COPYRIGHT@GERRYROSE

Having visited Babs and seeing for herself how down she was. Sue had wondered what she could do to be supportive. She had agreed with Jilly to take turns in calling Babs every morning around 10am to see how she was and what she had planned for the day. Babs remained rather apathetic but was open to being visited and encouraged to take care of herself. Left to her own devices Babs would stay all day in bed in her pyjamas watching day time TV. She didn’t seem to be bothered about showering and brushing her teeth. Sue knew how important structure and routine was in a person’s life. She took it in turns with Jilly and visited Babs every other day and chivvied her along. She always praised Babs when she went and showered and got dressed. She encouraged her to walk with her the short distance to the Portland Road for a coffee or lunch. She checked that she was eating at least two meals and whenever she was there she made her drinks and made sure she had taken her medication. It was a bit like being back at work.
As Christmas loomed Sue felt it was important that Babs was not left alone. Babs’ son showed no sign of inviting Babs to stay with him and his wife. Sue doubted that Babs would want to go anywhere anyway. Babs knew that she wasn’t the best company at the moment. Jilly seemed to be at a loose end too. Her children were busy leading their own lives and were both going abroad for Christmas. Sue decided that she would host Christmas. She didn’t go in for all of the hype and as far as she was concerned Christmas dinner was nothing more than a roast dinner. She cooked herself a roast dinner every Sunday so felt more than able to have two extra guests.
Jilly seemed quite relieved when Sue announced the Christmas plans. Jilly told her that she was pleased that she wasn’t spending her first Christmas in Hove on her own. She said that she would have booked a holiday if it hadn’t been for being concerned about Babs. Jilly offered to bring a starter and a Christmas pudding and brandy butter. Sue had no expectation from Babs other than she got up, showered and turned up. Jilly said she would ensure that that happened. It was going to be a quiet calm day Sue hoped. She did not expect it to be the jolliest of occasions but she would ensure that her house looked festive and that there was bubbly and some good red and white wines. They all lived within walking distance of each other and there were always taxis available. Sue felt hosting Christmas day was far better than going to a restaurant where prices were hiked and she always felt the staff somewhat resented having to work. She had suggested that Jilly brought Babs over around 11am so they could have a bucks fizz. Sue would stick to the orange juice but was not adverse to pouring alcohol for others. She was not sure how much alcohol Babs was allowed as it would have an impact on her medication. She would make sure that Babs paced herself and drank plenty of water.
Christmas Eve arrived and Sue ensured that all the preparation that was possible to do in advance had been completed. She could not in all honesty say that she was looking forward to the day. They were making the most of a situation which was difficult. Christmas is always a tricky time for people who live alone. There is always a constant thought that everyone else is having a better time than you. Everyone else has loving families who can’t wait to get together to celebrate that ‘most wonderful time of the year.’ In reality Sue knew that most people knew that this was a myth and made the most of it. No family is perfect and most families have learned to tolerate some members of their family. A sense of duty usually reigns at this time. Sue prepared herself a gammon with mashed potato and red cabbage casserole to have for her dinner she would just stick to fizzy water. She was surprised that she didn’t miss drinking alcohol. She didn’t miss the hangovers that was for sure.
She went to bed fairly early and set her alarm for 7am so she could be up and ready for the day ahead.
Since she had given up drinking Sue slept much better and had less vivid dreams. She was awake before the alarm and checked her phone for any messages from Babs or Jilly. Her cousin Julie had sent her a Happy Christmas message. Easily done thought Sue and tried not to feel bitter that her cousin never invited her over for Christmas at their big house in Sevenoaks. The season of goodwill seemed to touch some people very lightly and somewhat effortlessly. Still at least she had thought about her. Sue sent back a similar message and for one second considered pretending that she would be spending the day alone just to make Julie feel guilty. However Sue knew that Julie was highly unlikely to feel any guilt at all, it really wasn’t worth the effort. She showered and dressed in the obligatory Christmas jumper and velvet trousers. She wore Christmas earrings and felt that she was making an effort to make the day as jolly as it could be.
Sue laid the table for lunch with a white linen table cloth and made it look festive with crackers and Christmas candles. She had written out a time plan just the way her domestic science teacher had taught her all those years ago. She put the oven on to heat up at 11am.
When no one had arrived by 11.30 and there were no messages or calls from Jilly she began to worry. Her mind was working overtime imagining all sorts. Her doorbell went at 11.45 and Jilly was with Babs who appeared to be still in her pyjamas and slippers and was wrapped in a blanket. Sue ushered them in. Sue made sure Babs was sitting on the sofa wrapped in her blanket before going into the kitchen where a somewhat agitated Jilly had retreated.
‘I can see things haven’t been easy this morning.’
‘I almost gave up trying to coax her to get out of her bed and come here. I have a bag of clothes for her and shoes but I don’t think we will get very far.’
Sue opened a bottle of fizz and dispensing with the orange juice she poured Jilly a glass. Jilly took it and took a large sip.
‘Gosh that tastes good.’
Sue poured herself an orange juice.
‘I think we just have to go along with whatever Babs feels she can handle today. I will carry on as normal. I have plenty of food and wine Jilly. Sue saw Jilly sigh with relief.
‘Thank goodness I am not trying to handle this on my own.’
‘Yes we have each other. I am going to offer Babs a bucks fizz it might do her some good.’
When Sue returned to Babs she was fast asleep and had pulled the blanket up over her head. Sue knew this was definitely going to be a rather different Christmas day. At least Babs was not on her own. They might just have to ignore her and celebrate the day on their own.
Sue returned to the kitchen. She put the duck in the oven and sat chatting to Jilly.
It was one of those mild Christmas days with no extreme weather to add to the drama. She would have liked to have taken a walk down to the beach but they couldn’t leave Babs alone. As she usually did at this time of the year and as most people did, she looked back to past Christmases and wondered when the best ones had been. They were probably the ones when she was a child living with her family. She can remember that post war Christmases were times to push the boat out and families saved up and treated and indulged themselves. Today most people did this most of the time so the specialness of Christmas was lost. She imagined a Christmas that she would want to experience and she knew that it would not be the one she was having. She wondered if there were people out there who were having perfect Christmases. Somehow she didn’t actually buy into that myth either. Perhaps she was just a bitter and cynical old lady. She looked at Jilly and got the distinct impression that Jilly was having the same thoughts as her. Babs was snoring underneath her blanket. Jilly looked at Sue and burst out laughing. Sometimes that is what you had to do in life. Sue topped up Jilly’s glass and checked her time plan. Life could be shit but her Christmas lunch would be bloody marvellous.