photo © Bjorn Rudberg
She fell asleep watching television, reading, even at the computer. She fell asleep anywhere but in her bed.
“There’s something wrong with me. I can’t stay awake.”
“No there isn’t. You’re ninety Mum. Old people sleep a lot. Even I nod off watching telly.”
“Why don’t you knit for refugees? I can give you some wool. Scarves? Hats?” Beryl suggested in the communal dining room when Mum again complained of her narcolepsy.
She started knitting while she read and watched TV. The pile of hats grew, eventually occluding the sun. “I don’t know how to get them to the refugees.”
Thank you to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and Björn Rudberg for supplying the photo prompt.
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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) 
I’ll bet she’ll live well beyond 100
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I hope so.
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I do remember my wife’s grandmother used to knit baby clothes for the red cross… I think she can be helped to get them there.
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Red cross is good. She does actually give them to a mob that send scarves and hats world wide to where they are needed. True apart from the build up blocking the light.
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I imagine someone would be willing to help out.
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They have thanks James.
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Dear Irene,
Perhaps Mum’s narcolepsy had more to with boredom. I would think someone can help her distribute the hats. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle. Yes active hands don’t allow sleep. She sleeps better at night as a result and the hats have found a worthy home. Cheers Irene
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Such a nice thing to do, everyone benefits – if someone can just send them on!
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Gone. Thanks Iain.
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One problem leads to another but I suspect a good outcome!
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Absolutely. She sleeps better, those in need are warmer for her knitting and the build up of hats – pure fiction.
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I am now visualizing a town overrun with woolen hats, oozing out of every pour 🙂
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That is a funny vision. No they have gone to good homes. Thanks.
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I’m sure there’ll be someone around to help distribute such lovingly prepared items.
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Yes, there are always willing recipients. Thanks Sandra.
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Beautiful story. I hope she finds someone to distribute the hats to the intended recipients.
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Thank you. The hats are now distributed.
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Okay – why didn’t her daughter research refugee charities? Giving her the wool was only the start.
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Someone else gave her the wool. Hats now distributed. Luckily it is always winter somewhere.
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Anyone who takes the time to create such loving gifts will be helped to deliver them! Lovely.
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Absolutely. Thanks Dale.
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Elderly people want to feel useful, to be needed. Mom has a new reason to live and I suspect she’ll next figure out how to get her hats to refugees all over the world. You’ve told a wonderful story with an important lesson, Irene.
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It is true that we all need to be needed. I based the story on my Mum who does knit for the refugees to stay awake but it has become more than that. Unlike the flash – she has somewhere that takes her copious knitting. It is important for all of us to find things that give value to our time.
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Your Mum is pretty wonderful.
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I know. I am very lucky that although physically fragile she is still has a passion for life.
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Love this old lady who is willing to give. She just needs someone to help her find her market 🙂
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I love her too. Hopefully loads 1 and 2 have made it to where they are needed. Load 3 about to be picked up. Sunlight is in her apartment.
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Beautiful!
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Thank you Jelli.
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She’s halfway to doing her good deed! Nice one.
Click to read my FriFic!
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Thanks Keith. Good deeds completed.
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I’m in a stitch-n-bitch group. These lovely ladies knit baby blankets for children with deployed parents, hats for chemotherapy patients …. and I so admire them because knitting is beyond my talents. Wonderful story.
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I have to agree – knitting is also beyond my talents but love it when people with the talent put it to such good use.
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A problem easily remedied, right, sonny?
Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2017/12/22/tend-to-your-knittin/
Scott
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Absolutely
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That was such a sweet, lovely story! Thank you.
I’m going to resume writing stories with FF in the New Year.
Happy Christmas!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you Susan. Look forward to seeing you back and in the meantime have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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Touching story. Lucky refugees!
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Thanks Dawn.
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