Working as a pharmacist in a chemist shop, I was constantly asked to apply my first-aid knowledge to minor cuts and bruises. Being trained in that field also meant the doctors surgery next door would often send people to me rather than going through the rigmarole of filling forms in and to keep down unnecessary costs to them. This practise over spilled to my home life also, often I found myself the first person advice was sort from before a doctor or hospital was needed to get involved.
This suited me as my house could get lonely sometimes what with my sons both moving on and the once large family house now being used as an unused place where kids could run around. Some of my close neighbours and friends in fact became so familiar with me that mostly I was able to treat more complicated ailments; often a phone call to my doctor would have me diagnosing and treating quite complicated procedures.
One family living just a few houses from me seemed to be here more than most. The mother was a one-parent person around my age, she had three children, all from different fathers and in the early days, the cold and their lack of heating meant that it seemed always one or more were coming around for something. Becoming friendly with the mother, she was often around here asking my advice as to where she had gone wrong. All still young teenagers the eldest daughter was pregnant and still at school, the son was involved with drugs and I was forever seeing police cars pulling up a their house.
Not wanting to interfere, I did help the youngest with her baby. A lovely little boy and I was simple glad when she would come around for some advice, warmth or have me baby-sit her boy while she went out alone.
The middle kid was a girl, beautifully attractive and knowing it, was clever enough to stay out of trouble most of the time. She would sit alone with me many nights also, expecting to go on to university she was interested in anything medical, so was always asking me questions. Helping her nightly with her studies, I was as pleased as her mother when she picked up enough grades to go on to university. Although a sad day for us all really, the eldest had already married and was on baby number three. The son had gone and was living in some down and out place in the middle of town. So, when Jennie left for university there was both happiness and tears from us all as she waved us goodbye from the train station.
I was still getting other friends around for help and Jennie's mother was constantly around, usually just to tell me how her three kids were doing and especially Jennie who apparently was doing very well and was soon off to a medical college. Before that though and having three months off she did not do a great deal with herself. Daily she would come to me and this time I was able to learn from her as a lot had changed since I had last studied some twenty-five years ago now.
Growing into a lovely confident young woman, I was almost as proud as her mother must have been and needed to stare long and hard at my son as he met her here once and couldn't keep his eyes of her. I was with someone at the time, although only casual but this particular evening she caught me as I was getting ready to go out. My date wasn't anything to serious, a friend really although taking time to dress I did tell her that I would probably not be coming home until the morning.
Knowing that was the first time I thought something was strange as she never mentioned one thing about who he was or anything. It went as far in fact with her leaving rather abruptly and ignoring my son as though he didn't exist. We had a laugh about it at the time as his confidence had just been knocked for six.
Her attitude did change though towards me and I tried hard to put a very awkward question to her mother. Going about it in a long way she was also aware that Jennie had never mentioned a boyfriend before. Telling me that it was strange also, her best friend at university although not achieving sufficient grades to go on to medical school was none the less going to live over near Jennie's new address. We had both put two and two together at the same time, which made Kathy, Jennie's mother very annoyed and wanted to go and confront her daughter. She had a wild temper and knowing how that confrontation would go I succeeded in calming her down. Although with Jennie doing all she could to avoid me, telling her mother to stay in my home I thought up a feeble excuse to go and confront Jennie around at her house.
Was it any of my business I thought to myself as I rung on her doorbell. Knowing she was in alone and able to see it was me at the door, it was the third time I rung on it before she came to answer it. Leaving the door open and without a word spoken she walked up to her room knowing I was going to follow her up. I had not been there for years, the last time she was young and the place was a mess. This time however it was decorated out beautifully, as we sat on her bed; I tried to ask her whether everything was ok with her. Shrugging her shoulders her mood was very subdued as I tried to get to the bottom of why she had gone into her shell.
At the same time, inviting her to a non-existent party with my boyfriend and my son I noticed a picture of a young women in a frame on her dressing table. Without answering me, I stood up, held the picture frame, and in silence waited to hear whether there was anything she wanted to tell me.
"Why are you here Pat, and where is mum?" She asked, her voice showing concern as she took the frame from my hands.
"She is around my place Jennie, she wanted to come and confront you; however I have told her to wait there." Complete silence as I looked at her staring into the picture frame.
"Is she annoyed, are you annoyed Pat?"
