A Different Kind of Love by Sheelagh Kelly

Author:Sheelagh Kelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2017-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Alas, there was little chance for the lovers to exchange anything more than a moonstruck glance across the pews before Augusta, a punctilious girl, devoted her attention to the Lord. A swift smile upon bumping into Vincent on leaving, and then it was all over until the next time.

Still, there was much to be enjoyed at home, for whilst she had been at church the joint of beef had been sizzling in the oven and, at midday was served to them with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and vegetables.

It had always been Father’s habit, when doling out the carved slices, to give everyone a piece of fat to go with it and so he did today. Normally, Beata would cut this unpalatable item into bits and help it down by wrapping it in mashed potato, but on this occasion her happiness at having Gussie here had caused her to daydream and suddenly she found herself with no potato left. Hoping that her parents would not notice, she discreetly placed her knife and fork over the last bit of fat, then sat quietly, hands upon lap. And to her relief, there was no reprimand as the crockery was taken away to be washed.

However, at teatime, when everyone else was given an empty plate off which to eat their bread-and-butter, she was alarmed to see on hers a lump of cold fat.

Casting a dismayed look at her father, she was given the instruction to, ‘Eat that first before you start on anything else.’ Probyn had no time for trivial moans after what deprivations other youngsters had suffered on the battlefield.

She took a sip from her glass of water. Mother had often given them tea but from the beginning Eliza had announced that tea was too expensive for children. Then she stared at the lump of fat, deciding how to go about this. Cutting it into tiny pieces would make it go down easier but would take far longer. Better to get it over in one go … though the very idea made her feel nauseated. She took a deep breath.

It was no good. In a tiny voice, she said, ‘I’m sorry, Father, I’d eat it if I could, but I’ll be sick if I do.’

‘Well, I’m sure we don’t want any mess.’ Probyn looked enquiringly at Eliza.

His wife pursed her lips. ‘Everyone else ate it, why should she be given priority? You’ll just make her into a pernickety eater and I’ve no time for those. Beata, get it down you now.’

Using her most pleading expression, Beata looked at her father, but it did no good. ‘Your mother’s spoken,’ was all he said.

Everyone was observing. Holding her breath, Beata forced herself to swallow the piece of fat in one go, balking as the hard lump filled her throat – and in seconds was on its way up again, along with everything else in her stomach.

Confronted with her vomit-splattered carpet, Eliza jumped up with an angry yell. ‘You spiteful little – Father, deal with her! She’s done it on purpose.

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