Good Neighbour Dorothy

~ beetleypete

This is a work of fiction. A short story of just over 900 words.

Ever since she and Alan had moved to The Close, Dorothy had always tried to be a good neighbour. In the early days, she would ask Alan to help the old lady a few doors down. He would clean out her gutters to save her paying anyone to do it, or perhaps change a light bulb. When there were power cuts, she always checked on those nearby, to make sure that they had candles, something to eat, and that they weren’t cold. If they had a hospital appointment, or needed to go to the dentist, she would drive them there in her car, and every time she went to the supermarket, she happily picked up a few items for them. At election time, she would round up all the old people, and give them a lift to the Polling Station to cast their votes.

But that was almost thirty years ago. Alan had been dead for over ten of those years, and Dorothy wasn’t as young and spritely as she had been in her fifties. A combination of painful hips and failing eyesight had made her give up the car, so she now relied on the bus service to get into town, or to visit her doctor. During those years, all those neighbours had gone too. Into care homes, moved away to be near relatives, or just passed away with old age. When the first new neighbours had arrived, she and Alan had gone to introduce themselves. But they hadn’t opened the door, even though they could be seen clearly through the windows.

The people on the other side answered the door when they moved in, but a small boy explained that his parents didn’t speak English, and then closed the door in their face. Alan told her not to bother anymore, but when the new people opposite had their burglar alarm sounding for ages, Dorothy had phoned the police. After all, it was the neighbourly thing to do. The family that bought number eight appeared to be friendly. When Dorothy waved at them, they waved back. But when she went to tell them about the dustbin days, they only opened the door a tiny crack, and didn’t ask her in, or introduce themselves by name.

The Close didn’t seem the same anymore, and with Alan hardly able to go out, Dorothy began to feel very lonely. She missed the company, the chats, the occasional cup of tea and slice of cake. She missed being helpful too. It had given her a good feeling to help out, and she had never felt that anyone had taken advantage of her. When Alan died shortly after his operation, there were no flowers from anyone in The Close. Not even a card. They must have known, must have seen the funeral cars and hearse. Alan’s sister Glynis said that maybe Dorothy would be happier if she moved away. She could move closer to them. But Dorothy had said no to that. The Close was her home.

One evening, the bulb blew in the standard lamp. It went with quite a bang, and blew one of the fuses. Dorothy knew nothing about such things, so she went next door, to try to get help. They didn’t answer, even though all their lights were on. She tried at number eight, but the woman only opened the door that tiny crack, and said that her husband wasn’t at home. Dorothy was sure that she could hear a football match on the TV, and equally sure that he was watching it, but she said nothing. She had to telephone an emergency electrician, and the two-minute job cost her almost one hundred pounds.

One afternoon, she was waiting for a bus at the end of the road. It had been snowing, and there was a good chance that the bus wouldn’t come. She had to get into town, to collect her regular prescription at the chemist. As a car pulled out of the junction, she recognised the foreign family from next door. She waved madly at them, hoping that they would stop and offer her a lift. But they all looked away, so she went back home, slipping on the icy pavement.

For the last two years, she had kept herself to herself. Whenever she needed a job doing, she paid someone to do it. If she had to go to town, or to the hospital, she ordered a taxi. Long mornings stretched into the evening, and on to even longer nights. She couldn’t manage the garden anymore, and occasionally paid someone to cut the grass: at least at the front, where it would be seen. She went to the shops when she felt able, and bought as much as she could manage to carry home. When the windows needed painting, she just left it. The house that had once been a lovely home was beginning to look neglected and unloved.

Dorothy had been feeling tired all day. There was a niggling pain in her chest that she suspected was indigestion, and her back was aching too. She decided to have some hot milk, and go to bed early.

Nobody noticed that the grass at the front was over a foot high.
Nobody noticed the pile of uncollected mail behind the front door.
Nobody noticed that the curtains were always closed.
Nobody noticed that the lights never came on.
Nobody noticed that there was never a dustbin outside.

But when the police arrived to break down the door, and the black van came to collect the body, everyone was out on the street, watching.

