Old Bert peered out the window. It was raining, pouring.
‘Nothing on the telly, crossword’s done and I’m clean outa’ whisky’, he muttered. ‘I’ll have an early night’ .
His ancient joints clicked and crunched as he heaved himself to his feet and tottered to the bedroom.
He bent to massage his aching knees and bumped his head.
‘Ouch,’ he said rubbing his brow.
He climbed beneath the sheets and in minutes old Bert was snoring like a pig.
Come dawn the only sound to be heard was the pitter-patter of raindrops on the windowpane.
He didn’t get up in the morning.
Any similarity between this tale and a certain nursery rhyme is purely coincidental!
Thanks to Rochelle for hosting and providing this weeks picture.
Click on Froggie to join in the fun! Don’t worry about him, this is pure fiction and his name’s not Bert!
Poor Bert
He had a good innings! Cheers Di.
He did Keith.
Poor guy!
Indeed. Thanks Sadje
I think that’s what you call a good death
I agree! Thanks Neil.
Purely coincidental? Surely not! Nice take on the photo prompt, Keith.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Rumbled! Thanks for that Susan!
I agree with Neil. That’s a pretty good way to go.
There are a lot worse, that’s for sure. Cheers Russell
Dear Keith,
Now I can hear Peter, Paul and Mary singing the rhyme, which of course only bears a coincidental resemblance to your story. 😉 Charming. You went above and beyond the call with the frog this week. A hearty 21 ribbet salute! 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
Rochelle, thanks so much for your generous words. Froggie did take quite a bit of work which is why I was later to the party than usual!
At least Old Bert died happy
He did indeed. Thanks Larry.
’60’s songs always are good for story telling
Those were the days my friend!
And no whisky on his lips? He’ll be thirsty in heaven. Great story, Keith.
That is a bit of a shame! Cheers.
Cheers! Happy Valentines Day!
Aww, thak you!
I love your take on this old jingle. There are worse ways to die!
Thanks so much Linda.
The way everyone wants to go: at home, quietly in their sleep.
Absolutely. Thanks Christine.
Much better than in a hospital with doctors trying to squeeze one more day out of your failing body.
What a horrible thought!
Poor Bert!
Indeed!
If you’re gonna go, this is the way!
None better!
Nothing like being in bed on a rainy day. Good choice. All he needs is a cat.
So true – even better if you wake up!
My grandfather died like Bert, peacefully in his sleep.
The passengers on his bus weren’t so lucky…
I’m not sure how to reply to this one….
Oh dear, poor Bert. Still, sounds like he had a good innings and he passed peacefully in his bed.
I think he did! Cheers.
Ohh! But a peaceful way to go after joints start creaking.
One of my joints creaked the other day. Ooh-err!
I wonder if Bert would have been so keen on an early night if he’d realised what was going to happen?
Probably not Penny!
lol, yep, I’m sure it was pure coincidence… Everyone says “dead”, but how dead is the old man who bumped his head when he went to bed since he is still snoring? (The old man “is” snoring, present tense, “went to bed”, past tense….)
In my tale, he was snoring loudly after he went to bed, and by dawn, he was silent ie. dead as a dodo which goes to prove that this is not based on another work! Well, not entirely! Okay, just a bit…
he started snorning and went quietly into the night. what a way to go. 🙂
There are certainly worse ways! Thanks plaridel.
That “egg” hatched a new birth. 😀
Indeed. Thanks Oneta
Maybe a harder bump on the head than he thought, but it sounds like Bert lived a good one!
I like to think so! Thanks Russell
This is definitely the best way to go. Quietly and without fuss.
Absolutely! Thanks, Colline.
A quiet peaceful death.
It was, once the snoring stopped! Thanks Neel.
If one’s gotta go, that’s not a bad way to go … Asleep, in one’s own bed … snug as a bug in a rug while the weather’s ucky outside …
(Also, tell Froggy to wave – I think that if he did, I’d see his little green hand waving from one of the windows here, because they weather’s freezy!)
That’s the best way indeed. I’ll mention your suggestion to Froggy although he rarely takes any notice of me!
LOL! 🙂
Even though Bert ends up dead in the end, this is kind of a gentle story. A good way to go!
Thanks so much Alicia.
That’s the way to go – are you feeling alright?
Ask agan in the morning and see if I reply!
Poor Bert, all alone at the last but at least it seems he was completely unaware, way to go, I suppose
And there he was gone, no fuss, just gone! Thanks Michael.
Poor Old Bert last night he banged his head,
Without his whisky he went to bed
and in the morning poor Old Bert,
Well he woke up dead.
Sad, but still comical in its tone.
That’s brilliant James, cheers!
Dear Old Bert – guess he passed away in his sleep — not a bad way to go.
There are worse. Thanks so much.
Hopefully, he has relatives who will notice he hasn’t woken up that morning. I would not want it to be the neighbours reporting a foul smell from next door.
Good point Fatima – me neither!
Oh poor Bert.
This had a sad ending though I enjoyed it. Well done
He went slightly painfully but very peacefully! Thanks Laurie.
Poor Bert!
Indeed. Thanks Sascha
I just read a very cute story about an Albert in Mindfood. 92 yo man in nursing home. Middle of the night. Watching an old, bare limbed tree in the yard. Remembering when he was 12 and climbing trees with a neighbour. How she used to urge him on to climb higher and higher. Makes his way out to the tree, without nursing staff noticing him. Settling on a bench, hands on his chest, passing away peacefully. Bert. 🙂
Sad but beautiful, thanks so much for sharing it Trish.