Bumps and Potholes

Story about an elderly lady and the bumps and potholes she has encountered on the winding road called Life.

"I'm going to walk over to the grocer's to fetch some milk, dear," she hollered out as she tied the thin blue scarf around her head. "You know, we never should have sold the cows." Placing a finger beside her bottom lip, she checked her lipstick. "Need anything?"

Deep breathing and a soft snore met her unanswered question. Sylvie Declan grinned. He must have fallen asleep in his chair. He'd been working so hard. He seemed to sleep a lot more these days.

She and Cloris both worked hard to keep the farm running but after the drought, it was becoming more and more difficult. They had survived raising five children; three boys and two girls. They all helped out but were grown with families and lives of their own now. Lily and Maura were coming by tomorrow. They would bake a cherry pie as they always had and do some canning.

Gently closing the wooden door behind her slight frame, Sylvie pulled the off-white cardigan sweater she had received for Mother's Day from her oldest boy Tom, around her frail shoulders. "It's gotten a bit chilly," she sighed and breathed moist, warm air into the palms of her hands.

As she walked down the pathway, she waved a greeting to a neighbor sitting in a chair on his front stoop. The sun was shining so brightly, she had to shield her muddy brown eyes from the glare.

Hearing the birds chirp, chirp, chirping put a small skip in her step. The pathway suddenly forked into a long and winding road but Sylvie didn't mind; she enjoyed the walk. She had been trading with the same grocer for years now; the workers were so friendly.

Looking to her left, she saw a beautiful field of flowers along the hillside. "Oh, my!" she exclaimed as she clapped her hands together. "I'll pick a bouquet to bring home to Cloris. It will certainly lift his spirits." She plucked colorful daisies, roses, black-eyed Susans and even a few blue bonnets.

Moving on her way, Sylvie encountered a few more neighbors; nodded and smiled sweetly. There was her neighbor, what was her name again? It had escaped her. She always wore that darn straw hat with the black and white polka-dot bow. Sylvie thought the woman looked ridiculous.

"Well, good morning, Miss Sylvie," the woman beamed. "Remember my grandson Hunter?"

The young boy looked vaguely familiar, it must have been quite a while since their last meeting. "Well, hello there, sonny." Sylvie stooped toward the child and handed him a flower from her freshly picked bouquet. "I would love to chat but I'm off to the grocer's, you see."

The boy looked up at her quizzically. "What a rude one," Sylvie mumbled under her breath. "Children these days." She snorted loudly and continued down the winding road.

Just a few steps later, a delicious aroma wafted through the morning air, tickling the insides of her nose; slightly sharpening her senses. Eggs, bacon, buttermilk biscuits. Sylvie's stomach began to growl. She would have to stop by that diner after her visit to the grocer.

Jingling the sparse coins in the pocket of her cardigan, Sylvie spotted the glass door. She hoped she had enough money, things were so expensive these days.

As she pushed at the fingerprint-riddled entrance, a wailing siren screeched and squealed. Sylvie jumped and began to cry. "Fire! Fire!" she screamed. Everyone inside the grocer's shop must be trapped; awaiting their demise.

"It's okay, Miss Sylvie," a man's voice behind her said gently. "Why don't we come this way?"

Sylvie turned sharply and watched warily as colorful bits of paper floated to the lime green tile floor beneath her feet. The flower-shaped papers were lovely but she felt a sense of sadness wash over her.

The man cupped her elbow and led her away from the glass door.

"All those people inside," she looked over her shoulder. "They're going to perish." Panic rose in her throat.

"We'll take care of it, Miss Sylvie," the man instructed. "Are you hungry this morning?"

Sylvie licked her chapped lips, remembering her growling stomach and the wonderful smells that had made her salivate.

"Let's get you some breakfast."

Sylvie raised her age-spotted hand, shielding her muddy brown eyes from the long fluorescent lights embedded into the nursing home's ceiling. She smiled and nodded sweetly as several people in wheelchairs slowly made their way to the dining area as well.

Moments later, two middle-aged women sauntered up to the front desk. It was quite obvious they were sisters, although one was blonde, the other a redhead.

"We're here to see our mother, Sylvie Declan," the blonde announced.

"You must be new here," the redhead observed. She placed a McDonald's bag on the counter and held out a hand. "I'm Maura and this is my sister Lily. We come every Saturday morning to visit Mom and bring her cherry pies from McDonald's. She adores them."

The young girl behind the desk, her name tag stating, KRIS, in bold white lettering, grinned although her knitted brows showed concern.

"What is it?" Lilly asked, sensing the tension.

