Fiction. We're Doing It Right.
“I Don’t know what to do Edgar. I don’t know how to organize a funeral. Harry did all that when Owen died.”
“Don’t worry, I know. I’ve done it before, twice, once for Dad and again for Ellen. I’ll find a local funeral parlour and we’ll discuss what kind of funeral – maybe Harry left instructions somewhere. In all our years of talking we never mentioned our own passing.”
“Harry once said that he preferred burial to cremation but that was years ago, people change their minds.” [Read more...]
“I’ll go and ask if there’s somewhere we can get a cup of coffee, you just sit here,” and edgar went away, glad to have something to do. He returned with good news and escorted Betsy to the little coffee bar. “I told them at the nursing station to come and find us here if there was news that we could see the patient. I can’t help thinking it will be Harry – and dreading it too.” [Read more...]
As usual they helped with the washing up, then Edgar announced that he’d like to go to the library and Harry agreed to meet him there after he’d been to the post office to post all those replies they’d made to the various Berts. They were equipped with wellingtons to cope with the slush.
“There’s a different smell,” said Edgar with his nose in the air. “The thaw smelt warmer. I’d swear there was something else creeping in.”
Harry sniffed, “You could be right. See you soon.” And he turned the corner to the post office. [Read more...]
While they were out Betsy answered a ring at the door-bell. A woman who looked to be in her late sixties (though it wasn’t easy to tell with all the muffled up clothing) stood there. She said, “Hello, I’m sorry I don’t know your name, I just know of you as Harry’s sister. I’m Hilda Lawson, Mr. Edgar Winterbottom’s landlady.” [Read more...]
They were all glad they’d taken the opportunity for the outing as the weather turned sour the very next day. Bitterly cold. “Too cold for snow,” observed Edgar, and it was. The wind howled from the east bringing the hard iciness of the plains of Siberia. The east wind rarely bothered that part of the south coast but this particular winter it roared over the whole of Britain. [Read more...]
