Charlie And Midge - Chapter 14

Charlie And Midge

A Novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 14

 

At The Dole Office

Midge was sitting knitting in her arms chair , in front of the fire when Charlie walked in the door . He took off his coat saying ,

“Hello , its only me Midge “ 

She looked a little concerned and replied ,

“Where have you been now Charlie ,.I’ve been wondering where you were ? ” 

Charlie sat down in the other chair and said ,

“I’ve been down the road there getting the morning newspaper like I always do and I bumped into one of them there local information people and we got to talking about things no one ever talks about and wait till I tell you what he told me Midge .“

Midge put down her knitting and said

 “I’m all ears waiting to hear Charlie . What was it he said ? ” 

Charlie caught his breath before he continued then he said

“Well Midge , he was saying they’re going to be putting up the retirement age . “ 

Midge looked worried and said 

“Oh is that so and tell me Charlie does that mean we have to go back too work ?

Charlie stood up and walked around the room trying to look wise as in control saying

 “I’m not quite sure like Midge so that’s why I briefly called into the local as there’s always a few knowledgeable people who go there . “

Midge looked with a quizzed look on her face and asked ,

“:What did you find out Charlie ?”

Charlie returned to his chair and again took a deep breath and said ,

“Werll now , I had a word with a few of the lads and we shared a pint as men often would do there in the company before any kind of business is discussed and anyway after a minute or two one of the men there had said to me that he was given the  name of a fella who works there in the social security office .  So didn’t I just follow up on that and I made my way down there to that place to find out exactly what was going on Midge  .” 

Midge was trying not to be worried and she said

“What did the fella in the social security say  ?” 

Charlie rolled his eyes and shook his head and replied

 “Midge talk about having to mind your tongue , God knows I’m a patient man but I was told to wait until they called my name and didn’t I wait there half the day before I was called and then this fella I was telling you about saw me and in the end after all that wait he didn’t actually say too much and to tell you the truth , I think it was all just a waste of  time .“  

Midge was getting uneasy and asked

“Did you find out anything . Do we have to go back to work again ?

Charlie trying to look  concerned but still in control responded

“ Its hard to say as you see, they’re blocking the information .“ 

Midges eyes opened wide as she waited for more information , There was a silence and then she coughed and took a deep breath and said ,

 “What do you mean Charlie ,.blocked the information about what .” 

Charlie stood up again and started walking around the room and said

”Well they’re not telling me exactly what we have to do to keep the pension or if we need to do something else like going back to work .“

Midge was confused and worried and replied

“It makes no sense Charlie and it  doesn’t seem fair to me  .”

Charlie was also in agreement and said

“Well That’s exactly what I told that fella at the social security .“

Midge responded

“ What did he tell you Charlie ?”

Charlie sat down again and waved his arms around and said

“ He just looked at this paperwork in front of him and said  he didn’t make the rules .“

Midge tried to remain calm and said

“ Did he say if we have to hand our pension in Charlie ?”

Charlie shook his head and said

“ Well that’s the thing like , it was hard to get anything out of him and as I was saying Midge , they’re blocking the information .“ 

Midge got up and started walking around the room saying

“ They can’t do that Charlie , we’ve been retired on the pension for ten years now”

Charlie  sat back io his chair and said

” That’s what I told him Midge and he just kept looking at the paperwork in front of him . So I started to get a little bit upset and I called him a few names , not meaning any harm like but I got his attention ..”

Midge returned to her chair and looked at Charlie with some empathy and said

“Oh Charlie don’t tell anymore . Did you punch him  ?

Charlie seemed to be on the brink of tears and replied

 “Well you know I’m not an angry man but he was blocking the information . If I could have spat on him I would have but  there he was protected by this window, so I kind of just put my fist against the glass window ,  as a warning like . I mean I wouldn’t have hit him . God knows I’m not a violent man  ‘

Midge was getting upset and worried and she said

“ Charlie don’t tell me you smashed the glass .“

“Well Midge the thing is he called this security fella who escorted me out of the building .”

