HOUSEHOLD
?Rat Poison?
Tilly had forgotten her specs. She hadn’t transferred them from the pocket of her winter fleeced Danimac to her summer cotton jacket. Always the same with April weather in Swansea; an overnight rise of 8 degrees meant searching out the summer wardrobe with the risk of a disruption in “ the system.” House keys, shopping list, pouch containing store cards and bus pass were in the left pocket as usual, but no glasses.
“Mum your phone should be in a separate pocket from keys. The screen could get scratched” Moira’s words.
Having a “system” was as important as having a shopping list … and being able to see, Tilly’s thoughts reposted.
“Never get your phone out in public.” her daughter’s words again.
Well Tesco’s <Household> aisle is hardly The Kingsway,
Tilly acted. Needs must. The snufflings, rustlings and scratchings from the bedroom next door were getting too much; she had hardly slept for the past three nights. Every year when the weather changed, it happened. Squinting around she spied a blurry Dad and toddler at the far end searching amongst the plastic buckets. Not a risk. Tilly extracted the mobile from her right jacket pocket, stooped, chose panoramic mode and photographed the bottom 2 shelves, then cranking herself back up zoomed-in to examine in detail the latest pics in her Gallery app.
The choice disclosed was confusing. Ultrasonic Electric Repellents were instantly dismissed. Their high frequency waves were inaudible to humans, and could not travel through solid walls,-one of the demerits of living in a Georgian semi with 21 inch walls. Biocidal methods jarred with her Buddhist beliefs of not causing pain or discomfort to any sentient being. She recalled how an eminent Rinpoche would remove from the path any earthworms in peril of being squashed, eaten or drowned and carefully replace them onto bare earth, waiting to see they had buried down beneath the soil before walking on.
Rat poison sounded a very painful and drawn-out death,- anticoagulants leading to internal bleeding, lethargy, withdrawal, breathing difficulties, kidney failure and neurological damage. Tilly would not have wished such an end on her worst enemy never-mind Stanley, her husband of 65 years. His Obstructive Sleep Apnoea had progressed relentlessly over the years. They had tried all recommended antidotes,- nasal strips, side-sleeping with specialist pillows, buddy dieting for both to lose weight, no alcohol ..,,that had not lasted long. Nothing had touched the sides. It had started soon after Moira’s birth.
“Better I sleep next door” Stanley had attributed his decision to consideration for his wife.
“Nothing to do with your sleep being disturbed by a restless newborn then.”
Exasperated, exhausted, and discouraged Tilly wandered around to the next aisle, <Electronics.> At eye-level, no bending or photography needed, the words Peaceful Sleep washed over her as only a time-blurred memory of blissfully rhythmic breathing could.“<Snore Cancelling Earbuds> Block out Noise for Peaceful Sleep” read the advertisement
£149.99p? What the Hell!
And that’s what saved Tilly… and Stanley.
