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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Aging / Maturity
- Published: 08/24/2021
Jack sat, just looking at the blank wall, then at his watch. It was 2 minutes after the last time he looked.
It seemed it was all he had left, eat, sleep, repeat.
Everything was gone. His beloved wife Milly had left approximately 3 weeks earlier to go to the hospital. She had given him strict orders not to leave the house. “If you do you will be struck down by the virus and you will die”
So Jack was obeying Millys orders and not going near the front door.
He had it in his head that if the front door opened that it would be sure death. He was terrified of dying as he hadn't lead the best life he could and only imagined going to hell after this life. His entire life he had been a drinker and a gambler. At one stage a bet that lead to Milly leaving him for a good 6 months or more. He had bet their property. The one and only secure thing they had. Luckily he won the bet but Milly was so furious that she took the 2 kids and went home to her parents.
So back to Jack. There he sat. All alone. The power had gone off almost 3 days ago. He had no TV to watch, no computer to sit at. His mobile phone had run out of charge. He had not heard or seen any cars for some time and no people were out walking like they usually did. There were no cats or dogs from what he could see from the top story window of their home. To say the least. Jack was frightened like he had never been before.
Jack had no choice: He opened the back door as Milly had not given instructions not to. He had no choice. He had to turn on the gas BBQ to do some cooking. He had exhausted all bread, jam and processed meat from the fridge.
He thought he had better cook up all the stuff from the freezer before it turned bad.
He walked around to his back shed to fetch the Bbq tools and the billy to make himself a much-needed cup of coffee. He loved his coffee with a little milk but any kind of coffee would suit his needs at the moment.
As Jack walked to his shed he heard a noise from the neighbour's house. His thoughts were it was probably rats. Then he heard a voice.
“Milly, Jack Is that you”
“It's Jack, is that you Fred”
Fred ”Yep it's me, I didn't know anyone else was around”
Within minutes the 2 men had pulled about half a dozen battens from the fence so as they could converse face to face. Fred invited Jack over so they put a step ladder up against the fence for him to climb down about a metre lower into Freds yard. Fred and Jack hugged. Something neither men had ever done before. Until now they were simply neighbours.
There is no one else Jack exclaimed, just no one. I've been watching every day for hours and hours and not seen a soul.
The 2 men sat together, made a coffee and some dinner together. Fred had some damn nice lettuce and tomatoes in his garden so a salad with the steak he had to cook worked a treat for both of them. They planned right into the night. Jack ended up sleeping over as he just didn't want to be lonely any longer than he had been. The same could be said for Fred. His wife had passed away about 3 months earlier and he was extremely lonely.
The plan: Both households had plenty of food, it wasn't safe to stay put in a city environment just in case the virus was still hanging about so they made the decision to head for the hills. Jack knew of a place about 4 hours into the country. It was an unused cabin that had belonged to the boy scouts team. They loaded a car and a very small trailer with all the gear they would need and headed off 2 days later.
All the way down the southern motorway they saw no one, no animals. Even when they hit the outskirts of the city there where no cows, sheep, goats or anything else. They both wondered why they were the only ones left standing. Very odd Jack thought.
4 hours away from home and Jack began to feel a little confused. Agitated at his confusion he yelled at Fred. ”Where are we? Where are we?“
Fred tried to calm Jack and let him know he'd called for help.
“How can you call for help, there is no one to call”
Now Fred looks confused.
Police and ambulance arrive along with Milly.
“Thank God we have found you Jack, you wandered off from the rest home again, you just can't go doing things like that and worry me. I told you never go near the front door didn't I.”
Jack explains to Milly he was leaving town with Fred to go into the country so they won't catch the virus.
The man that found Jack explains how he had come across Jack while out for a walk. Confused and scared, hiding under the bushes in a local reserve.
Milly and the police take Jack back to the rest home. She explains to him that the virus, pandemic, was 12 years earlier. She laughed and reminded him how he and his neighbour went camping for 4 weeks. Way out west to the boy scout den. "You were both running away from the pandemic. I'm betting you dreamed all that up after wondering off and coming across that man that found you. He looks so much like fred the old neighbour."
Jack is put into a more secure room and a tracker is put on his ankle.
The end
The confused(Gail Moore)
Jack sat, just looking at the blank wall, then at his watch. It was 2 minutes after the last time he looked.
It seemed it was all he had left, eat, sleep, repeat.
Everything was gone. His beloved wife Milly had left approximately 3 weeks earlier to go to the hospital. She had given him strict orders not to leave the house. “If you do you will be struck down by the virus and you will die”
So Jack was obeying Millys orders and not going near the front door.
He had it in his head that if the front door opened that it would be sure death. He was terrified of dying as he hadn't lead the best life he could and only imagined going to hell after this life. His entire life he had been a drinker and a gambler. At one stage a bet that lead to Milly leaving him for a good 6 months or more. He had bet their property. The one and only secure thing they had. Luckily he won the bet but Milly was so furious that she took the 2 kids and went home to her parents.
