The Visit

"Don't forget, Georgia's coming round soon." You grunt, startled out of your nap by your wife Cheryl's voice. The sun pours through the window, illuminating the newspaper you are still clutching in your hands, the crossword half-finished. The warmth of the afternoon sun must've lulled you to sleep as you were trying to remember the capital of Nepal. Stupid thing, you know it begins with a K but the rest of the letters elude you. Cheryl bustles around you, smartening up the lounge and plumping up the cushions. She always got a bit frantic at the idea of visitors. You always thought the house looked fine but in her eyes it couldn't be more dirty. "She said she'll be around in about 15 minutes, okay?" You nod vaguely in Cheryl's direction. She smiles and turns back to fuss over the sofa. When she turns around you can't help frowning. You know Georgia comes around fairly often but you can't quite picture her face clearly enough. Do you think she is [[the gardener]] [[the social worker]] [[the neighbour]]

She must be the gardener. At least she seems to be putting in some hard work; the garden looks lovely at this time of the year. "She'll be bringing Sam and Lilly," Cheryl says. Three? The garden isn't even that big. Maybe they are just trainees under Georgia. You do dimly remember a dog on these visits though - Lilly might be the golden retriever. You've always liked dogs. "Please may you get the candles from the cupboard under the stairs?" Cherry asks. "The lavender scented ones please. These ones have run down," she says, lifting up the old empty jars. You stretch and push yourself out of your armchair. [[You leave the lounge]]

She must be the social worker. You find them and all their questions tedious but at least it calms Cheryl a little bit when they are in the house so you tolerate them. For her. "She'll be bringing Sam and Lilly," Cheryl says. More? Is one not enough? You grumble a little to yourself, displeased. You do dimly remember a dog on these visits though - Lilly might be the golden retriever. You've always liked dogs. "Please may you get the candles from the cupboard under the stairs?" Cherry asks. "The lavender scented ones please. These ones have run down," she says, lifting up the old empty jars. You stretch and push yourself out of your armchair. [[You leave the lounge]]

She must be neighbour. You think she is pleasant enough; she seems to pop around quite a lot to do odd jobs for you and Cheryl. "She'll be bringing Sam and Lilly," Cheryl says. Family of Georgia's, you suppose. Or maybe dogs. You're not quite sure, but you don't particularly mind as you've always been a fan of dogs. "Please may you get the candles from the cupboard under the stairs?" Cherry asks. "The lavender scented ones please. These ones have run down," she says, lifting up the old empty jars. You stretch and push yourself out of your armchair. [[You leave the lounge]]

You open the cupboard under the stairs and switch on the light. The cupboard is an organised mess - crammed full of any little trinkets Cherry might desire to entertain her guests. After a little bit of searching you find the selection of candles stored away behind the hoover. Cherry has always been very particular about her candles. They always have to be the right ones but you can't remember which specific scent she asked for this time. Do you pick [[the rose candles]] [[the cherry blossom candles]] [[the lavender candles]]

You pick up the rose candles. Yes, these were the ones she asked for, you're sure of it. You walk back into the lounge and hand her the candles. She frowns at them and gives you a disappointed look. "No sorry dear, I asked for the lavender ones," she says. You look down at the rose candles in your hand. You could have sworn she asked for these ones. Go back and pick the lavender candles

You pick up the cherry blossom candles. Yes, these were the ones she asked for, you're sure of it. You walk back into the lounge and hand her the candles. She frowns at them and gives you a disappointed look. "No sorry dear, I asked for the lavender ones," she says. You look down at the cherry blossom candles in your hand. You could have sworn she asked for these ones. Go back and pick the lavender candles

"Thank you, darling," Cherry says, smiling at you as you pass her the candles. She arranges them in a triangle on the coffee table and lights them. The soft aroma of lavender begins to permeate the slighlty musty odour of the lounge. It's quite pleasant, actually. "Well, we should prepare some snacks quickly," Cherry says, and you both enter the kitchen. Cherry opens the cupboard and pulls down a box of cheese biscuits, deftly arranging them around a plate. She opens the fridge and pauses, scanning the shelves. "We're out of cheese," she says. She hesitates for a second. "We can't do without cheese. I'm just going to pop down to the corner shop and buy some Brie. Can you prepare the drinks?" she asks. "I won't be long." [["Of course," you say. "What drinks shall I prepare?"]]

"The usual," Cherry says, jotting something down on a notepad. "I'll pick up some milk while I'm out as well. We're running a bit low." "The usual?" you ask her, looking at her blankly. "Yes," she says. "Georgia will have a tea with milk and no sugar. Sam will have a tea with no milk and two sugars. Lilly will have her orange juice, as she always does." Oh. So not dogs, then. You follow Cherry into the hall as she puts on her coat and opens the door to leave. She turns around in the doorstep. "The drinks, yes?" she asks. You nod and watch her to depart. [[You head back to the kitchen]]

You turn on the kettle and pull out three cups for the Georgia and her friends as you wait for the water to boil. When the water is ready, your start to prepare the tea. You pause as you look from the milk to the sugar. Which drink did Georgia have? [[Georgia had a tea with no milk and no sugar]] [[Georgia had a tea with milk and no sugar]] [[Georgia had a tea with milk and two sugars]]

