A Casualty Of Life(c) Pamela-Michelle Giovanni 2011


I'll be alright, I don't like to bother.
The lights are dim, wish I'd brought my glasses.
Blue lights!? What's all that about then?
Ere e comes agen, e's asked for a cigarette 3 times now. Do a look as one who likes a smoke?

I worked in the forestry ya know. All girls together. Wonder where they are now?
Ohhh! There she is. Ahhhh... I don't like ta bother.
They used ta bring ya t'cup o tea. A wunt mind a cup o tea right now.
Oooooooh, I do feel tired.
Me chests throbbin. A can't breathe properly.
Where's the nurse? Gadding about all busy I suppose? Too busy to look me over.
She looks rough. I bet she's one o them shavs.
'Back in a minute' she says. Its a long minute. I've seen her rushing by. Papers under her arm. Its all numbers and papers nowadays. I've been reduced to a number.
I wonder who dresses her?! Nobody by t' looks on it. Left ta go ta seed.
She's got a voice on er. We were ladies in my day. She talks like a navvie. Rough she is.
Has someone turned t' lights down?
She must be urting! She ant done that to ersen. Partner I bet! Everybodys got a partner nowdays. No usbands, just partners. Its a strange world!
I don't mean to bother.
Poor mite looks like trouble though!
Here she comes! O:! I was afore I'm. Still e must be bad, but I don't mean to bother.
Oooh e's askin er for a cigarette now. She looks like a smoker. Yeah I thought so, there e goes.
Ooooooh me chest agen. It urts. Wish shed come see me. Eh? As somebody turned lights down?! I can't see. 'Ya'll right grandma!?'. Whose she calling grandma? I'll give er granma cheeky young sop.
'Ya looking a little bit blue'
Me!? Blue!?
I can't see. Me chests urting! Nurse! Nurse!.................uuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh