No Fool Like an Old Fool

  I gratefully ask for an opinion of the following short story.  Any opinion is appreciated whether it be grammar, format, content, structure or whatever.  I normally write poetry so this is a new venture for me.  Perhaps a step too far.   I thank you in advance for taking the time to read it.

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No Fool Like an Old Fool.

      David felt warm and content in the four-poster bed.  ‘It’s luxurious being a house husband,’ he thought while contemplating his chores for the day.  No rush for dinner tonight as Liz was working late.

       Liz, his wife, and true love, was a doctor working in family practice.  She was sixteen years younger than David who recently turned sixty-five and discovered the joys of retirement.  They’d been married for ten years and although not their first try at marriage they found happiness together.  Liz’s first marriage was a difficult one.  The husband, an orthopaedic surgeon and full-time megalomaniac, sucked the life from her and left an empty shell.  He kept the three kids and only allowed cursory contact with them.  David worked hard through the years at building trust and regenerating her self-esteem.  His loyalty during this period saved her and drew them close together.

      David, in joggers and t-shirt, strolled to the kitchen for coffee, filling the kettle he saw the envelope on the worktop.

       ‘Aww, a love note,’

       ‘What the…’ as the colour drained from his cheeks.

       ‘Dear David, I am not sure how to tackle this as I have no wish to be unkind but I am leaving you.    I have a good friend who takes care of me.  We are both not young but he is younger than you and he and I live life to the max.  With you I have no motivation. You and I have a history and have worked hard at our relationship. I’m sorry David but you are too old for me, there was a time when you gave me what I needed but I am in a different place now.   Lately, it’s the same as eating an egg with no salt or pepper (I enjoy pepper David).  I am sorry but I do not wish to be your wife anymore.  Goodbye, Liz.’

       David’s legs gave way under him.  He tried to call Liz on her mobile but no answer.  As he stared blankly at the letter, his stomach churned wildly, not knowing if he was having butterflies, a panic attack, or a fit of vomiting.

       ‘Please Liz, please don’t do this,’ he kept saying to himself.  He was shaking and his breathing sharp and uneven.  His chest heaving and rasping as the pain spread.  When the emergency services arrived he was barely conscious.  The paramedics established he was having a heart attack at which point they performed cardiac support and shipped him to the nearest Intensive Care Unit.   At ICU he was conscious and could not stop crying.  The nurses tried to calm him but to no avail.  That night a coronary angiograph was performed and he was sedated.

       The next morning David woke very sorry for himself, but alive.  He requested his phone and tried to call Liz but again no answer.  He called his step-daughter.

       ‘Emma, have you spoken to your mother?’

      ‘No, why, what’s wrong?’

       ‘I’m in hospital; I’ve had a heart attack and can’t get in touch with her.’

       ‘Oh God, and she doesn’t know?’

       ‘Your mum left me Emma.  She wrote a letter saying she has met someone else.’

       ‘Oh David, she’d never do that.’

       ‘Get in touch with her please and get her to call?’

       ‘I’ll call her right away, I’m sure this is a mistake… a misunderstanding.’

       ‘Please call; tell your mum I need to talk.’  David hung up the phone and waited.  He didn’t wait long and the phone rang.

       ‘Liz?’

       ‘What the hell are you doing?’ she said.  ‘How dare you contact my kids?  Don’t you ever call them again, do you hear me?’

       ‘I had to call Emma; I’ve had a heart attack.’

       ‘Good, I hope you die and the sooner you die the better.  I want you out of my life.’

       David could not believe his ears, it was a nightmare,’

      ‘You’re a sick old man and I want rid of you,’ her voice echoed in David’s ear.  She was screaming in the phone when suddenly he noticed a doctor.

       Hang up the phone Mr. Russell, I need to talk to you,’ said the doctor

       ‘It was my wife,’ said David.

       ‘Was — seems the appropriate word,’ said Doctor Levy. ‘Mr. Russell, we’d like to carry out more tests on you.  We’ll keep you here for around ten days.  I’ll move you from Intensive Care this afternoon into a cardiac ward.  The results have been ok but I’ll see you later and we can talk.’

       ‘Yes doctor,’ said David. — And with that he was gone.

       The transfer to the cardiac ward was completed after lunch and carried out with prime efficiency.  The bed with drips and David were moved en masse and he found himself surrounded by a host of pretty nurses rushing around him making him tidy and comfortable.  When they completed their tasks the ward sister appeared.  Around thirty-five, she was petite, beautiful, and with an all-embracing smile.

       ‘Mr. Russell and how are we today.  Better than yesterday I hope?’

       ‘A lot thank you and please call me David.’

       ‘No problem David.  My name is Sue, Sister Sue, and I’m the ward sister in charge of your care while you’re here.  If you need anything call me or one of my staff by using the buzzer on the side of the bed.  If you use it too much we’ll tell you off, but in a nice way,’ her smile lifted a weight from him and he grinned.

