Accident Prone, a short story by mikedeakin. Date added: 2007-07-06. Times viewed: 2736.
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- Intro: Conversations around domestic violence
- I know exactly what you're going to say, but you'd be wrong. I actually did walk into the door frame. The bruise isn't so bad, it'll soon go. Yes it's true that the last bruise has only just gone from my leg, but it was silly of me to walk into the dining room table like that. It was my own fault and I can't blame anyone except my own stupidity. I should watch what I'm doing and not get distracted by the telly. I know, I am daft sometimes aren't I?
The baby? Oh we're both doing fine, I've had a scan recently and it's coming along nicely.
No, I have no idea what it's going to be, I'm one of those traditional women who'd rather not know. I know it makes buying clothes more difficult, but I find you can't go wrong with lemon.
What? Oh him, yes he's still not found another job yet, I know it's difficult for someone in his position and time of life, yes he does get very frustrated with being at home all the time, but he does try. He'll find something suitable soon I'm sure.
Yes, he's very excited about the baby, sometimes he just doesn't shut up about it. Ha ha.
Names? Oh no we haven't gotten round to short listing yet, but we will soon, we just can't seem to agree...
Anyway, I must get on, yes he'll be wanting his dinner soon and you know how men get when they're kept waiting and I need to pop into the supermarket and pick up some cans of beer for him, yes it will keep him quiet...well must dash...
***
Oh, hello again, nice to talk to you too, what was that you say? Oh yes the black eye has nearly gone, in fact with a bit of eye shadow you can't tell can you. Yes, soon be gone completely.
No, he still hasn't found work yet. He did go for an interview, but they said they needed someone with different skills. Yes, he was quite upset and was a bit depressed for a week or two. You see, it is hard when you've only ever worked in one job all your life and suddenly you've got no work...oh yes and with the baby on the way, it is worrying how we'll manage, but I'm sure things will turn out for the best.
What's that? Oh these on my arm, no, no, well you know how silly I am sometimes, well I had a little accident with the frying pan. No I don't think they look like cigarette burns at all, it's where I splashed myself with hot fat, sausages, yes sausages, you know how they can get, when the fat's too hot, spitting fat everywhere; I was just too close to the cooker. Oh yes of course I'll be very careful when the baby is born, we'll have baby guards and everything.
Money? Oh I see yes, well I know, it does all cost and having a baby these days isn't cheap but we've just had to tighten our belts a bit, but we have to buy these things don't we. We can't have the little one going without.
Anyway, I must go, I have to pop into the betting office for him before the 3 o'clock at Wetherby. It's only a small bet, just a bit of fun for him; God knows he could do with cheering up.
***
Yes, it has been a little while since we bumped into each other. What? Oh yes, thank you. Everyone has been very kind; I had lots of cards and flowers while I was in the hospital. I know people find it difficult to raise the subject. I think they all assume I'm going to burst into tears in the street or something. Yes well I know it's the English way isn't it.
Sorry? Oh it was the carpet on the stairs, I had asked him to fix it lots of times, but you know how men can be sometimes, it just kept being forgotten, what with all the things we had to do in the house to get it ready for the...anyway these things happen don't they. They say God works in mysterious ways, perhaps it wasn't meant to be. Well I suppose with him being in the house all day you'd have thought he'd have sorted it out, but we had more important things to concentrate on. Bad timing, yes that's just it isn't it.
No, the carpet had come away from the stair half way down, and you know how clumsy I can be sometimes, I was bringing the iron down, I had a huge pile to do...I lost my footing or tripped and I went straight down to the bottom, I must have gone down at a some speed and with the iron still in my hands...
Yes, it was awful, all I can remember about the whole thing is the police and the ambulance arriving and being in so much pain.
I remember the blood...at the bottom of the stairs...
The cast? Oh yes well it comes off in a couple of weeks, it's not too bad, you get used to it after a while and at least it's my left arm so I can still do the usual stuff, push the vacuum around the house and cook as usual. Well, no actually mum came to visit after the accident, she was a god send I don't know how I would have managed if it wasn't for her, and dad of course, he was there to help with all the other stuff.
Of course the carpet has been sorted out now. All safe again, in fact it's all brand new, paid for by the insurance.
The funeral? That was two weeks ago now, yes, there were lots of people, my family and lots of people from the factory came along to pay their respects. The service was lovely, there were so many flowers, I was very touched and we did ask that they all went to the children's hospital after the service, at least they could be appreciated there rather than leave them to die at the cemetery.
Violet! Yes, we did finally agree, that's what we chose to call the baby, after his grandmother, his mother was quite touched, she said at the funeral how much she appreciated the gesture.
Another week, yes then the baby will be here. Good Luck? Thank you, I don't think we'll need it.
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