Today’s writing prompt and my response.
Day three of the story. The challenge is to turn the week’s worth of prompts into one tale. To read from the beginning, go here.
By a sparkling and cool lake, my auntie dreamt of more
‘My dear! How lovely to hear from you.’
Guilt twinged. It had been months since I’d been in contact with my aunt. Time just gets away.
‘Hi Aunty, how’s everything?’
‘Good, dear, very good. But it would be even better if you came to visit me.’ She hurried on in her genteel tones. ‘Lovely here this time of year. The lake is looking fabulous, you really must come. And bring a friend with you, that lovely Elly.’
Elly would appreciate the break, I was sure, if she didn’t have some sparkling champagne event on this weekend. I chatted with my aunt, asked about her minor aches and ailments, sympathised over the cost of heating and how cold the winter had been, and promised to get back about a visit very soon.
Over a rare shared dinner, I broached the subject. Elly was enthusiastic.
‘Your aunt lives in a great rambling house, right?’
I nodded. Elly knew this, she’d visited before.
‘And she said bring a friend, right?’
‘Yes, you know you’re always welcome there. She loves you. Suspect you remind her of her own glamorous past.’
Elly understood what I meant. She laughed. ‘Not nearly up to her glamorous standards. What a life she lead!’
‘So you’ll come? When?’
‘Would your aunt mind a couple of extras? I’d like to invite Alan, you know, you met him at the pub quiz.’
‘What? The boring accountant?’ I shook my head, disbelieving.
And then Elly delivered the killer blow. ‘And Patty too. I want to see how Alan handles being with her all weekend.’
My shock deepened. ‘Are you kidding? She’s likely to steal Aunty’s silver, isn’t she?’
‘No, no! Patty’s not an outright thief. She simply doesn’t pay her share. She’s good company though, can counter the boring accountant.’ Elly patted my hand in an annoyingly condescending way. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll do a huge shop and we’ll arrive laden with food and drink to last a weekend of feasting. It’ll be fun.’
*
We drove up in Alan’s BMW. Elly and myself offered to chip in with fuel costs. Alan stared at the heaped Waitrose and M&S bags and boxes in the boot and said, ‘Certainly not.’ When he looked about for Patty’s offer, he discovered she was already comfortable in the front passenger seat.
The drive north was enlivened by Patty’s constant stream of patter, which Alan grunted responses to while concentrating fiercely on the road. Elly and I chatted about this and that, and gazed out our respective windows at the glorious M1 scenery.
It was mid-afternoon when we arrived. The front door was unlocked, and Aunty not home. I knew where she’d be, and led the others through the garden, past the maze and the greenhouse, to the sparkling, cool lake. Aunty sat on a deck chair facing the water, dreaming of more lively days.
Read the last instalment here.
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