60 thoughts on “Good Neighbour Dorothy”

  5. Still a good read today and still very much the same issues. I had hoped that all the neighbourly love shown during the pandemic would make people less selfish and kinder, but it seems to have gone back to everyone looking out for themselves. I like to think my neighbours would help out if necessary and I have informed my children that when the time comes that I cannot look after myself then I shall spend three months of the year with each of them. Only fair… 😉

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  12. Having read your last three works of fiction in reverse order and on the same day I cant help but feel you are in a reflective mood and the glass is more than half empty. Just remember, when the glass is finished it’s time for a refill.
    One of the things that stood out to me when I first moved to Poland was how families stuck together, homes often house three generations and family gatherings are a regular occurrence with Names days offering the perfect opportunity to catch up with aunties, uncles, cousins, all normally living within a couple of hours drive.
    Of course it has now started to change as foreign money floods in and ‘credit’ is available to all.

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    1. I agree that my mood is reflective, Eddy. It is also driven by an awareness of my own increasing age, and my current situation, which is undoubtedly reflected in my writing. That said, my glass is far from half-empty, and I haven’t felt better for a long time.
      Cheers mate, Pete.

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  13. Great story, Pete…Very close to my own heart ~ raised by grandparents who were in their mid-sixties when I was 2 and left with them. They often told me I kept them young… But, I see the same thing here on my own street. The elderly have become afraid of someone offering help because so many have targeted them in the past. My heart saddens to think of this planet and the ways its changed, some good, many bad…When working with the Canadian Red Cross many of the homes I’d visit were folks starving for companionship and just someone to acknowledge they were alive.. I think part of my purpose were my two children and working many years for the Canadian Red Cross ~ offering what I could for the elderly who have always been dear to my heart. Keep passing on these stories far and wide my friend.. People need to wake up…. karma is a ….. well you know.. Time waits for no one… Bravo for this short story…

    Take care, Laura

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  15. This story rings true, Pete. Here in Las Vegas, so many neighbors are from different countries. They tend to stay to themselves or else associate with others from their own country. I live among strangers!

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  17. Pete.. may be a fictional.. but so true to life…
    we don’t care enough about our neighbors and older folks..
    and we should because we are all getting there eventually..

    Thanks for the reminder to care some more.. and be compassionate

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  19. So sad but so true of places here too. No one really talks to their neighbors anymore, everyone just seems to be too busy, or maybe too scared or something else. People need to look out for their neighbors, especially the elderly ones.I have always thought about death and how I don’t want to be alone when I die, I have a younger brother, but unfortunately he hardly ever talks to us family, doesn’t call to see how we are usually or anything like that. If it wasn’t for my dad I would be living on the streets probably, and so when I get old who will be there for me? Who will be there when I die? I am not married and have no children either so who will be there, cause I feel it surely won’t be my little brother. I feel like no one should have to die alone, even an animal, in the past year or so we had a bunch of animals (dogs and a cat) that died, all were around the same age, even they don’t want to die alone usually. My dogs got very sick before they died (gastro illness of sorts) and they lost a lot of weight and died within a week of becoming very ill I was there with them, even spent the night on the cement basement floor with one as he went on. At least homes for the elderly provide them with someone there or around when they pass, unfortunately most are understaffed and have other problems. I have said I don’t want to live to be old enough to go into a home, I don’t want to live to be an old lady at home, because I will be alone and I for one don’t want to be alone when I pass it would be one of the loneliest times in my life. Thank you for writing this short story cause it does help to understand how much we need to cherish our elderly folks and be there as much as we can for them.

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    1. Thanks for your considered comment, Cristina. I can understand your concerns about being old and alone, but you are still young. Who knows, you may meet someone long before you get to the age to worry about such things? And even if that doesn’t happen, you might have friends to help out, and provide company as you grow older. I didn’t meet Julie until I was 48, proving to me that you never know what’s around the corner.
      We should all consider the older members of our community, as like it or not, we will be one of them one day.
      I am very pleased that you liked the story.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. It was prompted by Theo’s post on DearTedandJody, FR. And by the sad lives of some of my own neighbours, who I do try to help. I like to hope that someone will be around to help Julie when I am gone, but sadly can’t see that happening.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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