Writing for Fun
May 2016
Judgement - Joan Bond
I was in desperate need for company. I had recently moved house and didn't know anyone in the village. There was not much to join here except the W.I. So I bit the bullet and enlisted.
I had been a member for a few months when the annual competition was announced and folk were required to make judgment of the different sections as to who was the most accomplished. I thought as I haven't really joined any special group yet I could volunteer for that! Margery, the committee member in charge, thought it a good idea as I knew so few of the entrants my choice would be unbiased. She suggested I took the cake stall. Well, I love cooking and particularly having to try each entry made me so pleased.
I dressed very smartly in me best frock and a lovely hat borrowed from 'er next door, yes to keep up appearances. I had no lunch as I wanted to keep my palette clear. I entered looking at all the cakes, gingerbread, sponges and biscuits and my mouth watered but I was immediately taken to one side, told that Lydia was ill and I would be judging the sew and stitch stall instead.
I can't sew for toffee; I joined the craft class at my other abode and never finished a thing without the instructor finishing it up for me, I had looked so bereft at my inadequacy that the kindly Doreen automatically now gave me an item just about completed but for cutting off the cottons.
Nearing the stall I saw magnificent work: table cloths with lovely flowers embroidered, baby knitwear to die for – no holes where a stitch had been dropped as mine were – a quilt made from it seems hundreds of pieces of material and all sewn by hand.
There was a line of ladies all looking expectant and smiling. One rotundly built with a moustache and a look of just knowing she would win, 'cos she always did and others with the expectation of coming second or third – they knew they didn't stand a chance of winning with Mac the Knife there. One dear lady stood quietly at the back with eyes glazed and lost, I just knew she never had a look in, ever. I walked up and down, touching a piece here and making a comment of the stitching, I looked at the back of the items to see no bits tucked in by mistake as mine would show but of course all absolutely perfect.
I looked at the women again and their expressions and I suddenly felt the power of being in judgement, knew I had blown the W.I. anyway, well I couldn't stand their attitude and gave little Mavis of the glazed eyes first prize and left the look down their noses lot way down the list.
I walked out the room, threw my friend's hat in the air and smiled all the way home!