**Diary Entry: An Old Womans Struggle to Rise and Feed the Hens**
The old woman pushed herself up from the bed with great effort. Leaning against the wall, she shuffled to the door. In the kitchen, she grabbed a bowl of breadcrumbs and stepped into the garden.
Feels like Im rusting away, she muttered. Those hens clucking like mad. Should I let them into the vegetable patch? Wont catch them again by nightfall. What am I thinking? Soon enough, my daughter-in-law will pack me off to a care home.
She unlatched the henhouse gate. Seven hens scurried out, followed by a proud rooster strutting behind. The old woman scattered the crumbs for them, then turned toward the loo.
Afterward, she glanced at her vegetable patch.
Margaret, came a voice from over the fence. Her neighbour, Evelyn, stood there, arms folded. Still keeping busy? Youre pushing ninety, arent you?
What choice do I have, Evelyn? Margaret sighed, stepping closer. Still got cabbage and carrots to pick. Thank heavens my William and his wife, Sarah, dug up the potatoes last week.
Youve got a good grandson.
Hard for him now, without his father, Margarets voice cracked.
There, there, Evelyn patted her arm. Your boys not suffering anymore. Spent a year unable to movehow do you think he felt? Hes watching over you now.
Evelyn, he was only sixty. Strong as an ox, he was! And in just a year, withered away.
Soon enough, Ill join my own son.
Dont rush it, Margaret! Theres still time. Live a little longer.
Live how? My legs barely hold me, she sighed. Its late September, and the chills setting in. How will I manage alone?
But youve your daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
Oh, Evelyn, what are you on about? Williams got three kids and his mother-in-law living with him. Emily, with her two little ones, is crammed into a one-bed flat.
And Catherine, your daughter-in-law?
Shes counting the days till Im gone. Forty days after Daniel passed, I heard her tell Emily shed sell my house to buy her a flat.
Dont you agree to that, Margaret!
Emilys my granddaughterlet her have a decent life.
And what about you?
Theyll shove me in a home, I suppose. At least there, someonell tend to me. Here, Im even afraid to light the stove. And Ive no firewood left. Ill freeze, and no one will know.
Thanks, Evelyn. Best be off. She waved weakly. Let the hens outtheyll be all over the veg patch. Best collect the eggs.
She hobbled back to the henhouse.
The next morning, the cold bit deeper. Margaret burrowed under the blankets, unwilling to move. But she had to.
Shivering, she wrapped herself in a shawl and stepped outside. Shed barely finished feeding the hens when Williams car pulled up. He usually visited on weekendswhy was he here on a Wednesday? Her stomach knotted.
Morning, Gran.
Something wrong? she asked sharply.
You cant stay here alone anymore. He nodded at the grey sky. Winters coming.
But my hens? The cabbage and carrots arent even picked yet.
Ill sort the hens. And Ill harvest the veg while you pack. Go on, hurry up.
Margaret dragged her feet. Shed lived here over sixty years, ever since Henry brought her home as his bride. This was where Daniel was born. Fifteen years since Henry passed. Now Daniel was gone too. She slumped onto a stool and wept.
Time slipped by. Jolting up, she peered through the window. William had already pulled up the carrots and was chopping cabbage. A fine cropgreat big heads. She inhaled deeply and began gathering her things.
What do I take? Cant leave it all, but cant take it either. Will the home even let me keep much? Ill bring the photo albumto remember. Must find all the papers. Theyll sell the housewhat if they cant find the deeds? Clothes, too. New ownersll toss everything else.
Gran, you ready? William called. Vegs all harvested and stored. Ill come back Saturday to share it out.
He loaded her things into the car and helped her inside. Margaret stared out the window, watching the village fade.
The town wasnt far. Soon, rows of terraced houses appeared. The car stopped.
Oh, Daniels house, she thought, startled. Is William making me say goodbye to Catherine?
Aunt Margaret! Catherine beamed, kissing her cheek.
Hello, dear. Margaret stiffened. *Shes afraid I wont sign the house over.*
Weve cleared a room for youwhere Daniel spent his last days. Catherines eyes welled up.
Did it up proper, she nudged Margaret inside. New bed, new wardrobe.
Catherine, the old woman finally understood. Youre not sending me to a home?
Mum, please, enough!
Why are you crying?
Gran, whered you get the idea wed sell your house? William laughed. Were turning it into a holiday spot for everyone. Summers there, the woods right there.
Margarets heart swelled. She had such good grandchildren.
*And what a daughter-in-law Ive got! Howd I miss that for forty years?*
**Lesson Learned:** Sometimes, the fears we cling to are just shadowsfamily, even when imperfect, often holds more love than we dare believe.
