🍁 They (and their jobs) are so insignificant, that even the organization won't hire replacements when they're retired. Yet, they are the same as everyone else; they have hopes and fears, searching for happiness, and with a little apprehension about the new life they're about to embark. From the quartet, Letty and Norman are never married. Letty is a kind and caring person, and embraces her independent existence. She was promised to share a country house with her bosom friend, but the friend decided to marry the vicar at the last moment, which threw away Letty's hope. But does she really want that kind of life? Norman is living alone at his bedsitter. He's rather a cranky, eccentric old man, maybe a bit jealous of his friend Edwin, a pious widower, who lives comfortably at his own house.
🍁 Marcia is the most eccentric of all. She, too, a widower who lives comfortably at her own house - a quite big house with garden. But she's an eccentric miser, who hoards tinned foods and places them neatly on her kitchen cupboards, and keeps her expensive clothes but wears worn ones instead. She and Letty were first to go into retirement, while the two men were still working. The quartet had had a forced intimation during their working together, but strangely, they were closer together right after Marcia and Letty retired. This fact just highlighted the notes of loneliness they all feel - alone, helpless, and insignificant - a feeling that people in sixties and beyond always feel; deeper and deeper until the end.
🍁 In a way, this is not a very cheerful story to read, especially when you are in mid thirties or younger. But for middle-agers like me, it served as a warning, or a glimpse of what to come. It is a little scary, but as it's inevitable, it's better to prepare early, is it not? Back to the story, don't worry, it's not as bleak as it sounds. It's actually rather funny and entertaining, and a happy little twist awaits you on the last corner!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
