All in All!

( 482 words) Part 1.

“I'm better than she is,” I overheard the woman next door say. “I'm prettier!”
This lot were the worst, lived beside me, and played loud games all night on the street. Lately although the birds were singing; I'd woken up in the morning to the sound of a whip, outside, and even screams.
“Bloody Ingleesh! Plllease let me die here!”

Although my son was round, he didn't hear it. I'll have to buy a recorder and tell the Police. I have to tell someone. Do you know they even had the cheek to say they were here on a Witness Support Scheme and the Police were helping them. I've heard the villagers call it a village game,
and last time someone died in an old house. I'm almost 60, why me?

“It used to be alright here,” the shop assistant told someone, “They used to play it for fun. Then that lot moved in.”

The other woman clutched her cornflakes and nodded, “I heard they demand your soul!”
The shop assistant asserted, “No christian would do it!”
They shut up as I got to the till, with the cat food.
"Lovely weather for June," I said tentively.
The Shop Lady agreed, "Not long til my holiday - next week, I'm away on the 28th."
I wondered what it was that they were playing me for, I hadn't a bean. I might have won a poetry competition with Deja Vue. It had turned up on Doctor's websites. Netherlands Radio comp! Couldn't find out as I'm not online.

“I'm Tina, I've lived the last year or so in Mattishall.” I told the lady at the Drop In, at the C of E Rooms. She didn't know me.
“Where do you live?” she asked, as she handed me a cuppa.
“Down the street,” I replied cautiously, as I took a biscuit.

The others at the table were old friends. Some from school. All moved back. I guess we need each other.
Ben said, “Where are you living?”
He was okay, so I told him exactly, and then it all came out in a rush.
“Ben, the woman next door says I should be put in a home!”
“That lot again?” asked Brenda.”Philip used to live there!” She exchanged a look with Ben.

“Some one tried that on Philip, last year,” Ben said, “He said it was bad, psychic!”
Brenda nodded, “Phil was really upset.”
“Some of it is getting harder,” I admitted reluctantly, “The cleaning in such a big house...”
“Do you want to stay where you are?” asked Ben, “Only the Doctor's surgery has a list of old peoples bungalows etc, if... and perhaps safer.”
“I have one,” agreed Brenda, “A garden too!”

“What happened to Philip?”
Brenda sighed, “He looked at the list and moved to Scarborough!”
“Tina” said Ben slowly, “If you like – perhaps we could help?"