out here all the time, Cook.”  Emelina, clearing the table, added “And when he is, he’ll have to isolate upstairs. So, my dear Jeremy, any taste testing will be at the good graces of either Cook or myself. Who knows? We may not even feed you.”

“What’s this? You and Jeremy won’t be living together?” Dez had just assumed that Jeremy would be moving in out to the estate. When she thought about his job at the hospital, it was beginning to make sense. “No. As long as Jeremy is working on the Covid Unit, he’s decided to stay in his apartment for his shifts and come out on his days off. We talked about it on the way home.”

Dez smiled to herself, not wanting either Emelina or her new brother-in-law, to see the pleasure on her face at this news. Jeremy's job would prevent him from monopolizing Em's time! Dez and Emelina would have time to learn how their new lives would fit together. 

“In photographs of us together, she is always looking 

at the camera, and I am always looking at her.”

~ Jandy Nelson, The Sky is Everywhere