Misinterpretation: A short story sketch

Miss Naiomi had not been been pleased in five and a half decades.

That money, oh, that money! Oh, she would have been able to have broken away earlier had she not been such a coward. Cowardice was a genetic trait, of that she had convinced herself.

“Dang fool,” she announced to the skinny nurse’s aide who had just walked into her room. “Stop pursing your lips and staring at me with pity. I’ve got the money. Why don’t you go and eat a sandwich.”

Linda M., the nursing supervisor on the night shift, bent to hug Miss Naiomi. “You’re such a sweet lady, aren’t you? You don’t mean a cross word you say.” She turned to the skinny nurse’s aid and whispered, “it’s such a shame the dementia is progressing this quickly.”

Miss Naiomi rolled her pale blue eyes. “Dang idiots, the whole of you.”

“I know you don’t mean that Miss Naiomi,” Corrinne H., nursing home social worker, touched Miss Naiomi’s thick cottony hair gently. You’ve got such lovely hair.”

“Turds, you’ve all got turds in your teeth.”

Linda M., Corrinne H,. and the skinny nurse’s aide, simultaneously tilted their heads, pursed their lips, and smiled with compassion. “Such a sweet lady,” Linda M., restated. “She doesn’t mean the insults. She’ll be ninety-seven tomorrow. That’s hard to believe. She barely looks seventy.”

Miss Naiomi glared at the three women as they turned to leave. “I have the money. I had the money. Now, they’ve got the money.” She stabbed her fingers into the metal bed railings. “If only,” she muttered as she nodded off to sleep.

Jenny W. Andrews copyright 2024

Note to my readers:

I am trying to return to my passion, writing, after a long stretch of being the caregiver for my husband who passed away on September first from a long battle with cancer. Daily I am doing activities to try to return to some sense of normalcy. Actually, I doubt if I’ll ever truly feel the same again. But, that’s okay. God has walked with me through this dark, painful season in my life. Now, I want to start a new chapter and move forward with a spirit of hope for my future. God is in control and I turn to him for my strength. Our lives are short, so we need to focus on making each moment count. If we live long enough we will inevitably lose someone whom we love. That emptiness is real, but only God can fill up that void. So, I am turning my eyes to God who is my strength and my fortress in this storm. I am beginning to see the sunlight. I will always miss my husband, but this life is not all there is. One day, he and I will meet again in eternity. But, for now, I am going to focus on living the best life I can. I am going to focus on my writing and getting published. I am going to focus on enjoying this beautiful world that God has bless me with the opportunity to see. With gratefulness I turn to God of miracles and I rest in his abiding love.

Thank you, readers, for your prayers during this difficult season.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think about my short story sketch (but be kind).

Thanks,

Jenny

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jennygracespoetryandcreativewritingtechniques

I am a published poet and short story writer. I have been published in SNHU's the penmen review. https://penmenreview.com/author/jenny-andrews is the link where you can find my poetry and a short story. Currently, I am writing a collection of short stories, and a collection of poetry. I am trying my hand at writing a novel. Well, not a novel, actually. Make that two novels. My passion is writing. My inspiration is Franz Krafka because he managed to see the absurdity of life. Life is all about perspective and who is telling the story. We all see this life through the lens of our experiences. Literature should inspire us to think, to analyze, and to get lost in unfamiliar worlds in which we learn something new about this human existence. It is my hope that my writing challenges the reader to think, and to see a different perspective, as well as be entertained. My faith in Jesus strengthens me and gives me the courage to survive the twists and turns of this life. My faith influences a lot of my writing in that goodness always triumphs over evil, in that love conquers all. I hope you enjoy reading my blog.

2 thoughts on “Misinterpretation: A short story sketch”

  1. I am taking an aging class, and I reaslize that dementia is real and changes people. How sad! But I loved the way the staff treated her with compassion. That’s not always the case. I liked it, and I am happy to see you walking in the light through your writing. I wish you well, and take it one day at a time. Don’t worry about regressing sometimes. The heart that aches needs time.

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    1. Thank you so much for reading and commenting, and encouraging me.
      Right out of high school I went to work as a nurse’s aide at a nursing home. I also worked as a social worker at a nursing home after I earned my BSW. It is quite sad how dementia changes the personality. It always made me wonder if the patient was actually having PTSD flashbacks when they would become anxious and frightened, or if it was their imagination. . . . Sometimes when patients with dementia talked it sounded as if a movie reel was unraveling. . .and then, there were those moments of seeming lucidity. It makes you wonder what the mind is and what we truly are. It is as if we all are our own little universes. Only God, our Creator, can understand all of this. . .I certainly don’t.
      Thanks again. Have a blessed week ahead.

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