So back to Jack. There he sat. All alone. The power had gone off almost 3 days ago. He had no TV to watch, no computer to sit at. His mobile phone had run out of charge. He had not heard or seen any cars for some time and no people were out walking like they usually did. There were no cats or dogs from what he could see from the top story window of their home. To say the least. Jack was frightened like he had never been before.
Jack had no choice: He opened the back door as Milly had not given instructions not to. He had no choice. He had to turn on the gas BBQ to do some cooking. He had exhausted all bread, jam and processed meat from the fridge.
He thought he had better cook up all the stuff from the freezer before it turned bad.
He walked around to his back shed to fetch the Bbq tools and the billy to make himself a much-needed cup of coffee. He loved his coffee with a little milk but any kind of coffee would suit his needs at the moment.
As Jack walked to his shed he heard a noise from the neighbour's house. His thoughts were it was probably rats. Then he heard a voice.
“Milly, Jack Is that you”
“It's Jack, is that you Fred”
Fred ”Yep it's me, I didn't know anyone else was around”
Within minutes the 2 men had pulled about half a dozen battens from the fence so as they could converse face to face. Fred invited Jack over so they put a step ladder up against the fence for him to climb down about a metre lower into Freds yard. Fred and Jack hugged. Something neither men had ever done before. Until now they were simply neighbours.
There is no one else Jack exclaimed, just no one. I've been watching every day for hours and hours and not seen a soul.
The 2 men sat together, made a coffee and some dinner together. Fred had some damn nice lettuce and tomatoes in his garden so a salad with the steak he had to cook worked a treat for both of them. They planned right into the night. Jack ended up sleeping over as he just didn't want to be lonely any longer than he had been. The same could be said for Fred. His wife had passed away about 3 months earlier and he was extremely lonely.
The plan: Both households had plenty of food, it wasn't safe to stay put in a city environment just in case the virus was still hanging about so they made the decision to head for the hills. Jack knew of a place about 4 hours into the country. It was an unused cabin that had belonged to the boy scouts team. They loaded a car and a very small trailer with all the gear they would need and headed off 2 days later.
All the way down the southern motorway they saw no one, no animals. Even when they hit the outskirts of the city there where no cows, sheep, goats or anything else. They both wondered why they were the only ones left standing. Very odd Jack thought.
4 hours away from home and Jack began to feel a little confused. Agitated at his confusion he yelled at Fred. ”Where are we? Where are we?“
Fred tried to calm Jack and let him know he'd called for help.
“How can you call for help, there is no one to call”
Now Fred looks confused.
Police and ambulance arrive along with Milly.
“Thank God we have found you Jack, you wandered off from the rest home again, you just can't go doing things like that and worry me. I told you never go near the front door didn't I.”
Jack explains to Milly he was leaving town with Fred to go into the country so they won't catch the virus.
The man that found Jack explains how he had come across Jack while out for a walk. Confused and scared, hiding under the bushes in a local reserve.
Milly and the police take Jack back to the rest home. She explains to him that the virus, pandemic, was 12 years earlier. She laughed and reminded him how he and his neighbour went camping for 4 weeks. Way out west to the boy scout den. "You were both running away from the pandemic. I'm betting you dreamed all that up after wondering off and coming across that man that found you. He looks so much like fred the old neighbour."
Jack is put into a more secure room and a tracker is put on his ankle.
The end
Herm Sherwood-Sitts
01/26/2022Well writen my friend. Everyday my memory seems a little dimmer.
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Lillian Kazmierczak
01/24/2022Congratulations on short story star of the week. This was a wonderful story!
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Daniel Findlay
10/05/2021Such a scary disease. This was very touching, even for a guy like me. I enjoyed the read nonetheless and look forward to more of your work.
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
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Radrook
10/05/2021Thanks for the very convincing and realistic depiction of how an alzheimer's sense of reality differs from the normal. I guess I am among those who had to deal with a parent who succumbed and finally died from that horrible disease. Was very saddening to see such a drastic change in such a dynamic personality. Especially when that person was a loved one.
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Carol MC.
10/03/2021Living with a dementia pacient,I truly related to this story. What a sad but wonderfully told story! Thank you for publishing this! It was really nice to read about it
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
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Rachel Roy
09/30/2021I enjoy all the twists to this story. I struggle with brevity in a story, but you fill these few paragraphs with action and twist, apparently with ease. Thank youo for sharing!
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
09/29/2021Gail. you really captured and brought to life the essence of Dementia. Sad is the only word I can think of to define the loss of ones memory for a lifetime. I joke sometimes when something good in life happens like the laughter from a baby and say. I' m saving that moment for my dementia memory bank. Truth is there i'll be no memory bank. Thanks for a well written and thought provoking story.
