Reading example

Uncle Dave

It is the middle of December in the year 2034, and my name is Jacqueline Winters. I am the niece of my Uncle whose full name is David Bowman.

He is 79 and I have met him again in the Autumn Life, which is a home for senior citizens here in Aldershot.

One morning two weeks ago, and dressed in the uniform of the home, I knocked on the door to his room and went in.

“Hello Uncle Dave!” I said smiling when I saw him sat there in his armchair. “It’s me Jacqueline, your Brother Jim’s daughter.”

It took him a few seconds to remember, but then he said happily: “Jacqueline? … Yes! … Jim! … No, you are all grown up!”

I knelt down at the side of his chair and we hugged one another, and then I said smiling:

“Well it has been many years. … How are you?”

“Oh fine,” he said smiling back, “the knees don’t work as I wish, but I’m fine. … And how are you?”

I sat down in the other armchair at the side of him and told him: “Oh I’m okay; I’ve been transferred down south because there isn’t much work up north. … And here I saw your name on the residents list, and so I thought I’d just come by and check.”

“Then I am very glad that you did,” he said grinning.

He was very pleased to see me and as we spoke my northern accent made him smile.

“Aye lass,” he said suddenly in a strong Yorkshire accent.

“It’s reet grand to see thee, it is,” and we both laughed.

He then asked me several questions about my father and our family, and then about myself.

“Still married?” he asked and a little sad I replied:

“No, not anymore, … divorced.”

He lent across to me, put his hand onto mine and smiling warmly he said: “Not to worry lass, a good looker like you,

… you will find someone again,” and I smiled.

I’m on duty five days a week on a shift routine and I always come and talk to him whenever I can. Sometimes it’s only for 10 minutes two or three times a shift, but sometimes we can talk for at least half an hour or more.

The staff and the people here are just great and we all sometimes have a good laugh about many different things.

Uncle Dave told me once: “In these two weeks that you have been here the atmosphere in the home is different. It is as if we have all found a new life! … And we all have you to thank for that Jacqueline,” and I was very pleased.

Today is the 26^th and we all have had a good Christmas, but now we are all relaxing a little.

Just after lunch Uncle Dave and I were sat talking in his room.

“I think I have eaten too much,” he said and we both laughed.

We then started talking about some of the things that had happened in his life.

“Uncle Dave, you describe everything so precisely, you should write a book!” I said and he giggled a little.

“I describe everything in detail because …,” and then he became a little sad, “because I was used to doing that for your aunty Carol; … she was blind, as you know.”

I nodded and said: “Tell me about her, please.”

He thought for a moment and said: “I don’t know what to say.”

“Then,” I said interested, “then start at the beginning. Where did you meet her?”

He thought again for a moment and replied: “Here, in England.”

“In England?” I asked. “Where were you?”

He started to explain, but his memories weren’t in any order; and so, after about 10 minutes, I said: “Wait a minute Uncle Dave. I’ll go and get some paper; we should write all this down!” and stood up and left his room.

I soon returned with a notebook and pencil, sat down in the armchair opposite him and said:

“So, start again! … Where did you meet Aunty Carol?”

He lent across his armchair, picked up a gold framed picture at the side of his bed, smiled at it and then started talking again …