You prepare Georgia's tea. You think you remember Sam has tea with milk and no sugar so you prepare that for him. As you pick up the thrid cup you try to remember what Cheryl said Lilly wanted. Was it [[Apple juice]] [[Lemonade]] [[Coca-Cola]] <span class="reveals">[[Orange juice??]]</span> <footer> <script> /* Hidden links that are always hidden: <span class="hidden">[[Orange juice??]]</span> */ $('.hidden') .addClass('hidden'); /* Hidden links that hide unless you're hovering over them: <span class="hides">[[Orange juice??]]</span> */ $('.hides') .addClass('hidden') .on('mouseenter', function () { $(this).removeClass('hidden'); }) .on('mouseleave', function () { $(this).addClass('hidden'); }); /* Hidden links that reveal themselves when you hover over them: <span class="reveals">[[Orange juice??]]</span> */ $('.reveals') .addClass('hidden') .one('mouseenter', function () { $(this).removeClass('hidden'); }); </script> </footer>

Yes, Lilly you are fairly sure Cherry said Lilly had apple juice. But when you check the fridge you don't appear to have any. You know Cherry would not have asked you to pour Lilly a drink if you didn't have any and Cherry would know if soemthing was missing as she checked the fridge before she left. Go back and find the correct drink Lilly wants.

Yes, Lilly you are fairly sure Cherry said Lilly had lemonade. But when you check the fridge you don't appear to have any. You know Cherry would not have asked you to pour Lilly a drink if you didn't have any and Cherry would know if soemthing was missing as she checked the fridge before she left. Go back and find the correct drink Lilly wants.

Yes, Lilly you are fairly sure Cherry said Lilly had Coca-Cola. But when you check the fridge you don't appear to have any. You know Cherry would not have asked you to pour Lilly a drink if you didn't have any and Cherry would know if soemthing was missing as she checked the fridge before she left. Go back and find the correct drink Lilly wants.

Yes! That's why there's always a carton of orange juice in the fridge. Niether you or Cherry usuallu drink orange juice so you had wondered why you always had some available. It must have been for when Lilly came round. As you are finsihing up the preparations you hear the front door open and chatter spills into the hallway. Cherry has returned just in time to meet Georgia at the door. You peep round the corner. Georgia is a short brunette woman followed by a taller blond man just behind her - Sam, you assume. Hiding behind her legs is a tiny shy girl. that must be Lilly. Judging by their dress they couldn't be social workers or gardeners - they must be neigbours or family friends. Georgia catches your eye and smiles radiantly. You give her a wan smile back and return to the drinks, placing them all on a tray. As you do so, you hear Georgia quietly ask "How is he?" Cherry sighs, and whispers something you don't quite catch. She sighs again and there's a slight pause. Then more brightly you hear her say, "Well, shall we all head in and sit down? Come on, Lilly dear." [[You pick up the drinks tray and bring it into the lounge]]

You walk into the lounge and set down the tray of drinks, handing them out to each according person. Georgia and Sam take a sip of their drinks. They both smile. "Perfect, just as always," Georgia says, her eyes twinkling. Sam nods slowly in agreement. You suspect one of them isn't quite telling the truth. You settle yourself down on your usual armchair, eyeing the crossword from earlier. "Kathmandu," Sam says, following your gaze. "What?" "The capital of Nepal," he says, pointing to where you had scribbled the K but had forgotten the rest of the letters. "Of course," you smile, remembering at last. "Have I ever told you about the time a took a trip there?" you ask, trying to keep the conversation flowing. "You might have mentioned it once or twice," Sam says, chuckling slightly. Lilly, clutching her orange juice, clambers up to sit on your lap and cuddles agaisnt your jumper. You are surprised, but pleasantly so. You've always liked children and evidently you must have met Lilly before as she feels comfortable with you. [[You settle down and join the conversation with Georgia, Sam and Cheryl]]

You are pass a very enjoyable afternoon discussing all matter of things with the visitors. Or at least you enjoy watching them and listening to their chatter - the tslk often moves a little too fast for you to keep up. Eventually, as the clock ticks on towards the night, Georgia finally stretches and stands up. "Well, we better be going," she says. "Time for us to head off." Everyone heads into the hallway, still chattering away as they put on their coats and shoes. You have thoroughly enjoyed this evening with these visitors and you are sad to see them leave but you understand they will be back shortly. You have managed to succesfully navigate the evening without disclosing the fact you still aren't quite sure where they are from. You will ask Cherry about it later. Georgia and Sam say their goodbyes and step out the door. Lilly looks shyly at the ground, reluctant to leave. Georgia bends down and zips up her coat. "Go on," she says, still smiling. "Go and say goodbye." Lilly hesitates before running up and clutching your leg. She looks back up at you, with a smile that is stunningly similar to Georgia's. And Cheryl's, actually. "Goodbye, Gramps," she whispers.

(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''The Visit''] (align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[A short look story through the eyes of someone with dementia] (align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[By Tim Antelo] [[Click here to begin]]