Solomon's Tale by Sheila Jeffries

Author:Sheila Jeffries [Sheila Jeffries]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2013-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

THE MARMITE SANDWICH

Ellen came home after many weeks in hospital, but she wasn’t better. She wasn’t like the Ellen I knew and loved. Instead of a smile, she had a frown on her face. Her voice was loud and cross, and the sparkle had gone from her eyes. She snapped at John, and even at me. I was upset. I took to sitting in a corner, looking at her reproachfully and trying to find times when I could show her how much I loved her. When Joe was there, Ellen hardly spoke and when he was out she had frenzies of cleaning, or sometimes she just curled up on her bed and slept.

I asked my angel what was wrong.

‘Ellen is homesick,’ she said. ‘And she misses her piano. Music is important for Ellen. It feeds her spirit.’

‘So what can I do?’ I asked.

‘Just go on loving her,’ said the angel. ‘Her bigger problem is Joe. She has to find the courage to leave him.’

‘Well, he’s John’s dad,’ I said, remembering how proud I’d been of my kittens and how sad I’d been to say goodbye to them. At least I still had Jessica.

‘But where will Ellen go?’ I asked.

‘It’s Joe who has to go,’ said the angel.

‘And what will happen if Joe goes?’

‘There will be peace.’

Peace. I sat for a while in the angel’s veil of light, thinking of the times when Ellen had been peaceful. In the garden, playing the piano, playing with John or sitting with me on her lap. Times when Joe wasn’t there.

‘Pam will help you,’ said the angel. ‘She is a warrior.’

My angel was right. That afternoon, Pam came marching over to the caravan with a determined look on her face. She’d seen Ellen leaving to fetch John from school, and Pam was going to have a go at Joe.

She was wearing stripy mittens and a stripy hat that looked like a bumblebee. She took them off and sat down opposite Joe who was slouched in a corner, a can of beer in his hand.

I fancied playing with the bumblebee hat, but it wasn’t quite the moment.

‘You’ve got to stop this boozing,’ Pam said.

‘Why shouldn’t I have a beer? I’ve only had one today.’ Joe glowered at Pam. ‘I enjoy it. Get that do you?’

Pam leaned forward and wagged her finger at Joe.

‘Don’t you get bolshy with me young man. I know what goes on. Eee – the place stinks like a brewery. What did I do when Ellen was ill, Joe?’ Pam didn’t wait for him to answer but got up and wagged her finger right in his face. ‘I came in here and cleared up your cans and bottles. I did that for Ellen, not for you.’

I looked at Pam’s aura and it had sparks that flashed as she ranted at Joe. Jessica chose that moment to come out of her cupboard. She sat next to Pam, washing and smirking at Joe, while I stayed on the windowsill doing my Buddha act.

‘I’m not afraid of you.

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