Page 38 of A Christmas Celebration
‘That’s wonderful news,’ I said, in an attempt to fill the silence.
‘Try these,’ said Mr Wilson, handing over a pair of frames which didn’t look all that dissimilar to the ones Albert had been wearing before.
Albert put them on. I noticed his hands were shaking a little as he looked about him.
‘These are the updated frames which have replaced your last ones,’ Mr Wilson explained, ‘and the lenses in those match your previous prescription. Your new ones will be a little stronger, but not by all that much.’
Albert didn’t say anything.
‘How are they?’ Mr Wilson asked. ‘Can you see better with those?’
‘Oh, yes,’ said Albert, his voice shaking as much as his hands. ‘I can see all right.’
‘That’s wonderful, Albert,’ I said, trying to coax some excitement out of him.
I had thought he would have been on cloud nine when he put them on and saw what a difference they made, but for some reason he wasn’t happy at all. Mr Wilson looked at me and I shrugged. Clearly, we were both as confused as each other.
‘You can keep those while I make up your new ones, if you like,’ he offered, but Albert whipped them off and handed them back.
‘No, no,’ he said, ‘I’ll manage and if that’s everything, if you don’t mind, I really need to get on.’
Mr Wilson took the hint, but then he didn’t have much choice.
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘I’ll get packed up and if you’re happy with these frames I can have the glasses ready to send out on Thursday. I don’t want to leave you without them for longer than I have to.’
I was sure that was exceptionally speedy service.
‘Thank you,’ said Albert. ‘I appreciate that and those frames will do.’
‘No need to send them,’ I said. ‘I’ll be out delivering again on Thursday so I can collect them and drop them off. That will be better than waiting on the post, won’t it, Albert?’
‘If you say so,’ he said gruffly.
I helped Mr Wilson carry out his equipment and thanked him profusely for coming out to perform the test.
‘I’m sure he’s happier than he’s letting on,’ I said, with a nod back to the cottage.
‘I certainly hope so,’ Mr Wilson chuckled. ‘I’ll see you Thursday.’
‘Well, now,’ I said, when I went back inside. ‘How brilliant was that? I had no idea it would all be so easy.’
Albert was sitting in his armchair, staring into space. He looked older somehow but that could have been because he wasn’t wearing any glasses at all.
‘Oh, it was easy all right,’ he said grumpily.
‘We were lucky Mr Wilson had that cancellation and could fit you in.’
‘He’s left those behind,’ he said, ignoring my acknowledgement of his good fortune and pointing at the frames on the coffee table which were fitted with the lenses that matched his last prescription.
‘Oh,’ I said, gathering the tea things together and wondering if Mr Wilson had forgotten them on purpose in much the same way as I’d previously left my scarf. ‘You might as well wear them then.’
Albert gave me a withering look as I handed them to him.
‘Did you ask him to leave them?’ he gruffly demanded.
‘Of course not,’ I frowned, ‘you know I didn’t.’
Albert looked disbelieving.
