For K L Caley’s WritePhoto challenge, where we write about the image below:
“There, there, my darling. Try to get some sleep.”
The child sobbed and made a loud sniff.
“I don’t like it here, mummy”, whispered the frightened girl, as she held her duvet even tighter against her damp surroundings.
“I know, I know, my love. As soon as New Year is behind us, we’ll start to look. I promise.”
Jude’s eyes lifted momentarily to the dark patches of mould on the wallpaper. Glancing around the room, several of the cheap, cream strands of paper had peeled away from the wall completely. How much, she wondered, had this room contributed to what had just happened?
As the child’s eyes closed, en route to a better place, Jude realised just how weary she herself was. Since the 23rd, she hadn’t stopped. That’s when Amy’s asthma had finally become too much, and she was admitted to hospital. Since then, Jude had been forced to eat when she could, to sleep when she could, to build a fresh schedule around her now twice-daily visits to her daughter. At least she’d been warm, thought Jude, and the food, though unappetising, had been regular. And, the nurses had done their best, but… nobody wants to be in hospital at Christmas.
As the child settled into a shallow sleep, Jude was startled by a noise from the kitchen. Bloody rats again! There was no point her trying to catch them – they were way too quick, even for her – but new puppy Jack – Amy’s ever-vigilant new Christmas present – was up like lightning, leaping from the girl’s bed in search of blood. Good, thought Jude, the dog had only been in the house a week and was already starting to do his job. A reminder, nevertheless, that while there were rats at large, she should double-check that the food they’d just brought in was stored securely.
But before she rose, Jude took one last look around the miserable room. I wonder what sort of Christmas the sodding landlord has had?
Originally tagged: #writephoto
Mister Bump 
Wonderful! Such a great read!
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thanks Luisa. I think I could have put more in, but… I always do!
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❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
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They ain’t called Land Lords for nothing!
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Hopefully a rotten one 😕
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Jack saved the day!
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I wish we had one for exactly that reason.
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True but Reuben helps I’m sure
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He’s handy with mice but rats are generally more too big.
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Rats are very smart could give Reuben run for his money
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Also, in the house the rats were in the attic, where the cats can’t go. I wouldn’t want to mix the two either because we lay poison up there. Although, touch wood, it has gone quiet up there since we layed the last lot.
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Yeah poison and cats don’t mix
Attic is warm and cosy no doubt
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yeah, I just wish I knew where they were getting in. I haven’t even managed to climb up there since the stroke though, so I ight need to get a pest control guy in. More money.
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Oh no, such a sad story. I hope they do find somewhere new. Thank you so much for joining in with the prompt:
https://new2writing.wordpress.com/2021/12/30/writephoto-the-retreat/
KL ❤
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[…] This one will pull at the heartstrings – Relocation – Mister Bump […]
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That’s a sad but often true story, well written 💜
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thanks
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💜💜
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[…] Relocation – Mister Bump […]
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