PHOTO PROMPT © Amy Reese
It’s awful to see her there, fully aware she’s surrounded by people who can’t differentiate between a pig and a pencil!
Today mum was weeping.
“They washed my favourite woollen jumper in the machine. My heather-coloured Edinburgh Mill cable-knit your dad bought. They didn’t ask, crept in during the night and stole it. It’s not machine-washable and it’s ruined. I would’ve told them it has to be hand-washed,” she sobbed.
I went to retrieve it from the laundry and found a grotesquely shrunken and matted garment that wouldn’t have fitted a Barbie doll.
My heart broke for my lovely mum.
Word Count: 100
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
😦 Sadly..so so sadly, this happens Far Far too often 😦
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Thanks Morgan. It is so very sad. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Oh no…my heart breaks too…such a sad tale.
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Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment 😀
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Boy does this hit home.That’s exactly what happened to my Dad’s favorite sweater at the assisted living home. Man-sized to Barbie doll-sized in one washing. Well done.
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Thank you. It is so sad to see a loved one in such circumstances.
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Oh no! 😦
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Thanks for reading. 😀
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Very well conveyed emotionally.
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Thanks Louise 🙂
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I love the intro! It grabbed me. It was so unique
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Thank you for such a lovely comment!
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You’re welcome 🙂 You earned it!
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I recognize this all too well… only thing is that my mum has became one of those patients who wouldn’t recognize her own things… or even us sometimes.
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Sadly my mum too at times. So unpredictable – sometimes she’s fine, others she’s completely confused.
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Lovely piece, but so sad.
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Thank you – sadly it is a true story about my mum. She has Alzheimers and when she was in hospital she was in the early stages, but a lot of people around her were much worse and she hated it! Happily she is back home with Dad now, but has good days and bad.
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That’s so sad, a condition which attacks the mind and “self” is a terrible thing. I’m glad she’s back home and having good days, though.
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Loved that opening line – a pig and a pencil. Has such a great sound to it. Poor mum. Hertbreaking to see a loved one so powerless. Great story Claire
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Thanks very much Lynne. 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
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My mother was in a nursing home. Nothing like that happened, and she had Alzheimer’s so probably wouldn’t have noticed if it had. However, I’d advise people not to take valuable items to an elder care facility. Everything’s given common care. No one will fuss with special care. Also, I’ve heard people working there sometimes take things. Their pay is not great. You’ve got a good place if your relative doesn’t have bruises. Keep checking. My mother was in a good place. Good writing, Clare. —- Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne. I really appreciate the advice. Mum’s at home at the moment and dad is coping, but my brother and I are concerned about what will happen if he’s no longer around. A bridge we will cross if we need to!
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My father had dementia, and after he died my mother went to a nursing home a couple of years later. Most of the people who worked there were thoughtful and caring, although there’s always some dumbass who won’t know a pig from a pencil (I love that line). 🙂
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Thank you. The nurses weren’t uncaring to mum to be fair, but they took her jumper without her knowledge, which upset her. They don’t have time to hand wash and probably thought it would be alright, but mum felt out of place and ruining her jumper was the last straw!
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Aww my heart broke for her too 😦
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Thanks Dahlia. The photo has inspired some very different stories this week!
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Yes indeed!
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This hits home for a lot of people it seems. Painfully realistic writing, great story. My mother had dementia after a severe stroke, but people in her nursing home asked us to not bring her delicate clothes that can’t be washed roughly. I brought her these only for special occasions and took them back home afterwards. The people in this home were amazing, I’m very grateful for the care they gave.
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Wow, I think this hits home for so many of us. You captured the despair in her situation beautifully.
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Thank you very much.
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Thanks Gabi. It does seem to have affected a lot of people. It’s so terribly sad.
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Excellently written from the heart. Loved the line about the difference between a pig and a pencil. It’s sad to see how often dementia sufferers’ needs and wishes are callously disregarded by those who think they know best.
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Thank you. I suppose they just don’t realise how important little things can be.
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We hold such meaning in things.Some people do not respect that.
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Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Another good reason to make sure my 92 year old Mum gets help to remain independent.
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Sounds like your mum is doing remarkably well to still be independent at 92!
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Powerful piece that resonates for so many of us.
Well done.
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Thanks Ceayr. Glad you liked it.
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I really like how you captured the vulnerability and the powerlessness in such a simple incident
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Thanks Neil. Sadly this sort of thing seems to happen a lot.
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How sad that happened to have taken something that was so meaningful. And, they snuck in. How dare they!
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Thanks Amy. I am sure much worse happens in some places.
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Dear Clare,
At first I thought the mother was becoming delusional, too. How very sad and true to life. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. She does get confused and irrational at times, but she was lucid when this happened.
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Heartbreaking! And a stark reminder that mental illness has many different levels.
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Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂
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Ah, this is heartbreaking.
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Thank you.
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