news&views Winter 2022 | Page 29

2021 Writing Contest

FLASH FICTION : SECOND PLACE

The Telephone Call

Ernest Jurkat
“ Hello . Oh , Jill . I want to talk to you , but I will need to interrupt if the police call me on the other line . No , please don ’ t hang up ! It ’ s been a terrible two days . Earl disappeared early yesterday morning .”
“ Oh , you didn ’ t know that Earl has dementia . The doctors think it ’ s Alzheimer ’ s .”
“ Earl has wandered several times before , but early yesterday morning he slipped away and has not been found . Thank God it ’ s May , with mild nights . The police are looking for him , and the TV has made an appeal for help . I feel so bad because I thought we had a plan to prevent Earl from wandering , but it failed , and it was my fault !”
“ No , no , Jill . I ’ ll be OK . Just let me grab some tissues .”
“ One good thing . Constable John Evans from the city police knows both Earl and me because we all go to the same church . John found Earl before when he wandered .”
“ No , I didn ’ t know that your uncle had dementia and wandered too .”
“ I concocted a plan to stop Earl from wandering . I bought special door locks that are tricky to operate , and I would lock up Earl ’ s shoes in a cupboard , so he couldn ’ t get at them . That seemed to work , but the night before last I felt so tired , I forgot to lock up Earl ’ s slippers . He got up during the night , dressed , found the slippers , and somehow opened the door . I was so fast asleep that I didn ’ t hear him . It ’ s my fault that he is lost .”
“ No , no ! Thank you , but that ’ s the way I feel . Please don ’ t hang up . I ’ ll be OK .”
“ We lost touch with you when your Harold passed away and you moved to Vernon . So you didn ’ t know . Earl started slipping mentally over five years ago . Finally , he couldn ’ t manage the farm anymore , so we rented the land to the Humphreys . You ’ ll remember them — Sam and Grace . We stayed on the farm so I could look after a garden and Earl could cope with a few pigs and chickens . He was still physically OK so things worked out for a while .”
“ Then I got my stroke . Oh ! You didn ’ t know ! It ’ s been a while since we talked . The stroke partially paralyzed my left side , which kiboshed my gardening and driving . So we sold the farm and moved to Medicine Hat . People said I should put Earl in a nursing home , but I couldn ’ t do that . He was a great husband . Both kind and loving . Now I can see in his eyes when he is confused and afraid . He depends on me .”
“ And we get along . I can walk but not far and not well . So when the weather is nice , Earl pushes me in a wheelchair and we go on a walk . And the church members help us .”
“ Please wait a minute . There ’ s a call on the other line .”
“ Yes , Maureen . Strathmore already ! I ’ m OK but have no news . Stop there and have a coffee . I don ’ t want you overtired and in an accident . I ’ m on the phone with Jill Friberg .
You remember her . She makes those great brownies . I ’ ll call your cell if I get any news . Be careful . I love you . Bye .”
“ Hi Jill . Are you still there ? Good . That was Maureen . She is driving down from Edmonton . She left her kids with her sister-in-law . She wants to support me while Earl is missing .”
“ Both Earl and I remember the good times we had with you and Harold . He was a good man too . And you both could always beat us at bridge . No . No . It was no contest .”
“ Oh Jill . I can see a police car coming to my house . I hope it is Constable Evans with good news . Yes , I can see that it ’ s him . And coming out of the other door is Reverend O ’ Neil from the church .
“ Oh God , Jill ! I ’ m afraid to open the door !”
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