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Bernardo Mendes
09/29/2021On one hand, I find the story extremely well-written and engaging. On the other hand, I find it sad. But at least Jack was found and everything was ok. Alzheimer's seems so scary and confusing. Good story Gail
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
Sidra
09/28/2021This story can be felt by all having an Alzheimer's patient in the family. Not only the disease is an ordeal for the family but for the patient too. The way it leaves the poor souls confused and lost and not being able to express themselves! Such a warm read it was!
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Rida Fethi
09/19/2021What a wonderful story Mr. Gail you have made me live the story through your words.. what a great talent you possess sir.
Indeed Alzheimer is one of the worst diseases out there.. not being able to remember your "home" is just so difficult and painful for you and all of those people related to you.
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Gail Moore
09/19/2021A very sad disease indeed Rida, let's hope that one day a cure is found for this dreadful disease as the world's population is ageing at a great rate of knots.
Thank you so much for reading :-)
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Gerald R Gioglio
09/19/2021Thanks Gail....sadly my wife and I have 4 such tales to tell about caring for other relatives with similar challenges. Fiction or nonfiction, I think it's good to get these types of stories out--sadly as once said, the truth is stranger than fiction. Take good care. GRG
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Gail Moore
09/19/2021Thanks so much for reading Gerald, :-)
I am so sorry you have had to go through this so many times.
I honestly don't know if this illness is worse for the person going through it or the person's relatives and friends.
Either way it's heartbreaking and very sad :-(
Thank you :-)
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Shirley Smothers
09/19/2021A sad take. Too often true. Diseases of the mind often rob us of who we are. Told in a sweet and heart warming way. Thank you for sharing
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Martha Huett
08/27/2021What a great story, Gail. So true what Kevin said in his comments how Alzheimers seems to affect everyone and I'm sure with you hoping we figure out a way to squash out this disease for good. My poor sister got early onset Alzheimers in her 40s and died last year in a nursing home. Heart rending but there's hope. Thanks for your story! :)
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Gail Moore
08/27/2021Martha, that is heartbreaking for you. Your sister was so young when her journey with this disease began.
Thanks so much for reading :-)
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Gail Moore
08/27/2021Thanks for reading, sorry to hear your mum had that. It's a horrible disease :-(
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Kevin Hughes
08/25/2021Hey Gayle,
Well that sure caught me by surprise. And just like everybody in the thread has mentioned we all have been touched by what that poor man went through. Great story. Five stars in every way. And so many little testimonials in this thread. I hope none of us suffer through that. Smiles Kevin
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Gail Moore
08/25/2021Yep I know what your are saying. We have all been touched one way or another. Thank you very much Kevin, much appreciate you taking the time to read :-)
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Gail Moore
08/24/2021Just a footnote. We know a lot of folk suffer towards the end of life with memory loss disease.
But then there are those that live full lives until the very end.
Everyday rain or shine we stop and chat to a 93 year old with a perfect memory and a spring in his step.
He always brings a smile to my face :-)
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Gordon England
08/24/2021Very well done, Gail. It hit close to home because my grandmother went through that. Sounds like you had a personal experience also that you elucidated nicely.
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Gail Moore
08/24/2021Gordon my mum died last year from Alzheimers. Unfortunately she was in Melbourne lockdown and we are in NZ so we were not able to have a funeral for her.
Thanks for reading :-)
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JD
08/24/2021That was great. Totally believeable, sad, and intriguing. I could not help but think of my dad, because in the later stages of his alzheimer's he stopped knowing where 'home' was, and tried to escape from his actual home on several occasions. At the time my folks were living on a lake about 8 miles from town, and my mom discovered him missing and called the police. They had helicopters out searching for him. Someone reported seeing a man running down the highway toward town, and eventually someone who knew him found him in town heading East on a different highway toward Eugene. He said he was going 'Home'.
A few years earlier another alzheimer's sufferer had disappeared in town and 6 days later was found laying in a creek at the bottom of a hill. He was alive, but probably wouldn't have been for much longer. Who knows what was going through his brain. Maybe that incident is what got mom so much local action with police and helicopters looking for dad....
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Gail Moore
08/24/2021Thanks JD, it’s sad for so many people at the moment.
I’m very glad you got to be with your dad. Yes it’s sad that so many are still so active but unfortunately their minds don’t match their physical self :-(
I hope very soon there will be a cure that stops this disease in its tracks .
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JD
08/24/2021That incident happened about 3 years before he died, at age 73. His body was still healthy and strong, but his mind slowly died...shuting down all his bodily functions way before his time. I know you understand the long goodbye of alzheimers. I'm so sorry you were separated from your mom during the pandemic. That is the biggest heartbreak of all for everyone who lost loved ones... no close contact goodbyes and no funerals. At least my mom and I were able to be at his side when he passed, and we were able to have a big funeral farewell. It made it all easier. I can't imagine how difficult it would have been if we had been in a pandemic 'lockdown' at that time. What a terrible tragedy for you and so many others who had that added heartache on top of their loss.
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Jason James Parker
08/24/2021A brilliant story, Gail. I really love the structure and delivery. Pure genius. : )
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