Charlie's Retirment Struggle

Charlie At The Dole Office

By Paul McCann

https://youtu.be/vr3MiuYwJmI

 

Charlie - “Its only me . “ 

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

Charlie - “I’ve been down the road there getting the paper like and I bumped into one of them there travellers . So we got to talking about things and wait till I tell you what he told me Midge .“

Midge - “I’m waiting Charlie ” 

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

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

Charlie - “I’m not quite sure like so that’s why I briefly called into the local . There’s always a few knowledgeable people there . “

Midge – “:What did you find out Charlie ?”

Charlie – “I had a word with a few of the lads and we shared a pint in the company . Anyway after a minute or two I had been given this name of a fella there in the social security office .  So I made my way down there to find out Midge  .” 

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

Charlie - “I had to wait half the day before he could see me and in the end he didn’t actually say too much and to tell you the truth , I think it was a waste of  time .“  

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

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

Midge - “What do you mean Charlie..” 

Charlie -”Well they’re not telling me what we have to do to keep the pension and if we have to go back to work .“

Midge –“It doesn’t seem fair to me Charlie .”

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

Midge –“ What did he tell you Charlie ?”

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

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

Charlie –“ Well that’s the thing like , it was hard to get anything out of him . They’re blocking the information .“ 

Midge -  “ We’ve been retired nearly ten years Charlie . “

Charlie -:” 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 – “Oh Charlie don’t tell anymore . Did you punch him  ?

Charlie – “Well you know I’m not an angry man but he’s blocking the information . I couldn’t even spit on him Midge because he’s protected by this window, so I kind of put my fist against the glass window just as a warning like . I wouldn’t have hit him ‘

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

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

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

Charlie –“Don’t you worry about that Midge . I never give a name so they don’t know who we are .

Midge “ Charlie I’m wondering if I could put in a full days work again  . Maybe I could but is there any work for a 72 year old woman these days ?”

Charlie – “:Well now Midge I was thinking the same thing so after I was told to leave the social security I called into Murphy’s as there’s always  a few builders in there so I was scouting around for some part time work . Anyway I spoke to Harry Donaghy who offered me half share in his window cleaning business .‘

Midge – “It this really necessary Charlie ?

Charlie –“It would be necessary if we haven’t enough to get the coal in for the winter .“

Midge ‘-“We can always stay in bed under the blankets and keep warm Charlie “

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

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

Charlie – “No Midge I won’t have you doing anything like that . I’m still fit and able . My old father told me once there’s always work if you look hard enough . Maybe I could do some driving for the bus depot .“

Midge –“But your eyes are no good Charlie “

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

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

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

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

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

Charlie –“Ha Ha , hey Midge , tell you what , I’m  73 and I can still pee in a  bottle or a bucket without any one to help me”

Midge – “Ha Ha Charlie I’m 72 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 –“Now you’re talking Midge and I can ride a bike or take a hike when ever I  want .“

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

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

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

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

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

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

Charlie- “ Just give me a half a cup Midge “

Midge-“Half a cup of tea it is then Charlie “

Charlie –‘You’re a wonder woman Midge .“

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

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

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

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

 

The End