Short Story: Marking Time

“Your go Cyril.” prompted Harry. Cyril looked a moment longer at the dominos cupped in his hand, then placed his double. His unsteady fingers knocked Alf’s five and three.
“Sorry” he said “Must be getting on.”
“It comes to us all” grinned Harry, chattering his own domino onto the table, his hand jittering artificially.
“They have tablets for that.” said Alf and they broke into laughter.
In the highbacked chair in the corner Reg stirred in his sleep and moaned aloud, making the other three glance over and quieten down.
“There but for the grace of god…” muttered Harry, nodding at Reg’s slumped form.
“Hope not” said Alf “I’d prefer just to go quick.”
“He’s alright.” chided Cyril “Much better lately.”
“If you say so.” Alf replied. “He was making a lot of noise last night.”
“He’s alright.” repeated Cyril. Reg was his friend and he worried about him.
The three players sat in mismatched armchairs around the dilapidated card table, their dominos making an erratic path across the moth-eaten green baize. The living room itself had also seen better days. Even with the windows open in high summer it smelt vaguely of boiled cabbage, as if their meals had impregnated the place. The rug by the empty fireplace was worn flat by the passage of feet and years. The walls were painted an institutional green at the bottom and dull beige at the top. Nonetheless the bay window overlooked a country road, woods and green fields. They liked the view. All that green. It was the best thing about the place. The only decoration on the walls was a framed painting showing a farmhouse in deep winter. It always reminded Cyril of growing up on the farm in Sussex. He rubbed his tired eyes, thinking of the mornings of his childhood; leaving his warm bed before dawn to do his chores, his hands getting cold sweeping the freezing yard.
His hands were cold now, despite the heat of the summer. He turned his dominos onto the table and kneaded one hand with the other.
“I feel like an old man.”
“We are old men you fool.” replied Harry irritably, “Bunch of bloody children round here compared to us fogies.”
“Yes, but...” Cyril persisted, “I’m an old man in a world that’s getting younger.” They looked blankly at him. “See what I mean?”
“I’ve got no idea what you mean ‘old man’ !” said Harry.
“Alright” Cyril turned towards Alf, “I mean… when was the first time you saw a motor car?”
“I must’ve been twenty-two?” said Alf.
“Right. And now they’re everywhere.”
“Yeah? So what’s your point?” said Harry.
“Nothing. That things move and we stay the same. You don’t notice and then suddenly everyone’s younger than you… like the lads who rolled up with the dinner. No idea what we’ve seen, what we’ve done. To them we’re just old lags.”
“Suddenly is right. They roll up and we roll over.” Harry agreed, soberly.
Cyril went on, “I’m sure they laugh at me when my back is turned. Just another old geezer losing his marbles.”
“We had no running water at our house” Alf offered.
“Ha! We had indoor plumbing!” said Harry.
“So why are you slumming it with us now Mister High and Mighty?” said Cyril.
“Just ‘cos I’m heir to the Russian throne, don’t mean I can’t still be mates with you commoners.” Harry deadpanned.
“Idiot!” laughed Alf. We ain’t your mates, we just want your money. Come on Cyril!”
Cyril laid and the game continued. Distracted, he played a while longer then said, “And another thing. When I was a lad, women were wives and mothers. Now they’re out at work, they’re all political, and no one’s happy. I don’t like that.”
“Bit late for you to do anything about that isn’t it mate.” said Harry “You’re stuck here for the foreseeable future. Or ‘til you pop your clogs.”
A whistle blowing outside interrupted him.
“ ’Bout time” said Harry and as one they rose from the table. Alf swept the dominos into their box and stuffed it into his pack. Cyril carefully woke Reg and they all shrugged into their kit. As they tramped out into the bright courtyard, now filling with men and waiting trucks, Harry clapped Cyril on the shoulder. “Tell you what pal, if we’re off up near Ypres again you won’t need to worry about getting much older.”