Writing for Fun
February 2016
The Vanishing - Maureen Rampersaud
'Daisy, hurry up and tidy away your homework, Aunt Ethel will be here soon.'
Pam put her best lacy tablecloth on the table and got out her best china. Her sister-in-law was a forceful, domineering sort of person, who was quick to find fault. Pam had made scones, dainty sandwiches and the piece de resistance, her cherry brandy fruit cake.
'Take this tea tray up to Gran. It'll save her ringing the bell when I'm trying to stop Ethel and your dad from killing each other.'
With a deep sigh, Daisy took it and trudged up the stairs to bedridden Gran.
'Mum sent me, there's a cup of tea, sandwiches and a scone with jam and cream.'
'I thought she'd made a fruit cake.'
Daisy was constantly amazed that Gran seemed to know the inner workings of the household despite never venturing out of bed.
'I'll bring some up later.'
'I'll look forward to that,' said Gran with her crooked smile which made you unsure if she was simple or crocodile clever.
Bert opened the front door to his sister, 'Hello, old girl.'
He delighted in irritating Ethel.
'Hello, Bert. Still the joker, I see.'
Pam settled them all round the table, Bert, Ethel, Daisy and little Freddie, who had scrubbed up reasonably well. Although Bert didn't care about Ethel's good opinion, Pam did. She hoped that Ethel might help out financially if either of the children got to University. It was her dream for them.
'Have a cup of tea, Ethel, while I fetch the rest.'
'How quaint, Pam, a mismatched tea set. Maybe you'll start a trend!' she exclaimed with a triumphant laugh.
Bert fixed her with a steely stare, 'The kids keep breaking them, mind you, you wouldn't know about that, living all on your own.'
'It suits me fine!' replied Ethel, rather too loudly.
Pam swept in quickly with the cake stand, 'Now, Ethel, I made this just for you.'
She whisked the cover off flamboyantly, to reveal . . . nothing. Her mouth dropped open, 'W-where's my cake?'
Her family were wide-eyed and silently empathized with her distress, but Ethel piped up, 'Perhaps Bert's greediness got the better of him. He was an unpleasant, immoral little boy. Father was always at his wit's end wondering how to cope with his thieving tendencies.'
Bert's eyes were alight with anger, 'As I remember, it was you who did the stealing, and me who got the blame!'
Pam recovered herself, 'Now you two, I'm sure there's a simple explanation for this.'
Pam looked suspiciously at Freddie, who was sinking his teeth into an egg sandwich, oblivious to his mother's suspicions.
They finished their tea in silence. Thankfully, Ethel made a swift exit. Pam saw her dreams for the children disappear along with her.
Daisy stomped up the stairs to get Gran's tea tray. She was sitting up in bed with an expression rather like the cat who got the cream.
'Everything alright?'
'No. Mum's cake vanished and Aunt Ethel was horrible, so you won't be getting a piece!'
'Ethel was always an awful child, crafty little minx, always getting Bert into trouble.'
Daisy noticed an extra plate on the tray covered in fruit cake crumbs.
'I wonder where she gets it from!'