Day in, day out had been the same for George for quite a while now. At 8.00am sharp, he would be woken up by Katie, the smiling care assistant. He opened one eye and watched as she skipped over to the window and pushed the curtains back to reveal a gloomy, black sky. No matter what the weather, Katie’s beaming face would make his empty day a bit brighter.

“Morning, George.” She spun around and placed her hands in the pockets of her blue tunic.

Katie walked over to his bed and helped him by pulling his legs around the side of the bed and reached for his slippers.

“Steady, now,” Katie quickly reached for his elbow.

“I’m okay, lovely girl.” He slowly reached for the top of his bedside table.

“I’ll pop back in a few minutes,” Katie looked over her shoulder and gave him a wink. “I’ve got a surprise for you!”

She disappeared and George was left alone. He walked over to the window and looked out onto the tiny rose garden and benches scattered around. How much longer could he stand doing this? He felt so alone now that Elizabeth had died. He was the youngest of his family; the only one left. Even all his friends were dead.

George slowly got dressed and went to the breakfast room. After having his usual pot of tea with toast and apricot jam, he thought about the day ahead. The hours seemed like an eternity and he would probably try to break the day up by walking around the garden, visiting the recreation room for a game of cards with Alfie (who always cheated), then he would take his time eating lunch with Frank and Miriam. Frank would dribble his soup and Miriam would shout at him. Frank was deaf, so Miriam would scold him repeatedly, getting louder and louder each time.

“Here you are. I’ve been looking for you,” Katie’s smile interrupted his thoughts.

She pulled up the stool next to him and moved her face close to his ear.

“We’re getting out of here, George,” she whispered. He pulled away and looked at her.

“Don’t worry, nobody will miss us.” Katie stood up and looked down at George who looked more confused than usual.

“Meet me at the bus stop at the bottom of the hill.”

George looked up at Katie and opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.

“Don’t ask questions. Just put your best clothes on and bring your scarf and hat. It’ll be windy!”

She spun around and left the room. George was getting out!

Katie was the first to get off and she waited for George as he steadily made his way down the steps of the bus. She reached for his elbow and waited for a break in the traffic, before they walked steadily across the road. He knew exactly where she had brought him, as he’d told her enough stories about his childhood seaside trips and they would often sing, “didn’t we have a lov-e-ly time the day we went to ….” George drifted off and couldn’t believe his day would get any better.

Katie carefully manoeuvred George down the stone steps and onto the beach. She pulled the rucksack off her shoulder and let it drop onto the sand. She took out a blanket and shook it as she tried to place it down, but the wind wouldn’t allow it to fall.

George put his foot on one corner and smiled at her.

“I got you this, George.” Katie took a canvas tripod stool out of her bag and set it up ready for George to sit on.

“You’ve thought of everything, lovely girl,” George winked as he sat on the tiny triangular seat with Katie’s help.

“That bag of yours is like the Tardis!”

Katie smiled as she reached in and pulled out a plastic sandwich box.

“Have a look at this!” Katie took off the lid and put the box down onto the blanket.

George smiled, “You remembered.” He looked at the wonky scones, oozing with cream and blobs of red jam poking through.

“Tuck in, then.” Katie handed George a paper plate and paper napkin.

They both sat looking out to sea. George watched the diamond-shaped kite whip around, fighting with the wind as it flew up and up.

George was transported back to Bangor, 1938. This day couldn’t get any better.