Christmas Roses by Pat Posner

Author:Pat Posner [Posner, Pat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fabrian Books
Published: 2018-10-25T04:00:00+00:00

Easter Parade

“What’s up with you, Bernard? You’ve got a face on you like when Smokey chewed a wasp.”

“You’re more like Smokey than I am with your catty remarks,” Gloria’s brother replied.

“I’d rather be a cat than a grouse like you, bearish Bernie.”

“Honest to goodness, Gloria,” said their mum, “you’re eighteen and still act like a kid at times. As for you, Bernard, what are you doing sitting indoors on a day like this? I’m sure all your friends are doing something outside.”

“They are,” Bernard said. “Doing stuff that’s for little kids. They’re collecting flipping Pussy Willow to wave around on Palm Sunday and after that they’re going to use the twigs to decorate prams and bikes and bogeys for the Easter Parade. It was right good when we did Easter stuff up at Broome Hall last year. I wish we were doing it up there again instead of us having to do something here in the village.”

“I bet you’re glad it’s not happening up there, Mum,” said Gloria.

“Too true. Organising the Fun Day last Easter nearly finished me off. I wouldn’t want to do that again, not for a big clock. And talking of clocks, look at the time. I’ll be late for the lunch-time opening at The Woodman if I don’t get going. Landlord likes his barmaids to be there early.”

When their mum had gone, Bernard carried on where he’d left off. “And seeing how we are doing it, I wish I could think of something good to do, something better than sticking twigs onto flipping toys.”

“Egg-rolling would be fun, ar kid. Why not do that? Go up to the folly in Broome Park and roll them down that big slope. You’d need to hard boil and decorate the eggs first of course.”

“I’d need some eggs in the first place,” Bernard snapped, but Gloria could tell he quite liked her idea.

“Tell you what. I’ve got to go along to Broome Avenue. I’ve got a Toby Jug for Connie Stone. Spotted it on Duggie and Sid’s pot stall when I was at Radlington market yesterday. I could call in on Mary Clayton and see if she’s any eggs to spare. Her hens usually lay well this time of year.”

“Right. Ta, Gloria. We’ll need eggs for something even if we don’t have egg-rolling.”

*

“I don’t reckon Mary’s even thought about collecting eggs today,” Connie said when, after presenting her with the ornament, Gloria told her about the egg-rolling idea. “Her John was rushed in yesterday morning with appendicitis. He were operated on straight away. Flo and I had the kiddies sleeping here in case she needed to go to the hospital. When she collected them an hour or so back, she said John would be all right but would be off work for quite a bit.”

“Where does he work?” Gloria asked.

Connie shrugged. “Funny, but neither of them have ever said and I never liked to ask. Just know he leaves early in the mornings on his NSU moped. Maybe he’s a tax inspector or something.

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