Short story
Maggie and Steph have different ideas on how to enjoy retirement
Maggie squeezed Steph’s arm: “I’m so glad you’re retired now, too. I’ve been looking up some things we can do with our leisure time.”
Steph smiled. Both women were divorced and now that they no longer had to work, they planned to be fitter and slimmer and maybe even find romance a second time round. She said: “I thought tomorrow we could go to Mountness House. The gardens are lovely at this time of the year and I hear the tea room is excel–“
“Tea room?” Maggie’s voice rose. “We need to get fit, Steph. Tea rooms won’t help. There’s yoga in the park tomorrow morning at nine and I’ve signed us up.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” Steph said, her heart sinking. She had dreamed of long lie-ins, but she set her alarm and struggled out of bed at 8.30 the next morning. It felt very much like another working day.
In the park the group laid out its yoga mats and followed the instructor as she stretched and breathed and meditated. When it was over, Maggie asked: “Feel better?”
Steph’s legs were trembling. Her body had been twisted and pulled beyond its comfort zone. “I’ve felt better. Coffee?” she asked, nodding towards the café where the owner was setting out tables and chairs. He whistled cheerily as he fetched parasols and popped one into the centre of each table.
Maggie shook her head: “Steph! Don’t tempt me. I don’t want to undo all the good the yoga’s done.”
Steph swallowed. She had visualised retirement as convivial coffees and nice days out as well as regular exercise. “Go on,” she urged. “Just a small latte.” Oh, alright,” Maggie sighed. “But I’ll have a green tea.”
They wandered over to the café which was still quiet before the young mums and toddlers arrived. Steph sank gratefully onto a chair and ordered a skinny latte.
Sipping her tea, Maggie asked: “So where do you fancy going on holiday next year?”
“I’ve always fancied a cruise,” Steph replied with a dreamy smile. “The Med or the Caribbean? Somewhere sunny.”
Maggie snorted. “Sounds really boring, cooped up on a ship for weeks
‘We need to get fit, Steph. There’s yoga tomorrow and I’ve signed us up...’
on end., What about trekking in the Himalayas?”
Steph spluttered, spraying coffee over the table. “The Himalayas? A bit out of our league, surely?”
“Nonsense. We’re working towards getting fit after all those years spent sitting in an office all day. What we need is a goal, something to aim for. Anyway, I must dash – I’m doing an online class at eleven. Same time tomorrow?”
Steph rolled her eyes:
“Yes, I suppose so.”
She gave Maggie a little wave and relaxed, enjoying her peaceful surroundings. The wind rustled the leaves on the trees and bees buzzed busily around the flowers. She closed her eyes and felt her muscles relax. The Himalayas, for goodness’ sake? Whatever would Maggie come up with next?
“Another skinny latte?” Steph was jolted out of her thoughts by the owner who was removing Maggie’s empty cup.
“Oh, go on then,” Steph said. “I’m retired now. I can do what I like.” “Has your friend gone?”
“Yes, she has gone to get even fitter than she already is,” Steph said.
The man grinned. “I see it all the time. People come to the park for a few weeks
to jog or do yoga or t’ai chi, but not many of them keep up their regime.”
“Oh dear, that doesn’t sound very encouraging,” Steph sighed, glancing ruefully down at her spreading waistline.
After lingering over her second coffee, she stood up to leave and found her legs were so stiff she lost her balance. She grabbed the table for support.
“Are you OK?” the owner rushed from behind the counter to help her.
“Yes,” Steph winced. “It’s just the first day. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
She spent the afternoon on the sofa to give her muscles a rest, but when she got up the next morning they still ached and her ankles were stiff. She hobbled to the park.
After the yoga session was over, Maggie said: “I thought we might go for a gentle jog now to loosen up.”
Steph nodded. Maybe that would stop her legs seizing up again. They stashed their rolled-up mats under a tree and returned to the path.
“Come on, then,” Maggie said and set off. Steph watched in disbelief as her friend sprinted away.
That was not what she called a gentle jog – Usain Bolt would have been impressed. She followed for a few hundred yards until she felt her chest tighten and bent over, gasping for air.
‘This is my last week here. I’ve decided to retire too’
Sweaty and red in the face, she limped over to the café.
“More healthy exercise?” the man asked as he came to take her order.
“I think of it more as torture,” Steph groaned.
The man smiled. He had nice, twinkly eyes, she noticed.
“Can I suggest a brownie and a cappuccino? Guaranteed to relieve the after-effects of torture.”
By the time Maggie joined her, Steph’s coffee was merely froth at the bottom of her cup and the brownie a few tell-tale crumbs on her plate.
“Really, Steph,” her friend chided. “That’s not doing yourself any favours.”
“Are you having anything? I can recommend Mark’s homemade brownies.”
Maggie shook her head. “No, thanks. I’ve got my online class. See you tomorrow, same time?”
“I’ll be there,” Steph promised. After that, Steph and Maggie fell into a routine. Every weekday they met for the yoga session after which Maggie set off for a run while Steph headed to the café for coffee and cake.
One morning Mark said: “This is my last week here. I’ve decided to retire, too.”
“I hope the café won’t close?” Maggie asked anxiously.
“No, a couple of ladies are taking it over. They have great plans for light lunches and nice salads,” he reassured her. “Although, personally, I think what people really want is ice cream and cake.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Steph said. “What am I going to do without you here? I don’t fancy a plate of lettuce when I’ve finished my yoga.”
A few days later, Steph summoned up the courage to phone Maggie. She said: “I’ve decided I’m not coming to yoga any more, Mags.”
“But you were making such good progress!” Maggie protested. “What about our trekking holiday? And what about finding a new man?”
Steph bit her lip. Maybe this was not the best time to reveal she’d already found a new man. Mark had invited her for a day out at Mountness House where they planned a gentle stroll before investigating the tea room.
She decided to delay telling her friend how their fitness plans had unexpectedly led to romance. Instead she said: “To be honest, Maggie, I’ve realised I’m not the ‘trekking in the Himalayas’ type.”