That's no Gentleman

Enid is a small quietly spoken lady of about 90 years of age, who has dementia. On the whole she seems to know what is going on around her but on occasion, she slips into a past life. One a freezing cold winter's night Enid answered the door.

'What would you like for dinner?' I enquired.

'I don't need a dinner because I am going out tonight.'

‘Oh!’ I asked ‘Where you going? Anywhere nice?’


‘I’m off to visit my Mother’

Knowing that it would not be a good idea to tell her that her mother was no longer with us, I took another tack.

‘It’s a bitterly cold night this evening Enid, Why don’t you go tomorrow?'

‘That’s alright because my Mother in law is picking me up’

‘Oh I don’t think she will be round tonight, she spoke to me earlier and said she was under the weather, so she will ring you in the morning to arrange another date.’ I replied, feeling pleased with my quick thinking.

‘Never mind’ she says ‘I’ll walk’

And she did; she put her coat on and walked out of the door, with me chasing after her trying to contact her daughter for back up. No answer! So I am on my own and after thirty minutes of walking behind and trying to coax her back she was getting very agitated with my badgering.

'Come home Enid, I will make some soup to warm us up'

'Leave me alone'

'It's getting late, are you sure your mother will still be up?'
'Yes! Leave me alone'

'Why don't you let your Mother in law take you in the morning?'

 Eventually she looks at me and in an exasperated voice says ‘I will have to go home now because you have worn me out.’

obviously relieved we make the return journey

As we reached her house, a neighbor came out to check everything was ok,suggesting to Enid that she go back into the warm with the kind gentleman.

To which Enid firmly replies:-

'That's NO GENTLEMAN!’