COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Original Manuscript Copy: This is not the final version. You are welcome to read, like and comment. Do not copy, cite, or distribute without the express written permission of the author.
© Perry A. Simpson 2022
Published by The Lemon Zest Project
Written by Perry Simpson
Knockmonlea, Youghal, Co. Cork, Ireland
(Tel: +353 (0)86 109 2836)
Contact author@simpsonperry.com
Private
by Perry Simpson (Frank and Mildred storyline)
It appeared that no one had suffered after the dinner saga. They still had no idea who had eaten which bag of meat, but one was definitely not chicken. All the past troubles seem to be behind them. Frank and Mildred Becker were now enjoying all the spoils of Frank’s recent promotion. He sat at his desk with a coffee and a ginger nut biscuit. His new office was now his second home. He sat in thought. It dawned on him that this promotion now meant he worked harder and longer hours than before. Granted, he thought. My hours are flexible and I am almost my own boss, but I am always so tired in the evenings.
The phone rang.
He sighed as he picked up the receiver, ‘Frank Becker.’
He listened to the person at the other end of the line.
‘Oh, it’s you, Mildred.’ He jumped to his feet. ‘No, I’ll meet you there.’ He wrestled himself into his jacket while still listening. ‘About twenty minutes.’
Mildred hung up.
Frank threw the receiver down and dashed out of the door.
#
Frank arrived later than he expected and saw no sign of Mildred outside or in the foyer. He assumed that she must have already gone up to the ward. Her sister was struck down by a car on the zebra crossing and was in a very bad way.
He had no idea which ward she would be on. There was a huge queue at the counter. Frank decided to try the Stella Ward. That was where he went when he had fallen off of his bike a year or so back.
Frank glanced around. Confused. The hospital was undergoing some major restoration work. The corridors soon filled with patients, hospital staff and hairy-arsed workmen.
As he recalled, Mildred had said that she was in a private room. That didn’t help him much in this chaos. He thought the easiest thing to do would be to ask one of the workmen. He walked over to an elderly chap wearing a high visibility vest. Frank assumed him to be in a supervisory capacity. He was holding a clipboard. He thought he must be important.
‘Excuse me, can you direct me to Stella Ward?’
‘Whereabouts in Stella Ward?’ he replied in a low soft voice.
Frank paused. The man’s reply took him by surprise. ‘Well, all I know is that she is in a private room.’
‘Ah, then you need to continue down this corridor all the way to the end. Then take a left, followed by another left. The ward is open, but the signage is not finished. You’ll have to ask at the reception desk.’
Frank thanked him and continued down the corridor, as instructed. At the end, he took a left, passing a row of painters adding the finishing touches to the top and bottom of the walls.
He followed the wall until the next left turn.
It was less chaotic. The new decor had a warmer, cosier effect. Frank liked the soft lilac walls with several hand-painted murals of the open countryside.
‘The man wasn’t kidding, there is no signage,’ he sighed. Frank continued towards the desk, but there didn’t appear to be any staff around. Everything was new and very high-tech. ‘Can’t hang around here all day.’
Frank decided to try and locate Mildred’s sister by himself. He opened each door. Most of the rooms were empty. Frank was beginning to think he must be in the wrong place. Then, he caught a glimpse of something familiar through a closed door.
He knocked on the door and went in.
#
On the bed was a woman with a head wrapped in a heavy layer of bandages.
‘Oh my god, whatever happened to you?’
No answer.
‘There’s no sign of Mildred then?’
She didn’t respond.
‘Mildred must have got lost in all that chaos out there. I am sure she’ll be along soon.’ Frank didn’t even want to think about the extent of her injuries.
He grabbed a chair and sat down next to her. ‘I guess you won’t be needing these,’ he said, placing a bag of grapes on the bedside unit. Frank was starting to feel uncomfortable. He didn’t know Mildred’s sister all that well. When they had met in the past, the exchanges were frosty at best. They also only ever seem to meet at Christmas time.
‘I can’t think what has happened Mildred,' he said, looking at his watch again. ‘She should have been here now,’ he sighed. ‘I suspect she’ll be here any minute.’ He had said that several times now.
He helped himself to a couple of grapes. ‘Did Mildred tell you about my new job? Yes, I finally got that promotion. It only took Charles fifteen years to recognise my contribution to the company.’
Her head moved a little. She seemed restless.
He took another handful of grapes and sat back down on the chair. ‘As for that wife of his, Harriet. Well, I don’t know who the hell she thinks she is with all her airs and graces. She struts everywhere like she owns the place. Mind you, she keeps Charles in his place, I can tell you.’
She began to fidget.
Frank gorged on the grapes. ‘Look, I don’t think you should be trying to talk in your condition.’
She tried to move.
Tired of sitting, Frank stood up and started to pace around the room. ‘Oh, did Mildred tell you the story about the dinner and the two bags of chicken?’
She sighed.
He started to chuckle as he took another handful of grapes.
He started to chuckle again. ‘To this day, we still do not know who ended up with a bag with the cat meat in it.'
She appeared to try to say something.
‘Oh, I seem to have eaten all your grapes.’ He scrunched the paper back up and dropped it into the bin.
‘Look, you stay there and I should go and see if I can find Mildred. This is not like her at all.’
Frank left the room and stood a while outside to get his bearings.
#
‘Frank.’
He turned to find Charles Baldwin, his boss, heading towards him.
‘Fancy seeing you here, sir?’
‘Ah,’ He seemed uncomfortable with Frank’s presence. ‘My wife is here for corrective surgery. Well, she’s not comfortable with the term facelift, you know?’ He said, explaining. ‘Can we keep this between ourselves, Frank?’
Frank nodded. 'sure. Of course, Charles. Mums the word.' He was still in a state of shock. He watched as Charles entered the private room. The very same room he had sat in for the past hour.
‘Where the hell have you been, Frank?’
Frank turned to find Mildred pushing an elderly lady in a hospital wheelchair. Mildred’s sister sat in a wheelchair, both her legs and one arm were in plaster.
‘I thought?’ he paused, looking back at the door to the private room. 'Mrs Baldwin,' he whispered under his breath. He closed his eyes at the thought. ‘I thought you said your Mavis was in a Private Ward.’
‘No, I said she was in the new Privet ward.’
‘Ah, yes, I remember now.’ Frank came over all pale.