Writing for Fun
November 2015
The impossible afternoon - Sue Barker
Kate sighed as she slipped her shoes off in the porch. She had just experienced yet another afternoon with aunt Beryl. The tension between her shoulders was painful and she could have sat and wept. She slowly poured herself a very large scotch and reclined on the sofa. Why did she put herself through this every week?
Whoever said it takes two to have an argument hadn't met her aunt. She really could have an argument in an empty room. Although Kate was sure she enjoyed the cut and thrust of a row, to most people this was the very reason they avoided her and so Beryl was lonely.
Kate really only visited out of duty – her dad had loved his elder sister – and now he had died Kate was her only living relative. Visiting Beryl felt like tiptoeing through a minefield. Beryl managed to find something to disagree about whatever the topic. Kate couldn't remember what her aunt had been like when she was younger as her mother had not invited Beryl round very often, she said that Beryl made her nerves bad.
Take today for instance aunt Beryl had regaled her with stories of how she had a full blown row at the bus stop with the woman over the road about the new bus timetable. She puffed out her chest and virtually crowed with delight at how she had won the argument. In fact almost the whole afternoon had been spent with Beryl retelling her week of clashes. Everyone she came into contact with was fair game for a squabble. Lately Beryl had taken to phoning the local radio station and joining in the discussion of the day. Hopefully that would get some of her anger off her chest.
Kate mused whether Beryl had always been like this or had old age turned her into this depressing harridan? No matter what Kate did or said Beryl was miserable, every suggestion of an outing was met by either disinterest or a refusal.
How much longer could Kate keep visiting, she did not know, being a quiet and agreeable woman herself it was a very unpleasant experience for her. Was there anything she could do, she didn't like to see the old lady so miserable and alone, she couldn't stop herself from dreading next week's visit.
Thank goodness she's gone thought Beryl, that was yet another boring visit from her niece Kate. Beryl sat down and poured herself a very large scotch. What more could she do to discourage her niece from visiting her. She had used every trick in the book; today she had made herself even more disagreeable than usual.
Every idea Kate had come up with Beryl had managed to put down. Deep down she knew her niece had a kind heart and was only visiting since George had died, his daughter was very well meaning but had anyone even asked her if she needed visiting. Indeed they hadn't. The trouble was Beryl had a secret and she was too embarrassed to talk to her niece about it.
Beryl just could not face the judgement she would get from her niece. Kate was a bland quiet woman and Beryl was sure she would be so shocked at her news she had no idea how to tell her. She hadn't told any of her family in the past and she wasn't sure she could tell Kate now. She was dreading next week's visit. Maybe she could put it off for a while, she'd phone Kate later.
Kate put the phone down and it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. Aunt Beryl was going away suddenly, and she wasn't sure how long she would be away, so no visits for a while were needed.
With a wry smile on her face Beryl ended her call to Kate and then re-dialled; the plan was in place.
The following week Beryl sailed out of Tilbury on the Marco Polo, she had a smile on her face a mile wide. She opened the door to her cabin, if Kate could only see her now, she thought.
She went onto the balcony and there was Jean with the champagne opened and two glasses of the golden fizz ready for their toast. Oh how was she going to tell Kate that she had just married Jean? This was the only woman she had found who loved a dispute as much as she did, she could argue for hours with Beryl and then how they laughed afterwards.
They sat on the balcony enjoying the beautiful shimmering sunset and they decided that they would tell Kate together when they returned home. After all, as they say, it takes two.