       David enjoyed the nurses in the ward and the care and attention he received, but was particularly entranced when Sister Sue came on shift and entered his room.  She shone a light on his troubled life.  One day was notable.  That was when she helped him choose the weekly menu for his meals.  Her petite form sat in the middle of the bed cross legged and looking cute as she went through the menu with him.

       The week progressed and David had his long awaited meeting with the cardiologist.  Dr. Levy was a serious person and spoke with immense gravity.

       ‘Mr. Russell, I need to discuss things with you,’ he said.  ‘The good news is you don’t have heart disease.  But, you are suffering from heart failure.  We suspect it has been brought on by the panic attack you had.  It is treatable and with care we can control it.  Secondly, we discovered you have type-two diabetes.  Again with medication and a proper diet we can control this too.’

       ‘Gosh,’ said David. ‘I’m a mess.’

       ‘There is something else Mr. Russell.  Through cognitive tests and the MRI you had earlier in the week we established that you have first-stage Alzheimer’s disease.’

      David was crestfallen, ‘Oh God.’

       ‘It’s not the end of the world Mr. Russell.  We need to establish how aggressive, and it may not be aggressive, which means with treatment you can look forward to a long and fulfilling life.’  The words were dark empty shadows cascading on David’s brain.  Dr. Levy informed David he’d release him from the hospital and that he’d set up the aftercare required.  David sat desolate and lonely.  His world had crashed.

       ‘What did I do?’ he asked.                                                                                                          

       ‘You did nothing, it’s called life,’ said Sister Sue standing at the door.  She sat on the edge of the bed and held David’s hand, ‘You’ll be fine.  You’re a sweet lovely man and life will turn around so don’t worry.’

 *  *  *

       David walked into his empty house alone.  The happy home was dead.  A week passed and his depression became deeper.  He missed his appointments at the outpatient’s clinic and his world closed in on him.  Communication with Liz had ended.  He lost interest and he became old and jaded.  His thoughts drifted to suicide, it seemed the easiest way and he wouldn’t be missed.

       He wasn’t sure why he bought the rope and didn’t realise he’d bought it. It all happened in a blur.  On the second day after purchasing he hung it on one of his ceiling beams.  Two days later he fixed the rope to the beam.  Tears rolled down his cheeks as he tied the noose.  There was a knock on the door.

 *  *  *

 David opened the door and was surprised by Sister Sue standing on the threshold.

       ‘You’ve missed your outpatient clinic appointment and they came to me to ask if I had given you your appointment details.  I told them I had.  Why didn’t you go?’

       ‘I’m sorry,’ said David.  ‘I’ve been too busy.’

       ‘Oh really!’ said Sue. ‘You look busy, have you had a shower recently?’  She pushed past him and marched into the house only to see the rope.  She stared at him.

       ‘Oh decorating are you, what’s this, a new ornament?’  David blushed deeply and hung his head.

       ‘Come here,’ she said and hugged him.  As he held onto her, tears rolled over his cheeks.  She held him tightly, ‘It’ll be ok David.’

  *  *  *

       The weeks turned to months and Sue became a regular in the Russell household and a deep friendship developed between them.  Sue, more than ten years younger than Liz, gave David a sense of purpose and fun but even she could not lift the sense of betrayal he felt.

       ‘I’ll go clean the bedroom and you’ll make my lunch with a beer,’ she said.

       ‘Not a problem Sister Sue, your wish is my command,’ smiled David.

       As he was making lunch he heard a knock at the door and a key turning in the lock.  In the hall he met Liz.  She stood smiling at him, David rooted to the floor in astonishment.

       ‘Hi,’ she said.  ‘How are you doing?’

       ‘I’m doing fine,’ said David.  ‘What are you doing here?’

       ‘I wanted to see you and check if you’re ok.’

       ‘I’m fine, what are you doing here?’

       ‘I want to talk about us getting back together.’  

       Suddenly Sue entered the hall. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realise you had company,’ she said.

       ‘Sue, this is my wife Liz.  Liz, this is my good friend Sue who takes care of me.’  The women stared awkwardly at each other.  Sue was the first to speak.

       ‘Hi,’ she said.  ‘I’ll let you guys talk and I’ll finish what I’m doing,’ she disappeared out of the hall.

      ‘Where did you pick her up?’ asked Liz.

       ‘I beg your pardon?’ said David.

       ‘Oh for goodness sakes David, she’s half your age. It’s true what they say.  No fool like an old fool.’

       ‘Yeh you’re right Liz.  That’s exactly what I thought the day you left me.  Now goodbye and put the key on the hall table when you leave.’

       The front door clicked shut as Sue walked in the room, ‘Everything ok old man?’ she said with a smile and kissed him on the cheek.

       ‘Perfect, Sister Sue, just perfect.  Are you ready for that beer?’

The End