Christmas Socks

Jean's extra little present showed her grandchildren the true meaning of Christmas and how lucky they were

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Oh, Mum really, on Christmas O Day? Elsa and Reggie are going to miss you so much.”

“No, they won't. They'll be so caught up in the day, they won’t even notice I’m not there, and I’ll be over on Boxing Day.” Jean said.

“But it’s not like it’s a proper job and you have to work you volunteer.”

Jean sighed under her breath, Christmas day just happens to fall on the day I volunteer, and even if it didn’t, I would still go. It’s hard enough for some folk without it being Christmas too.”

“Oh, whatever, Mum.”

Jean could sense the frostiness in the air and made her excuses to leave, indignant that her daughter couldn’t see the importance of her role.

Two years ago Jean had been looking forward to retiring, but within six months she discovered that with the holiday period over, she was bored. There were only so many lunches you could go to, and her garden couldn’t be more pristine. Returning from one of her pointless visits to town she noticed a poster in the window of her local shop:

Got time to spare? Why not consider volunteering at Mat locks Rehabilitation Centre for the elderly? Jean had stared at the words, before retrieving a pen from her bag and scrawling the quoted number on the back of her hand. And that is where it had all started.

Twice a week, she made the journey to the Centre. Patients from the local general were often transferred here, after an operation or illness, to recover if they didn’t have anyone to look after them at home. Some would never be able to return to living on their own and would stay on there until a place came up somewhere more permenant.