"I'm sorry," Kris apologized. "We just had an, umm, incident with your mother but everything's okay now though." She tugged at her scrubs and fidgeted with some papers. "Nick just took her to the dining room."

Maura laughed. "She thought there was a fire, didn't she?"

Lily poked her sister in the ribs.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh. It's just that, it's been so long that it's kind of comical to us now. I can see that it would be a little scary to an outsider."

Kris shook her head from side to side, not understanding.

"You see we were raised on a big dairy farm. Us and our older brothers, Tom, Daniel and Kevin. Mom and Daddy began having financial troubles and ended up selling the cows and most of the land." Lily explained. "One morning, Daddy, his name was Cloris, took the boys and went to the grocery store for milk. Maura and I were little bitty."

"Somehow, a fire broke out in the store and many shoppers and employees were trapped inside." Maura continued. "So many people lost their lives that day. Our oldest brother Tom survived but he won't have anything to do with us. He blames us."

"Mom basically lost her mind after that. We had a difficult upbringing but we loved her because she tried so hard." Lily took over the story, waving her hands with a flourish. "Other family members stepped in to help from time to time but we all stayed at home together. She refused to believe Daddy and our brothers were gone and we tried to keep things as normal as possible." Tucking loose strands of blonde hair behind naked ears, Lily sighed. "Mom's been here at Willow Park about, what, ten years now?"

Maura nodded her head. "Mom always thinks her roommate is Daddy because she believes this is the old farm."

"We tell her that Tom calls, although he doesn't. We give her gifts and sign his name." Lily's blue eyes darkened sadly.

"We know it's all a lie but it makes her happy," Maura smiled.

"Life can be a long and winding road." Nick had slipped into the conversation, unnoticed. "It's been a pleasure to hold Miss Sylvie's hand as her mind encounters those bumps and potholes along the way."

Lily and Maura smiled at each other and handed each Nick and Kris a cherry pie from the McDonald's bag.

Arm in arm, the sisters stepped onto the winding road and proceeded toward the dining room and the land beyond known as Miss Sylvie's World.

Author's Note

Please give an overall review on this short story. Thank you!

Reviews

[Autumn Lyric]

Very touching, and bittersweet story of one that has been through such traumatic times in her life, that she unknowingly created a world beyond her control that keeps her going despite her current state and frame of mind. I loved the entire work, put me in mind of Fried Green Tomatoes with Jessica Tandy...I love that film and this was very similar and enjoyable to read. Thank you for sharing! Look forward to reading more of your stories!!

[MelissaAndres]

Oh wow! I was not even thinking about Fried Green Tomatoes when I wrote this short story. I LOVE that movie! Seriously, that and Steel Magnolias are my favorite movies ever! I feel honored that you would compare my story to it! Thank you SO much! You just made my day! :)

[Autumn Lyric]

You are so welcome... :)

[annalysiar]

I enjoyed it it was a great story

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, annalysiar!

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good story my friend.
"Life can be a long and winding road." Nick had slipped into the conversation, unnoticed. "It's been a pleasure to hold Miss Sylvie's hand as her mind encounters those bumps and potholes along the way."
I like the conversation and the wisdom shared. Thank you for sharing the excellent story.
Coyote

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Coyote Poetry! I really appreciate your kind words.

[Coyote Poetry]

Was my pleasure and you are welcome.

[alifeacoustic]

You managed to turn what is a very confusing and sad thing into a lovely and loving story Melissa. My Mum is going through this just now and I try to let her go with it. Sometimes it's difficult, because she gets upset when telling stories and she forgets names and places, but then I can just move the topic back to her childhood and teen years and she remembers the minutest details. I don't know what all the fuss is about anyway, like it matters she can't remember the actors name in a soap that I don't watch anyway.
Beautifully done.

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, alifeacoustic! I am sorry your Mom is dealing with this but it seems as if you are handling it well. I have had a few family members that have had Alzheimer's and I have often wondered exactly what went through their minds. It can be a difficult thing.

[alifeacoustic]

Thank you Melissa.

[MelissaAndres]

You are very welcome!

[Celie Rose]

I really enjoyed your story. Feel a little sad about her losing her mind because if the fire but, what an amazing world she lives in. Really loved this part: "Hearing the birds chirp, chirp, chirping put a small skip in her step, she saw a beautiful field of flowers along the hillside, a delicious aroma wafted through the morning air, tickling the insides of her nose; slightly sharpening her senses. Eggs, bacon, buttermilk biscuits coming from the Diner. As long as Miss Sylvie's happy. That's all that matters. Well written

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Celie Rose! I am glad you enjoyed this story. I appreciate your kind words so much!
read moreThank you, Celie Rose! I am glad you enjoyed this story. I appreciate your kind words so much!