March 2013
Winifred sighed – it was so sad that Martha had passed away in her sleep last night, the news hit all the residents and staff in various ways. Martha had been a ringleader, a troublemaker - some of the staff would say – always complaining about her meals, the bed not right, wanting to be taken out of this 'hell hole' as she called her beautiful room, which resembled a conservatory with windows on three sides and so much light.
Most of the other residents had smaller, darker rooms, very comfortable, true, but not as much like 'home' as Martha's. The other residents were slightly jealous but enjoyed the constant battles she'd had with the staff members which brought some life into their generally boring, sedentary existence – they'd miss that entertainment, as although Green Pastures was one of the best residential homes around these parts the missing element was stimulation, most days spent in front of one of the many TV sets in the lounges.
Ellen was not as upset as most, she'd been in the home the longest and had always coveted the beautiful room 17, now by rights it should be hers, just as soon as the family moved Martha's few possessions out, she looked forward to the matron's visit this morning to stake her claim.
Winifred, now the eldest resident, also began to realise that room 17 would soon be vacant and it should be hers, by rights the eldest person should enjoy that comfort before she too would pass on surely.
Julie the Matron, began to sort out Martha's paperwork, ready herself for the vacation of the room and decide whether to offer it to an existing resident or one on the waiting list, but which one?
She discussed it with other staff and they decided it should go to a new lady, top of the list Josephine was blind and had been coming to the 'blind club' held at the home for support of outside people , they asserted that she needed the light in that room but the other residents should be consulted.
At lunchtime that day Julie told the residents about the room and asked for opinions, Winifred said 'of course it should be my room now, I've been here for 10 years and had to wait all that time for a decent room.
But Ellen was appalled at this, I am the eldest resident here and it should be my room you can have it when I too pass away Winifred! Julie and the other members of staff tried to hide their smiles, but were also disconcerted by the sudden dilemma, now what to say? Julie asked staff to assemble in her office to discuss this turn of events, should they just put Josephine into room 17 when she arrived with her family to view rooms or toss a coin to decide between Winifred and Ellen?
Maria, the cook, suggested they take Winifred and Ellen up to the room by the stairs – telling them the lift was out of order and that way the decision would be made on whichever lady could easier reach the room as especially in the event of a fire the person in that room would have to walk fairly well.
Winifred was 87 and Ellen 91 but Ellen was much sprightlier of the two, Winnie having arthritis in her knees and hips, so it looked as if she would win. That afternoon the contest was put in to practice with each lady being asked if she agreed to this. Gamely they both tried their hardest to climb the sweeping staircase up to room 17, but Ellen almost fainted trying to get further than stair 10 and had to be helped down and into a chair. Then Winifred, with her stick and the banister actually managed to get to stair 10 also but the pain in her knees defeated her and she had to give up.
So the rivals sat and looked at each other in dismay, the room they'd longed to own was inaccessible, their dreams were shattered, no lovely view over the garden for them.
Next day Josephine and her family arrived and were shown room 17, which they accepted, Jo was only 75 and although blinded by glaucoma could walk for miles and had been a rambler, in fact would still go rambling with her son now and then, stairs were no problem.
Jo's son, a successful businessman, sat having coffee with Julie and she decided to tell him about the rivals for room 17, he laughed at the clever way the situation had been handled but felt sorry for Winnie and Ellen and went to chat with them.
Later that month a huge cheque arrived on Julie's desk with a note – 'as a thank you for room 17, please build a conservatory for the other residents to sit and enjoy the garden during the dark winter and rest of the year too.'