This ten-minute story was written with the assistance of Story Cubes, a game consisting of dice featuring images on each side. The images on the rolled dice serve as prompts to spontaneously create a story. A young neighbor, who also loves writing, introduced me to this clever, and playful writing tool. It truly opens the imagination. I think it can even be a powerful activity to help shift the mind away from anxiety.

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My prompts for this story:

DICE – CANE – KEY – FIRE

“It’s ten o’clock, we’re going to be late!” Said Clara. The voice came from down the hall, as biting as usual: “I’m not going. I’m old enough to decide for myself and I’m not going!” 

“Aunt Millie, we’ve been through this before. In fact, we go through this every other day when it’s time for your treatment. If the house were on fire, I wouldn’t have to beg you to come out, now would I?” Clara asked this in mere desperation. She was not even trying to be witty or even to reason with her aunt. She just could not bear the thought that this kind woman who had lived so bravely and wisely all her live would give up so easily.  

The customary three steps could be heard coming down the long wooden floor of the hallway. Aunt Millie gave a certain rhythm to her cane that made it sound like she would break out in a tap-dance at any moment. Sometimes, when she felt more like herself, she would do a little jig and laugh uproariously at her childlike silliness. Clara did not think there would be any jig today. 

“Ah! My dear,” began Aunt Millie upon entering the kitchen, “You do have a way of putting things in perspective. I would run out of this house so fast if it was on fire that you’d think I had been training for a marathon. But that’s different.” She paused, apparently pensive. Clara waited, politely. Seconds later, Aunt Millie’s face relaxed into a big, mischievous smile as she said, “Can you picture me with my gray hair up in a bun, holding up my skirts in one hand and my cane in the other and blasting out of the house screaming, women and children first!?” And she laughed and laughed. 

Clara imagined phoning the hospital and saying, “Sorry, we’ll be late. We’re laughing way too much for me to drive.” Then, something occurred to her. 

Clara put the key in the ignition and started off, quietly. The dice hanging from the rear-view mirror swayed gently. She always thought these were tacky. She placed them there as a reminder to not take things too seriously.  

When they turned left at the corner to get on the main road, she said, “Aunt Millie, you know what? Those little moments that make you feel like smiling or laughing, I think that’s why people don’t give up. I know you’re sad because Uncle Charles is no longer with you, but just think of the stories you can remember and tell! I bet you guys had your share of silly moments.” 

“You bet we did!” agreed Aunt Millie. “I remember that day your uncle came home from work and I looked at him trying to figure out what was not quite right and we both realized he had been wearing his sweater inside-out all day. No one bothered to tell him and it was too late to be embarrassed. We decided he should wear random things inside-out every day to see how long it would take for anyone to notice. He even suggested he’d wear his shorts on the outside of his pants. Ah! We laughed so much.” 

There was silence for a while. Clara had to ask: “Aunt Millie, are you OK?” The response surprised both her and her Aunt. “Yes. Yes dear. You know, I am. All this time I thought that remembering would be painful, but I just realized that those memories are the part of Charles that can never go away. I can enjoy them over and over.”  

They had reached the hospital by then, and parted ways for the duration of Millie’s treatment. When Clara picked her up three hours later, she seemed radiant. “Gee, Aunt Millie,” she joked, “It looks like maybe you had a good time in there today!” – “No.” Was the initial response. “No, I hate having to come here, but today I decided that I would close my eyes and savor good memories for a few minutes, just to see what would happen. And you know, I feel OK. I’ve had a good life and now is time to savor it. Plus, I’ve got to be here to talk about Charles with the grand-kids so they can remember him too.”