The Flood of Friendship

Elsie and Frank

‘The village has changed Frank, it’s not how it used to be,’ Elsie stated sadly.

‘I know what you mean hinny,’ her husband of sixty years replied.

‘I can remember so clearly when everyone knew everyone else and every back door in the village was left open so you could just pop in and out if you needed owt.’

Aye them were good days Elsie.’

‘Now everyone just sits in their own houses wrapped up in their own lives. A family just moved into the old station master’s cottage, and the only thing I know about them is a whisper I heard in the post office, about him having to leave his old job under a cloud. At one time I knew everything there was to know about everyone round these parts,’ she recalled aggrievedly.

‘Well, the world has changed I’m afraid pet and there’s nowt much we can do about it.’

‘I blame all this new-fangled technology. Take them bairns up the other end of our street for instance, fiddling with them fancy phones of theirs all day long. Goodness knows what they get up to on that interweb thingy.’

‘Do you remember the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Frank?’

‘Oh aye.’

‘We’d all been preparing for weeks. That bossy so and so Edna Partridge had put herself in charge as usual, swanning about with her lists of who was to do what and we were all in and out of each other’s kitchens helping one another out. By the time the day arrived the main street was lined with tables simply groaning with food, and we all had a grand old time.

‘It’s a lovely memory Elsie but those days are long gone I’m afraid .’

‘If only we could somehow have them back again.’

Kirsty and Jack

Another thrilling night in with Jack. Him tapping away at his computer and me on mine. When we first got together all those years ago back in high school, he was fun to be with and made me laugh so much. We’d go to parties every weekend and let’s just say our candle burnt brightly! Now all he wants to do is slump in front of the football with a beer while I do all the house work as well as work full time. Can you blame me for talking to other guys on the net? That’s all I do though, for now anyway. Oh, I better write this down, he speaks!

‘Get me another beer, will you?’

Not even a please. Pretty much sums up our communication these days.

Ten years I‘ve been with Kirsty now. Back in high school everyone said we were made for each other and would be together forever. She’s changed since then though. She used to be so affectionate and loving. Spontaneous she was as well, springing little surprises on me. Now all she seems to care about is her job and when she’s at home she just mooches around in a scruffy onesie. Lately I’ve been talking to other women on the net. So far all I’ve done is talk but that could well change if she doesn’t acknowledge my presence soon.

This one looks promising. It says she’s an old-fashioned girl but not adverse to some fun. I Might just have to find out more.

This one sounds interesting. It says he’s looking for an old-fashioned girl to spoil and wanting just a bit of TLC in return. Definitely worth checking out.

Elsie and Frank

The storm began with clouds as dark as coal and gale force winds then the rain started. First the steady, rhythmic plip plop; almost comforting until it began to seep slowly under the door, gradually becoming a ferocious gush that swirled through our home of over six decades.

The water steadily rose higher and higher, an unstoppable force intent on destroying everything in its path. I can remember the last time the village got flooded, the devastation of homes and histories and poor Ellen Davison, the woman who fell in the river and drowned. There’s been times I’ve walked along that river bank and felt sure I’ve seen something out of the corner of my eye that’s gone when I look properly and I’ve got a funny feeling it’s her spirit. Well, she can be my guardian angel as it looks like I might need one.

‘Come on pet,’ Frank says, taking my arm and pulling me out of my thoughts. ‘We need to get out of here.’

Kirsty and Jack

I know this sounds awful, but after the initial shock of seeing the flood water surging under the door, my first thought was that this could be my chance to start a new life without Jack. I’d get half the insurance money for the house which we could sell instead of patching it up. Has it really come to this?

I feel like such a turd for thinking this, but the sight of our sodden hallway made the thought pop into my head that my half of the insurance would be enough to buy my own flat away from Kirsty. It’s just so sad that it’s come to this. If only we could find a way to make it work.

Elsie and Frank

‘You know Frank, this is the closest I‘ve ever got to most of these people,’ Elsie remarked, looking around the crowded village hall where she’d attended so many events in days gone by.

