Growing Old Disgracefully 22

Mark was woken at 3 o' clock in the morning by a loud noise.
"Is that an earthquake?" asked Julie.
"No Dear.  Remember why we moved to the downstairs room.  In case Mr. Bundy had a fall during the night."
"It's years since we moved down here."
"Yes it is.  But he's had at least one fall during that time.  This is the big one.  It's finally happened."  Mark walked into Mr. Bundy's room.  He was lying on the floor with his arms and legs sprawled all over the place.
"I can't get up," he said.  "It took so much effort, pushing my arms and legs out so I didn't break anything."
"Have no fear, Mr. Bundy.  I am trained.  I will use my Australian kinetic lift to lift you."  Mark got down on one knee and put his forearm under Mr. Bundy's shoulder.  Mark then tried to stand up.  Mr. Bundy wouldn't move an inch.  "It wasn't like that when we did it at work.  I tell you what."  Mark got a hold of the chair in front of the computer desk.  It had wheels on it.  He pushed it around.  "Grab a hold of this chair, and I'll hold on to it from behind.  You can pull yourself up that way."  Mr. Bundy grabbed a hold of the chair and stood himself up.  He then climbed into bed.  Mark went back to bed and returned to check on Mr. Bundy at 7 o' clock.
"Good morning Mr. Bundy.  Are you all right?"
"No. I've wet myself."
"I'll say you have," said Mark.  "I'll change the sheets for you."
"No.  I want Dr. Killigan to come."
"I will call Dr. Killigan.  You had a bad fall during the night.  Let me change the sheets."
"No.  I want the doctor to see this."
"You're going to sit in your own filth until a doctor arrives?"
"Yes.  I want Dr. Killigan to come.  I want him to examine the evidence."  At 10 o' clock the doctor arrived.
"Good morning Mr. Bundy, how are you?"
"He's not very well," said Mark.  "He had a really bad fall during the night."
"It seems that something else has happened since."
"What is your medical opinion?" asked Mr. Bundy, pointing at the bed.
"It's a very strange colour and probably due to the barium scan that you had yesterday."
"Dr. Killigan, what do you think is wrong with me?"
"Mr. Bundy, you are old.  Your body is like an old car.  All the parts are worn out.  You are in the last few months of your life, but you don't seem to believe it.  You seem to think that I can give you some pill that will work in a couple of hours and you will feel as good as you did when you were 80.  Well, I can't.  You look badly bruised after that fall.  I'm calling an ambulance.  You need to be in hospital." 

That afternoon Pastor David, Julie and Mikey were visiting Mr. Bundy in hospital.
"I'm going to get a Don't card," said Mikey.
"What's a Don't card?" asked Julie.
"In the event of me being admitted to hospital, don't let Pastor David visit me."
"Why not?"
"He sits there by the bed, reading all those verses from the Bible."
"But Mikey, I thought you liked the Bible."
"When Pastor David comes to the hospital you overdose on the Bible.  He's got 28 passages about what Heaven will be like and the meaning of suffering."
Mr. Bundy looked up at Pastor David who was reading his Bible.
"You don't seem to believe that God is going to heal me."
"Mr. Bundy, how long is this going to carry on?  I've come to get you ready for eternity.  You haven't eaten since new year.  You haven't lost any weight because your heart is so useless that your body has no oxygen to burn any calories, anywyay. That's why you keep having falls.   And you expect to recover?  I wouldn't."  Late that night Mr. Bundy lay on his bed and prayed.
"Oh Lord, remember my faithful service and the many years I have given to this church.  I have worked so hard.  Now I'm going to die.  I don't want to.  I want you to heal me so that I can be fit and healthy again."  A light appeared by the bed.
"What sign should I give you?" said a voice.
"I want to find a walnut whip in its wrapper on the grass.  A walnut whip in its wrapper would be an easy thing.  I want to find a walnut whip in its wrapper that isn't past its best before date."
"Next weekend you will find a walnut whip in the grass that isn't past its best before date.  The Lord will add fifteen years to your life."

That weekend Mr. Bundy had been discharged from the hospital and was with the church who were having a picnic together.  Mark and Mikey were taking turns to push his wheelchair over the grass.  Mikey bent down to pick something up from the grass.
"What's this?  A walnut whip.  Still in its wrapper."  He lifted it up to his face to take a closer look.  "It isn't even past its best before date."
"It is a sign," said Mr. Bundy.  They came to a building that was in the park.
"Mr. Bundy," said Mark, "could you just get out of the wheelchair and walk a few steps so I don't have to struggle to get you through this door?"
"I certainly can," said Mr. Bundy.  He leapt out of his wheelchair and started running.
"Are you sure you should be running like that?  Careful you don't have a fall," said Mark.
"I'm sure.  I'm sure all right."  Mr. Bundy ran all the way to the top of the hill where the people from the church were eating food together.
"Mr. Bundy," said Sarah.  "What has happened?"
"The Lord has added 15 years to my life.  Why does everyone look so upset?"