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Pop to shop at Munn’s in the village
Persil, Kellogg’s, paraffin, butter, Bonio’s, a few rashers, Bryant & May, Rich Tea
Boxed up and on next Tuesday, with a nice chat with Mr Munn on the doorstep and eleven and three pence
Later
Unpacking on the kitchen table.
Then put it all on the sticky back larder shelves.
Keep the paraffin separate under the stairs with the hoover. Matches in the drawer. Smart.
On her own
Widow? Quite young. Divorced? Two titchy Pekes sleep on her bed.
Nice woman, quiet, always smart even
Out with the Pekes, “Morning.” “Morning.” “Cold brrr eh?” Nice thick coat in camel. Smart.
She walks all the way round, the circle, down the Rise, through the wood, up the hill, across and down again, to halfway No. 15…
Every day.
Tidy garden, smart, no flowers even in summer to speak of – Hedges, a gate – No. 15, The Rise.
But today she unpacks
Lets the Pekes into the back garden to run about. Smart. The doors are locked, puts on her thick camel coat
The one she wears for walking
Goes to the cupboard under the stairs Where the gas comes in and the electric Where she keeps the Hoover and a few bits And gets the paraffin.
Her thick coat soaks it up so that almost none of it is wasted. Smart. She goes to the drawer and takes the box of Bryant & May matches Her coat catches and she burns slowly, like a candle.
Tomorrow her neighbours at No. 10 remember her. Rosalind (Ros).
October 30, 2014