Open Writing

'Wrap up warm,' says the elderly woman to the elderly man.

They are neighbours and she's just popped in to borrow some sugar and he's said he's going out and is there anything she needs from the shops, apart from sugar, that is.

'No thank you, Mr Hanson,' she says. 'And don't forget, wrap up warm - overcoat, scarf and gloves. It's really cold this morning.'

'I will do as you say, Mrs Burr,' he murmurs solemnly.

'Yes, I told my Rodney to wrap up warm the day before he ...’

She begins to cry.

'Now, now,' he says, ‘try not to . . .'

'Don't worry,' she says, 'I'll go now.'

Soon he is back from the shops, bringing sugar and biscuits for her.

'You must stay for a cup of tea,' she says. 'You're not in a hurry, are you?'

Actually he is but he doesn't want to say so.

'You've never told me much about yourself,' she says. 'I know you were in the army -‘

'Yes ... I ended up as a colonel.'

'Oh, should I call you colonel, then?'

'No, no, but please call me Rex, if you wish.'

'And you may call me Martha. . . if you wish.'

They chat for a while and then she notices that he is fidgeting and looking at his watch and she asks him if he wants to go and he says yes, he is sorry, but he is expecting a telephone call.

'It's from my wife,' he adds.

'You didn't tell me you had a wife, did you?'

'Oh, but I haven't spoken to her for years.'

She grabs his cup and saucer.

'Well, I hope you're not going to start now,' she snaps.