Monday 27 June 2022

Jubilee by Allison Symes, cup of tea

Dorothy’s signature Victoria sponge looked luscious. The family loved it. Such a shame they went to New Zealand. She understood about the opportunities for her son and daughter-in-law.  Zoom calls were welcome but you couldn’t hug someone. The grandchildren were growing up fast without her.

Still Dorothy would mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee come what may with a decent slice and a cup of tea or several.

Just a pity I’ve nobody to share it with since Bill died. Had no chance to get to know the neighbours. Bill’s dementia came on so fast. It was good of David to offer to come home but there wasn’t anything he could do. I guess the sponge will do me for a few days but I won’t have any until tomorrow, the first Jubilee day. At least I will have something nice to look forward to.

Dorothy blinked back tears. She wasn’t having that. Bill wouldn’t have wanted it.

The letter box slammed.

Dorothy winced. She wished the postman wasn’t so hard on that door. She fetched the post but only found a local leaflet.

Hmm… there’s to be a community celebration tomorrow, Dorothy read. All welcome. Donations of cakes, biscuits, sandwiches and savouries welcome. Please list ingredients used. Goodies to be dropped off by 10 am at the Village Hall. A shared lunch to be held at 1.30 after the fly past which will be shown on big screens. Please be at the Hall for about 12.30 for a chance to chat.

Dorothy smiled. Now she knew where the cake would go. She could raise a glass or a cup of tea to Her Majesty with neighbours after all.

Now if she could only find her cake box…

 

***

 

‘Mum, where on earth have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for ages. I thought something had happened.’

Dorothy smiled at her flushed son. ‘I’ve just been at the village Jubilee celebrations.’

‘That’s nice, Mum, but you didn’t have time to socialise what with Dad and all. You don’t know anyone.’

‘I do now, David. I do now.’

About the author

Allison Symes, who loves quirky fiction, is published by Chapeltown Books, CafeLit, and Bridge House Publishing. Website: https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com/ Books: http://author.to/AllisonSymesAuthorCent. Her flash fiction collections, From Light to Dark and Back Again and Tripping The Flash Fantastic, are available in Kindle and paperback. Her Youtube channel, with videos, is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPCiePD4p_vWp4bz2d80SJA/

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