© David Stewart
Mrs Bailey reported for duty dead on seven every Wednesday morning. Her age always succeeded in getting her the easy jobs.
“You’re on worms today.” She sighed with relief. They usually gave her morning tea duties but she liked being outside with the other volunteers, soaking up the sun as she gift wrapped the worms’ food in newspaper before placing it in their bin. She loved the community garden. Not only did the banter and cameraderie ease her solitary home life, so did the take-home veggies. Enough for a week. Money was sparse.
Thursday’s she volunteered at the chicken farm.
Rochelle hosts Friday Fictioneers each week. All are welcome to join in and write a 100 word flash, then add their link via the blue frog found on her site. Otherwise use the blue frog to see other people’s responses to the photo prompt which this week is courtesy of .© David Stewart
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Dear Irene,
In a hundred words you told me a lot about Mrs. Bailey. She sounds like someone worth knowing. Sensitively written story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. Glad you felt that you got to know her. Cheers Irene
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Salt of the Earth!
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Yes indeed.
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This is a story of courage and life. Mrs Bailey has learned to accept her lot in life and make the most of it. An uplifting story
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Thank you Fuzzy Panda. I think that is the one of the keys to happiness — don’t wait for it to come to you but rather put in some effort.
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The banter must be good to prefer feeding the worms to tea duty!
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Good banter but I think she enjoys playing with the worms also. I know I would. I hate kitchen duties.
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Love Mrs Bailey. And your story. Going to wrap up some worm food right now.
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Glad you liked it Sandra. Don’t think you’d have too many worms on the boat and hopefully no wood worm. 🙂
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Money is sparse but Mrs. Bailey volunteers anyway. Good story.
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Thanks Sharon. She gets a lot out of it and the so does the places she volunteers.
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Mrs. Bailey learns the benefits of giving. I like it.
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Thanks Mick. Yes both benefit.
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Dear Irene,
This has the ring of truth to it, a sound that carries with clarity through the writing and the morning air. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thanks Doug. Yes I think there are many Mrs Baileys out there. This one has learnt the mutual benefits of volunteering.
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That’s a good way to make ends meet. The community sometimes has within it the solution.
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Yes. Life can be tough on the pension but she has found a way that is of mutual benefit to both her and the places she volunteers.
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…and Friday at the village pond? They say the fish is good.
Rosey Pinkerton’s blog
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What she really looks forward to is Saturdays at the winery. She has Sunday off after that one.
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So many Mrs. Baileys in the world go unnoticed. She has a survivor’s instinct, yet a compassionate inkling, too. She serves where she knows she can supplement. Well-written.
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Thanks Charli. She certainly isn’t giving up and doing things mutually beneficial.
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What a resilient character! Nice one.
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Thanks. I think she is a tough old lady that is going to survive and make her life and those around her happy.
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Resourceful and strangely not a victim of her circumstances at all. It made my heart sing.
Tracey
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Thanks Tracey. Glad to make your heart sing. I think Mrs Bailey would approve of that.
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You don’t get these kinds of opportunities when you live almost in the CBD, alas !
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Sadly not often. I think community gardens are probably around but the trouble in the city is getting there and back. Hope you are going well M-R.
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Loved Mrs. Bailey, a very clever woman, I’m glad she didn’t have to eat the worms.
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Gosh yes. Hadn’t thought of that. It was something I used to threaten to do when I was a kid but never did……..
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Mrs. Bailey has found a way to fulfill her life. We should all be so.
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Yes I think she is happy doing mutually beneficial voluntary jobs. A good role model for my later years yet to come.
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Don’t blame her a bit, worms to kitchen duties, much, much better. Good for Mrs. Bailey. A lovely story!
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I agree Yolanda. I’d opt for the worms also. Thanks
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What a great character Mrs. Bailey is! I’d have taken worm duty, too. Wonderful story.
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Thanks. I think more of us prefer the worm duty to kitchen duties. No wonder so many men are the cooks in the family.
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She definitely sounds quite the resilient lady. Very intricate indeed.
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Thanks Francesca. Yes I think she is resilient.
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Sounds like a good way to spend retirement.
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Could be worse ways for sure.
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I love this Mrs.Bailey. She embodies the principle of ‘give and take’. To paraphrase Gibran, even the giver needs the taken, they are both equal.’
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I like equality. Certainly Mrs Bailey’s pursuits were beneficial to all. Glad you love her.
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Don’t know why but the story warmed my heart, lovely, simply lovely.
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I’m glad Mrs Bailey made your heart heat up a little. 🙂
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Very delightful story. Loved it.
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That’s made my day Indira. Thank you
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What a lovely snippet of a life well-lived!
janet
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Thanks Janet. Yes I think so too.
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Such a sharp, fun piece, Irene. It resonates with how life really runs, and made me smile.
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Glad it brought you a smile Dawn. Thanks.
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I would hug Mrs. Bailey. Even thoughthe pension was sparse she made the most of her life as a volunteer. Working together with other people cheers her up. A great story.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2015/09/sabarmati-ashram.html?m=1
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Thanks Kalpana. Yes she wasn’t going to sit back and just die.
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Sounds like a good way to spend retirement (and gather enough food for a nice Sunday lunch!).
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Absolutely. Win win.
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Did she get eggs or friers?
Wonderful portrait.
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Thanks. Both but not a lot of eggs. Just a couple on the sunny side.
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Not sure I would enjoy feeding the worms. Great story.
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Lucky we all like doing different tasks. Thanks
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She is a survivor that one and probably the one with a smile. Nicely done.
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Thank you. Yes I think she survives and all around her benefit.
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Looks like Mrs. Bailey is a nice woman who knows how the system works. Good for her. Well done, Irene. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne. It works for her and the places that she volunteers. Win win situation.
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I love Mrs Bailey, you did a great job on her. Well done Irene 🙂
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Thank you Dee. I’m glad you liked her.
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What a lovely story. I’ll bet there are a lot of Mrs Baileys out there, working away quietly.
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Yes I bet there are too. The salt of the earth.
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I’m glad Mrs. Bailey is able to make do. She is a survivor. You certainly packed a lot of information into only 100 words!
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Thanks Lynda. Yes she is a survivor all right and everyone benefits.
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The sounds like a wonderful way for people to live in harmony and care for our aging populations. Enjoyed reading this piece.
Ellespeth
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Yes the benefits are multiple – purpose, self-respect, value to the community, social interaction to name but a few.
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What a wonderful character you have created here! Such s positive person making the most out of life
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Thank you Oliana. Yes life is how you see things and the actions you take. I think she is a happy old lady and those in contact with her probably have her happiness rub off on them.
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