‘Well, this could be your chance to get to know them pet. Silver linings and all that.’

Elsie and Kirsty

I‘m trying my best to stay out of Jack’s way as he evokes an uncomfortable mix of irritation and guilt in me. It’s not too easy in this crowded hall though.

I see the old lady heading towards me. Poor thing, fancy having to deal with all this at her age. It’s not the first time either as the river’s prone to flooding. I remember it happening when I was a kid, but everything seemed so exciting then.

‘Hello Mrs Jackson. How are you bearing up?’

‘Surviving thank you my dear, like you have to. It’s Kirsty, isn’t it? I remember you as a little lass. How are you and that young man of yours?’

I look at my feet while trying to figure out what to say.

‘Oh dear, trouble in paradise is there?’

‘There’s no hiding things from you is there?’ I say with a wry smile.

‘Maybe I can help? You don’t get to your diamond anniversary without learning a thing or two you know.’

‘It’s just that there’s no excitement anymore. Sometimes it’s like he doesn’t even know I’m there.

‘Ah, the long-term love trap. I’ve been there too pet. When Frank and I had been married about ten years I began to think I might be missing out on something. Frank was so solid and dependable, but he just didn’t make my heart race at a hundred miles per hour. I wondered if I might be better off with someone more exciting, but in the end I just couldn’t imagine my life without him and I realised that that sort of thing belongs in the picture show.’

‘I guess I can’t imagine my life without Jack either, even if I have to spend the rest of my life picking up his smelly socks!’

‘Well, my dear, sometimes we have to make our own excitement,’ the old lady said with a twinkle in her eye, ‘and then he might just reward you by giving up his dirty habits!’

‘I hope you’re right about that Mrs Jackson. I get the feeling you’re right about most things.’

‘I do seem to have been born with a bit of a gift for these things and do call me Elsie. Eeh my giddy aunt!’

‘What’s the matter?’

Elsie and Nancy

‘Bless my soul it’s Nancy Watson! The woman who’s just walked in. It’s years since she left Elmsley. Between you and me there were a few whispers about her before she left the village. It seems she may have been a bit light fingered. I’m all for giving folk the benefit of the doubt, though and it’s certainly nice to see a familiar face.’

‘Fancy seeing you back around here Nancy Watson.’

‘Elsie me darling! How are you faring up old friend?’

‘As well as I can be I suppose. What brings you back here after all these years?’

‘I happened to be not too far away when I heard about that old devil of a river bursting its banks yet again, so I thought I‘d come and see if you needed any help.’

‘How kind of you Nancy. I’m sure I can find one or two little jobs for you but first of all how about a nice cup of tea?’

Elsie and Kirsty

‘I knew there was no smoke without fire, Elsie. Just look at this article I’ve found on my phone. It says this Nancy woman was caught stealing from a poor old fellow she was meant to be cleaning for, until the old boy had the gumption to set up a secret camera. She got a suspended sentence so any more bother and she’s had it.’

‘Bliddy hell!’

‘You’ve been rumbled Nancy,’ said Kirsty. ‘We all know what your game is so go and crawl back under your stone.’

As she shuffled out of the hall, Elsie turned to Kirsty.

‘Thank you so much for uncovering the truth pet. It seems that interweb whatsit isn’t all bad after all.’

I want to thank you for reminding me how much Jack means to me; you’ve saved our relationship.

‘My pleasure love, but I couldn’t have done that if it wasn’t worth saving. Things going well then are they?’

‘Well, I took your advice. We had a lovely walk in the woods just the two of us and you wouldn’t believe it, but the mystery dates we were talking to online were really each other! You were wrong about him ditching his filthy habits though. Our corner of the hall is carpeted with dirty tissues!’

‘I’m afraid my gift does fail me occasionally, but he wouldn’t be your Jack without his little quirks now, would he?

‘That’s true I suppose. I do hope we can keep this little community of ours flowing now we’ve got to know each other and not hide away in our newly patched up houses.’

‘I think we can all raise a nice cup of tea to that,’ declared Elsie.