House dusted and tidied by eight every morning.
Then she washes and dresses, adds some make-up too.
Two slices of toast, and a cup of tea.
Plate and cup washed and dried of course.
She opens the curtains, to be able to see the front path.
There might be a visitor today.
beetleypete 
At some point, people stop venturing out. I remember my grandmother being frightened fo leaving her house. Your described her life for those last years. Warmest regards, Theo
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Thanks, Theo. I think ‘my’ lady would love to go out. If only someone would come and ask her.
Best wishes, Pete.
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This is so poignant! Loneliness is a cruel foe, C
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Old ladies like her used to ring an emergency ambulance sometimes, just to have someone to talk to for fifteen minutes.
Best wishes,,Pete.
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I can only imagine their joy at seeing you walking up their vacant stoop. C
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Loneliness is a very sad thing. Here the elder ones can meet in communities. But at least this is only advertising for a mobile care business. Its all about money, these times. 😉 Michael
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She is hoping for a visitor who never comes, sadly.
Best wishes, Pete.
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sad but i admire her high hopes…
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Hope was about all she had left, Wilma.
Best wishes, Pete.
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There’s one like that in our village. She stands out in the street and waits for people to pass by. They’re then caught for at least half an hour, lol.
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They are everyhere. On my dog-walk today, an elderly neighbour spent ages telling me about having to have a new heating oil tank fitted. After 30 minutes, she said, “Sorry to drone on, Peter, but I have nobody else to tell about it”.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s okay if we’ve got the time to listen, but sometimes we haven’t.
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Just to know that someone remembers and cares. It does make the world.
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It does indeed. Though sadly, such ladies almost never had a single visitor.
Best wishes, Pete.
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When I used to go to physical therapy I would find the waiting room full but I always went right in. Wondering about that, I asked. I was told that many people arrived very very early for the chance to sit among other people.
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Very true. The lady I was writing about used to occasionally ring for an ambulance, though she didn’t need us. She enjoyed the brief conversation and company,.before we had to leave. There were many more like her.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I can see them in my memory.
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Today the visitor arrived that changed everything.
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Nice positive thought there, Geoff.
Best wishes, Pete.
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House gathering dust and cobwebs. Wretched odors.
Stacks more dishes on the couch, stays all day in her ragged nightgown, no makeup.
A dozen donuts, a couple more beers.
Empty bags and beer cans strewn on a filthy floor.
She opens the curtains to ponder the graffiti scribbled by kids in the housing project.
Old, abandoned, demoralized. Looking forward to perusing the junk mail again today.
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Junk mail would be a definite bonus for her, David.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I can really picture this lady you describe so beautifully. Poignant.
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Thanks, Susanne. I met so many like her over the years.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Lonely lady.😕
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There were thousands like her in London, Kim.
Best wishes, Pete.
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So very sad, and not unusual….
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They often used to ring 999, just to have some company for a while. So many of them, Sue.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Tragic
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A sad tale filled with hope. chuq
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I met so many like her, chuq. Lonely, and waiting for someone to arrive. They rarely did.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Old age can be a lonely time for many….chuq
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Maybe there is a fine line between sadness and hopefulness.
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I met so many ladies like that, Maggie.
They used to sometimes call an ambulance, just to have the company.
Best wishes, Pete.
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So sad. And so true. This made me think of my mother in law, though not the dusting.
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I met so many like her, Jude. Sometimes they called an ambulance just to have some company for 20 minutes.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Oh, my heart has reached out to this sad soul …
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Thousands like her, behind the clean windows and closed doors.
Thanks, Carolyn.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete. Lovely work, the way you portrayed her.
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