Flash Fiction - 'Back In My Day'

'Back in my day...'

Louise switched off. Nan and Mum were off talking about the good old days when everything was cheaper and bigger, places were cleaner and food tasted better. If she kept quiet, she wouldn't get pulled into the conversation and be forced to defend her peers.

They could be chatting for ages, it depended on what tangent they went off on. It could be clothes or food, music or TV programmes. In a way, it was a good thing they were visiting Nan at the old person's complex where she was surrounded by all her things. She was less likely to get too overworked. 

Louise could feel her phone digging into her thigh but she daren't take it out of her pocket because then she would get distracted by the notifications, get pulled into scrolling and get it in the neck from both her Mum and her Nan. 

'Shall I make a cuppa?' she asked, winning herself grateful smiles from both her elders as she headed into the kitchen to put the kettle on. 

*****

'Back in my day...'

The words jogged Louise back into the present. She was sitting next to a hospital bed where her Mum was having a good day, sitting up and able to recognise her visitors. 

There was a young girl in the bed opposite who was drawing all of her Mum's attention. Half her head had been shaved and the rest of her hair dyed blue. She had a tattoo on her neck as well as more piercings than Louise could count. 

Her mum was whispering loudly about how nobody in her day would be seen dead styling themselves like that. Fortunately, the young girl appeared to be asleep. 

Louise was half in awe at the courage of the girl in being so true to her personality but found at the same time she was nodding along with her mother. It was true that people of her generation weren't, on the whole, that brave. Their children definitely, but not her peers. 

*****

'Back in my day...'

Louise faltered as she said the words. She sounded like her Mum and her Nan which filled her with sadness. She missed them so much. And now here she was, the granny in the armchair telling her grandchildren how great things were in her past. 

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.