**Diary Entry A Cold Mornings Realisation**
The old woman hauled herself out of bed with a groan, leaning heavily against the wall as she shuffled to the door. In the kitchen, she grabbed a bowl of breadcrumbs and stepped out into the garden.
“Feels like Im rusting away,” she muttered. “Those hens wont stop clucking. Should I let them into the vegetable patch? Ill never catch them come nightfall. Ah, what am I thinking? Any day now, my daughter-in-law will pack me off to a care home.”
She unlatched the henhouse, and out strutted seven hens, followed by a proud rooster. Scattering the crumbs, she sighed and made her way to the loo. On her way back, she glanced at her vegetable patch.
“Ethel,” came a voice from over the fence. Her neighbour, Margaret, stood there, arms folded. “Still keeping busy, are you? Nearly ninety, and youre still at it!”
“What else would I be doing, Margaret?” Ethel huffed, stepping closer. “Still got cabbage and carrots to harvest. Thank goodness my grandson William and his wife Lily dug up the potatoes for me.”
“Youve got a good lad there!”
“Its hard for him now, without his dad,” Ethels voice cracked, tears welling.
“Now, now, Ethel, none of that,” Margaret soothed. “Your boys not suffering anymore. A whole year without movinghow dyou think he felt? Hes watching over you now.”
“Margaret, he was only sixty. Strong as an ox, he was! And in just a year, he withered away.”
“Soon enough, Ill be joining my son.”
“Dont rush it, Ethel! Youve got time yet. Live a little longer!”
“Live how? My legs barely hold me up,” Ethel sighed heavily. “Its late September, and the colds coming. Howll I manage here alone?”
“But youve got your daughter-in-law and grandchildren.”
“Oh, Margaret, dont be daft! Williams got three kids and his mother-in-law living with him. Emilys in a one-bed flat with her two. And as for Sarah, my daughter-in-lawshes just waiting for me to die. After we marked forty days since Daniel passed, I heard her whispering to Emily about selling my house to buy her a flat.”
“Dont you let her, Ethel!”
“Emilys my granddaughterlet her live decently.”
“And what about you?”
“Theyll shove me in a home, I expect. At least there, someonell look after me. Here, Im scared to even light the stove. No firewood left. Ill freeze to death, and no onell know.”
“Thank you, Margaret. Right, Id best be off,” Ethel waved her off. “Let the hens out, and now theyre in the veg patch. Best collect the eggs.”
She trudged back to the henhouse.
The next morning, the chill bit deeper. Ethel curled tighter under the blankets but forced herself up. Shivering, she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and stepped outside. Shed barely finished feeding the hens when her grandsons car pulled up. He usually visited on weekendswhy was he here on a Wednesday? Her stomach knotted.
“Morning, Gran!”
“Whats happened?” Ethel frowned.
“Enough of you living out here alone,” he said, nodding at the grey sky. “Winters coming.”
“But my hensand the cabbage and carrots arent even harvested!”
“Dont fret, Gran. Ill tend the hens. Ill get the veg sorted while you pack. Go on, hurry up!”
Ethel dawdled. Shed lived here over sixty years, ever since George brought her home as his bride. It was where Daniel was born. Fifteen years since George passedand now Daniel was gone too. She sank onto the bench, weeping.
Eventually, she stirred, peering out the window. William had already pulled up the carrots and was cutting cabbagesfine, big heads they were too. She took a deep breath and began gathering her things.
*What do I take? Leaving it alls a shame, but I cant carry everything. Will the home even let me bring much? The photo album, at leastto remember by. Mustnt forget the papers. Theyll sell the housewhat if they cant find the deeds? Clothes, too. New ownersll chuck the lot.*
“Gran, you ready?” William called. “Got all the veg stored in the shed. Ill hand it out at the weekend.”
He loaded her things into the car and helped her in. Ethel gazed out the window, bidding the village farewell.
The town wasnt far. Soon, rows of terraced houses appeared. The car stopped.
*OhDaniels house?* Ethel puzzled. *Has he brought me to say goodbye to Sarah?*
“Auntie Ethel!” Sarah greeted her warmly, even planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Sarah,” Ethel replied cautiously. *Shes afraid Ill cut her out of the will, no doubt.*
“Weve cleared out a room for youDaniels old one,” Sarah said, her eyes glistening. “Done it up fresh, bought a new bed and wardrobe.”
Ethel blinked. “So youre not sending me to a home?”
“Mum, please, enough of that!”
“Why are you crying?”
“Gran, whered you get the idea wed sell your house?” William laughed. “Were turning it into a holiday spot for the family. Summers there, by the woods.”
Ethels heart swelled. She had such good grandchildren.
*And such a daughter-in-law! Howd I not see it in forty years?*
**Lesson learnt:** Fear paints the worst picturebut sometimes, family surprises you.
