Golden Surfer



  Grandma learns to use a computer with the help of her grandson.Her memories are a source of pleasure and inspiration to each of them as they develop their relationship.

  In the past Edna has developed a system to keep her memoirs in order. She stores them in boxes. David uses this habit to improve her understanding of saving data in computer files. This helps with his school work and with grandma’s computer course at the local library.

  ‘It’s amazing how much you can learn from the family archives ,’ David explains to his mum.

  Golden Surfer

  By John Headford

  Copyright John Headford October 2011

  All rights reserved

  * * * *

  Edna steadily worked her way through the bundle of black and white photographs taken in the sixties. Money had been much tighter then. No holidays abroad. Watching the dolphins’ at Morecombe Bay Sea World proved to be a spectacular day out. Jim had been alive. They both loved the area and had often taken holidays at Blackpool. Long walks down the promenade included the thrill of a small gamble at the pier amusement arcade. In the evening they made their way to the Pleasure Beach where they screamed their way around the Big Dipper. Edna’s daughter, Pat, had been twelve years old. She loved the sea and the hustle and bustle of the packed beach. Tears began to form as the memories flooded back. Reaching deeper into the box she found the kiss-me-quick hats they had worn riding the donkeys. Jim had laughed that day, great belly laughs as he was shaken from side to side on the donkeys back. She recalled riding back to the B&B on the rickety promenade tram and the sweetness of the Horlicks drink for supper before putting Pat to bed. Edna’s bones cracked as she changed position on the hard backed chair. She carefully placed everything back into the cardboard box labelled Nineteen Sixty Five. Handling the contents reminded her of the sights and noises of her youth. She could almost smell the fish and chip teas each time the photo of their favourite café made it to the top of the pile. Edna placed the box lovingly back with the others in her front room. She heard a loud knock and without waiting for so much as a shouted ‘come in’ her daughter barged through the back doorway into the kitchen

  ‘Yoo-hoo,’ the shouted hello echoed around the family home, ‘Mum where you are?’

  ‘I’m here love,’ replied Edna, as she walked out of the front room. The terraced house had a simple layout. The front room separated from the dining room and kitchen by the stairs that led up to the two bedrooms. Edna sat down in her high backed chair, next to the fireplace, perfectly placed to watch the television.

  ‘What have you been up to today?’ asked Pat.

  ‘This and that, sorting things out, I read a bit of my library book. Have you bought a paper?’

  ‘Straight from the corner shop,’ Pat passed the Daily Express.

  ‘Are you meeting David from school?’ Edna adored her grandson and he loved her. They shared lots of fun. She tried to teach him the very best values in life.

  ‘Mum, I’ve got to work overtime on Saturday. Can David stop with you? Will that be OK?’ Pat made a point of asking her mum although she knew with absolute certainty what the answer would be.

  ‘Of course he can. We’ll have a proper dinner. Lamb stew and dumplings. Maybe he can help me with my computer lessons!’

  ‘Computer lessons,’ Pat looked at her with surprise, ‘mum what have you been up to now?’

  ‘Not a lot,’ Edna chortled as she used the magician’s catch phrase, ‘not a lot.’ She had loved that entertainer, what did they call him? She thought back to the eighties and remembered Paul Daniels. Yes that was the phrase; you’ll like this… but not a lot. Looking at her daughter’s exasperated face made her smile. With pride she said, ‘I’ve joined a class at the library. Basic Computing for Pensioners, that’s what it said.’

  ‘But you haven’t got a computer.’

  ‘I don’t need one,’ replied Edna triumphantly, they have them at the library. The class is every Tuesday afternoon for twelve weeks; it starts next week.’ She looked at Pat and could see all sorts of doubts and questions in her face. ‘It’s free!’

  ‘But mum, you need to practice.’

  ‘Well that’s where David comes in. He’s got a laptop hasn’t he?’

  ‘Yes but he plays games on it.’

  ‘And now he’s going to help me. He will love it. Tell him to bring it on Saturday. I want to learn how to play his games. I’m going to be a Golden Surfer.’

  ‘You mean a Silver Surfer.’

  ‘Do I? Why settle for silver when you can have gold? No I think I’m going to be a Golden Surfer. It sounds much better for someone my age.’