A little departure from my normal posts but I just saw this short story that I wrote for a competition in my documents file and thought was a waste just sitting there so if you fancy a short story here's my entry for a competition. The rules were not more than 500 words and the theme: May.
I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment or a suggestion for its title. I have written several short stories before, usually hand-written and never quite finished.
A Life Changing Day
It was the sort of bright grey day that
caused wrinkle lines. A day that wasn't going to rain but neither was
the sun going to peep through that mass of cloud. May felt the
beginnings of a headache from squinting so, but was determined to
finish the weeding. It was spring her favourite season.
Every day brought about amazing
changes. Sticks on shrubs became invisible under fresh young leaves.
Seeds became tiny seedlings. Birds twittered away more animatedly
than before. Just a bit of sunshine would be lovely she thought. So
engrossed was she imagining just how colourful the garden would be in
a few weeks time that the quiet footsteps approaching her gate went
unheard.
The voice startled her “Excuse me”
a young lady said. May turned round so fast she almost lost her
balance. “Yes!” She replied a little sharply.
“Er, sorry. I wonder, are you Mrs Charles?” The girl was clasping and unclasping her hands in front
of her. “I'm trying to find Mrs May Charles.”
May struggled to get up from her
kneeler. Aware she was being watched made it all the more difficult.
“I am she.” she replied walking stiffly towards the garden gate.
“And who are you?”
A huge smile changed the girl's face
from awkward to beautiful. “I'm Toni, Antonia Hill but you won't
know me. It's my late grandmother Agnes Brightly who I hope you know.
Knew” she corrected herself, the smile slipping sadly away. “ I
believe you and she were friends many years ago. Are you my
grandmother's friend May?”
“Yes. Your grandmother was my very
dear friend. We were young together, always together for many years.
Then her parents moved halfway across the country. We were
heartbroken, we wrote to each other every week for years. We both got
married.... Moved many times, lost touch. Life took over, we never
found each other again. I always meant to but didn't really know
where to begin.” She sighed. “So long ago. But you found me! How
long ago did she leave us?” May smacked her gloves on her hand.
“Just listen to me going on! Would you like a cup of tea? Please
say yes.
At ease with each other drinking their
tea May watched as Toni carefully dunked her biscuit.
“Do you have children?” Toni asked
May looking at her guest and after a
pause said “No my dear. I did. Such a long time ago. My husband
died very young in an accident... I never remarried.”
“How many children did your
grandmother have?”
Toni replied “Just my mum, apparently
she couldn't have more... Sad don't you think? I've got two brothers,
but being a girl I had to help Mum clear out Grandma's bungalow. I
found some photos and papers mentioning you and Mum. I didn't show
her” then boldly looking at May “Should I have?”
Sunshine lit the room as May said “I
think we should.”
