from the sofa, where she had
been texting Vana as Sally came into the lounge. “There you are, my dear. How about a hug for your old Aunt Sally?”
“Hello,
Aunt Sally. Great to see you – even though it is only for one
night. How was your journey? You must be shattered,” said Zoe, hugging
her Aunt tightly. “The journey was fabulous, thanks. The countryside is so
beautiful – especially when the sun is shining. And, I will be staying for a
couple of weeks when we get back from Florida. You can’t get rid of me that
easily!”
3
Mary
brought in some tea and biscuits, and then James was pleased to show Sally
around their new home. “Don’t go up into the attic, James,” said Jim, “it’s
dark up there – I need to fix the stairwell’s light switch.”
“OK,
dad,” replied James, as he led his Aunt out of the lounge and started the grand
tour. Once upstairs, he could not wait to show her the chest in the attic...
4
Zoe
helped Mary to prepare dinner, which was served in the dining room. The room was
the same size as the lounge, and was comfortably furnished with a large, oak,
dining table and six leather-backed chairs, an oak sideboard, and a piano. Zoe
brought in the chicken and roast gammon that Mary had cooked. Mary brought in
dishes of vegetables and placed them on the table with the meat. “This is
wonderful,” said Sally, “I don’t often cook a big meal these days. And, I’m
afraid to say, I’ve joined the TV dinner revolution – unpack it, prick it, and
whack it in the microwave.”
Zoe
laughed. “As Vana, would say – love it Aunt Sally! ”
The
meal finished with a New York-style cheesecake and a deep, double-chocolate
cake. All the family ate well, and Mary was pleased to see Zoe finishing her
second helping of cheesecake. “Good heavens,” said Sally, “I hope this hotel in
Florida has a gym – or at least a few handsome men I can chase after! If I
continue eating like this I will have to pay excess baggage for me! I’m full to
the gunnels.”
“That
reminds me, I’ve put a smaller case in your bedroom for you to take on
holiday.”
“Oh,
thanks, Jim,” said Sally, “it won’t take me long to re-pack. I’m not taking too
many clothes...; Mary, what’s so funny?” Mary laughed. “I have never known
anyone like you for over-packing – you always take far too much.”
“Not
since the airlines introduced baggage restrictions a few years ago I don’t. I
remember being caught out and having to pay,” retorted Sally. “Right. Has everyone finished? Can I tempt anyone with
another piece of chocolate cake?” asked Mary. “Me, me,” said James, with an
empty plate in his hand.
“You’ve
only got one backside, son.”
“Jim!
Leave him alone he’s a growing lad,” said Sally.
“Yeah,”
said Zoe, “his middle name’s Hoover.”
Mary
and Sally started to clear the table and take the dishes into the kitchen. “Do
you want another slice before I take it away, Zoe?” asked Mary. “No more for
me. I’m well and truly stuffed – I need to visit the bathroom after that little
lot.” Mary watched cautiously as Zoe left the room. “I’ll finish off in here,
Mary, whilst you do your packing,” offered Sally. “It won’t take long, and
James can give me a hand.”
“You’re
a lifesaver, thanks,” said Mary, “I shouldn’t be long.”
5
Zoe
and Jim were in the lounge; James had gone to bed and Mary was putting together
some sandwiches, crisps, and sweets for their long flight across the Atlantic.
“You will be OK on your own, won’t you, Zoe?” Jim glanced anxiously at his
daughter. “Of course I will, dad. Anyway, Vana will be back so it won’t be a
problem. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. You go off and enjoy your break.” Jim
hugged Zoe. “I wish you were coming with us. Anyway, don’t stay up too late.
See you in the morning before we leave.”
6
In
the early hours, the house was dark and eerie and most of the family were fast
asleep.
been texting Vana as Sally came into the lounge. “There you are, my dear. How about a hug for your old Aunt Sally?”
“Hello,
Aunt Sally. Great to see you – even though it is only for one
night. How was your journey? You must be shattered,” said Zoe, hugging
her Aunt tightly. “The journey was fabulous, thanks. The countryside is so
beautiful – especially when the sun is shining. And, I will be staying for a
couple of weeks when we get back from Florida. You can’t get rid of me that
easily!”
3
Mary
brought in some tea and biscuits, and then James was pleased to show Sally
around their new home. “Don’t go up into the attic, James,” said Jim, “it’s
dark up there – I need to fix the stairwell’s light switch.”
“OK,
dad,” replied James, as he led his Aunt out of the lounge and started the grand
tour. Once upstairs, he could not wait to show her the chest in the attic...
4
Zoe
helped Mary to prepare dinner, which was served in the dining room. The room was
the same size as the lounge, and was comfortably furnished with a large, oak,
dining table and six leather-backed chairs, an oak sideboard, and a piano. Zoe
brought in the chicken and roast gammon that Mary had cooked. Mary brought in
dishes of vegetables and placed them on the table with the meat. “This is
wonderful,” said Sally, “I don’t often cook a big meal these days. And, I’m
afraid to say, I’ve joined the TV dinner revolution – unpack it, prick it, and
whack it in the microwave.”
Zoe
laughed. “As Vana, would say – love it Aunt Sally! ”
The
meal finished with a New York-style cheesecake and a deep, double-chocolate
cake. All the family ate well, and Mary was pleased to see Zoe finishing her
second helping of cheesecake. “Good heavens,” said Sally, “I hope this hotel in
Florida has a gym – or at least a few handsome men I can chase after! If I
continue eating like this I will have to pay excess baggage for me! I’m full to
the gunnels.”
“That
reminds me, I’ve put a smaller case in your bedroom for you to take on
holiday.”
“Oh,
thanks, Jim,” said Sally, “it won’t take me long to re-pack. I’m not taking too
many clothes...; Mary, what’s so funny?” Mary laughed. “I have never known
anyone like you for over-packing – you always take far too much.”
“Not
since the airlines introduced baggage restrictions a few years ago I don’t. I
remember being caught out and having to pay,” retorted Sally. “Right. Has everyone finished? Can I tempt anyone with
another piece of chocolate cake?” asked Mary. “Me, me,” said James, with an
empty plate in his hand.
“You’ve
only got one backside, son.”
“Jim!
Leave him alone he’s a growing lad,” said Sally.
“Yeah,”
said Zoe, “his middle name’s Hoover.”
Mary
and Sally started to clear the table and take the dishes into the kitchen. “Do
you want another slice before I take it away, Zoe?” asked Mary. “No more for
me. I’m well and truly stuffed – I need to visit the bathroom after that little
lot.” Mary watched cautiously as Zoe left the room. “I’ll finish off in here,
Mary, whilst you do your packing,” offered Sally. “It won’t take long, and
James can give me a hand.”
“You’re
a lifesaver, thanks,” said Mary, “I shouldn’t be long.”
5
Zoe
and Jim were in the lounge; James had gone to bed and Mary was putting together
some sandwiches, crisps, and sweets for their long flight across the Atlantic.
“You will be OK on your own, won’t you, Zoe?” Jim glanced anxiously at his
daughter. “Of course I will, dad. Anyway, Vana will be back so it won’t be a
problem. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. You go off and enjoy your break.” Jim
hugged Zoe. “I wish you were coming with us. Anyway, don’t stay up too late.
See you in the morning before we leave.”
6
In
the early hours, the house was dark and eerie and most of the family were fast
asleep.
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