Ricci Schwarzler - Switch

I decided to switch my style and write nice happy pieces. I thought about kittens and puppies and sunshine and roses. They just didn’t do it for me. That’s not to say I don’t like them…I just couldn’t get inspired.

Hmmmm.

Hmmmm some more.

Difficult.

I thought about the old lady who lived next door. Maybe I’ll get some inspiration. I didn’t know much about her and hardly saw her. I decided to find out more, but it wasn’t the sort of thing you look up on LinkedIn…well I didn’t think so anyway. So I just made a batch of scones and knocked on her door.

It took ages. But I could hear her soft slippered feet padding up to the door.

‘Yes dear.’

‘Hi, I’m Jodie from next door.’

‘Oh hello dear, are you ok?’

‘Yes I am thank you. I was wondering if you were ok? I haven’t seen you much in the garden. I’ve made you a batch of scones, I hope you like them?’

‘Oh Dear, come on in. I’m Mrs Belic.’

‘Lovely to meet you.’ I walked in to her bright, light house which surprised me. For some reason I thought it would be dark and dingy. She was even smaller than I thought, but you could see she once had a strong frame, albeit small. Her bright green eyes looked at me with curiosity. She waved at a chair and brushed a piece of white softly curling hair from her face.

She put the kettle on and we sat in her lovely comfy armchairs with worn cushions. The chairs faced large picture windows overseeing her colourful green and flowered garden. Birds flitted from one grevillea to another. Bees buzzed close to the window, in the branches and flowers that brushed up against the glass.

‘Mr Belic, this is gorgeous. So peaceful.’

‘Yes it is Dea. I must have peace around me.’

‘I love that too but why?’

‘My career made sure I needed peace in retirement.’

‘Oh why was that?’

She paused. I waited for what seemed like forever. Had I opened a memory that I shouldn’t have? I waited some more as she stared out the window, then I changed the subject.

‘You take in lots of stray animals I think?’

She shook her head slightly to dislodge the memories.

‘Oh yes. I have to save as many animals as I can.’ She smiled, her eyes crinkling from the enjoyment of the idea. There was the sound of the front door opening.

‘We’re in here Alex. I have a visitor.’ She called in her delicate but strong voice. A teenage boy around 14 wandered in. He nodded at me and gave the old lady a hug.

‘I’m Alex’ he proffered a hand.

‘I’m Jodie, I live next door.’

‘Yes I’ve seen you.’

‘Are you a grandson?’ I asked.

‘No Mrs Belic took me in 6mths ago. My parents are drug addicts and she came to the rescue. She’s my saviour.’ He looked in awe at Mrs Belic and held her hand. I admired his candour and especially from someone so young.

‘Oh wow that is lovely’, I replied.

‘Yes I take in young people every year to help them out and hopefully give them a hand.’

‘Oh my goodness really? That is so kind Mrs Belic’, what an amazing women, I thought to myself. She clearly has an impact if this 14yo boy admires her so much.

I thought it time to leave and took my farewells. I shook her hand and thanked her. As I walked off she was staring out of the window with the slightest hint of pain in her old furrowed brow and eyes.

Alex showed me out.

‘I can’t believe she does that. I’ve often seen young people around but never realised why. I’m actually quite ashamed that I didn’t know more about her and what she has done. How long has she done this for?’

Alex looked at me with an old age understanding from a boy of 14yo.

‘About 20 years I think. All of the people she has taken in come back regularly and check on her. She is quite the angel. People don’t believe in angels but they are all around us. I hope to be someone’s angel one day.’

‘Alex you will make a wonderful angel.’ He smiled at me and shook my hand with warmth.

‘Alex please make sure you say hello whenever you see me and if you or Mrs Belic need anything, please come and grab me.’

‘Ok for sure and thanks.’

As I walked out of the door held open by Alex, I took two steps and turned back to him. My curiosity had the better of me.

‘Alex Mrs Belic looked slightly sad when I alluded to her career, what did she do? Something that has made her do such kind things for people and animals?’

‘Yes she doesn’t like talking about it. She says she is doing what she can to repay the planet.’

‘Oh wow what was it?’

‘She was an assassin.’