He said as Midge put her hands out in front of saying

’ What will we do now Charlie if they take our pension ?“

Trying to comfort her,  he out his arms around her saying

“Don’t you worry about that Midge . I never give my correct name see , so they don’t know who I am or who we are “

Midge looked a little more relaxed and she said

“ Charlie I’m wondering if I could put in a full days work again  . Maybe I could but is there any work for an 82 year old woman these days ?”

Charlie laughed and said

“:Well sure now Midge I was thinking the same thing myself so after I was told to leave the social security I called back into Murphy’s pub and there’s always a few builders in there ,  so I started scouting around for some part time work . Anyway I spoke to Harry Donaghy who has a window cleaning business and he said he could give me a half share of his business if I wanted it “

 

Midge seemed uninterested saying

“It this really necessary Charlie ?

Charlie replied

“Well not immediately but it could be necessary if we haven’t enough to get the coal in for the winter and we have no pension to draw on  .“

Midge  shook her said and said

“We can always stay in bed under the blankets to keep warm Charlie “

Charlie went on

“I can’t be in laying in bed all day Midge . I might have to do and people to see  “:

Midge  nodded her head and said

“ Charlie maybe I could put my hand to stitching up some clothes or doing some  laundry work for people  . I’m sure I could get a job some where .“

Charlie was appreciative but spoke in a defensive way

 “Oh no Midge I won’t have you doing anything like that . I’m still fit and able to do the work for both of us . You know the told me once there’s always work if you look hard enough . Maybe I could do some driving for the bus depot .“

Midge looked concerned and said 

“But your eyes are no good Charlie “

Charlie agreed and said

 “I suppose you’re right Midge . Anyway after I left Murphy’s I called into the hospital and asked if they needed a cleaner . “

Midge replied

“That’s a good move Charlie and what did they tell you ?

Charlie said

“They send this supervisor to have a talk with me and she said that before I got the job I would have to pass a medical test ?

Midge was getting a little  confused now and responded

“:Sure Charlie  you don’t know anything about being a doctor . You’ve never done any studies in medicine. “

Charlie tried to clear her mind and said

‘“Midge I think what she meant was if I can still touch my toes .“

Midge laughed and said

“Charlie I can’t even wiggle my big toe never mind touch it .“

Charlie also laughed saying

“Ha Ha , hey Midge , tell you what , I’m  83 and I can still pee in a  bottle or a bucket without any one to help me”

Midge continued to laugh and said

“Ha Ha Charlie I’m 82 and I  can still poo when I want to without anyone telling me to or wait half the day in the loo  to see if I can ".

Charlie tried to calm things down a bit and said

“Now you’re talking Midge and I can ride a bike or take a hike when ever I  want .“

Midge said

“So what about that window cleaning business Charlie.  Do you think it could be something we could do ?”

Charlie replied

“Well to be honest like I don’t considerate that as an immediate source of income maybe there’s a few other prospects I can follow up, just as soon as I find out more about the retirement age .“

Midge asked

“How long before you’ll get to know that ?”

Charlie said

“Its hard to say as they’re blocking the information like .“

Midge was looking tired and said

“What about if we just wait and see then Charlie ?”

Charlie took a deep breath and said

“Sounds all right to me . I’ll follow that up later in the week .  “  

Midge got up from the chair and said  

 “I’ll put the kettle on then and we’ll have a cup of tea “

Charlie replied

 “ Just give me a half a cup Midge “

Midge asked

“Half a cup of tea it is then Charlie “

Charlie responded

“You’re a wonder woman Midge .“

Midge replied

“You’re my superman Charlie and we’ll always get by somehow .“

Charlie added

“ We might be retired but we’re not finished yet .”

Midge  replied

“You’re right there Charlie , now just put your feet up “

Charlie put up his feet and said

“I’ll do that sure enough . Now this is the life “.

 Midge returned with a tray and a cup of T’hay with a look on her face that said “

“Charlie , it’s you and me against the world “

 The End

 

Link to Authors  preface

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/charlie-and-midge-authors-preface

 

 

Charlie And Midge

A Novel

By Paul McCann

 

 

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