Open Writing

Great’ma woke with a start as Cynthia and Jeffrey came into the room.

“Oh, you were asleep,” Cynthia said.

“Yes, I was! What time is it?”

Nearly eight o’clock,” Jeffrey answered and then went on to explain. “Cynthia rang me as she saw an ambulance arrive at the front of the house. We thought it might be for you.”

Great’ma viewed them with a somewhat blank expression. It was a look that she often used to cover the emotion she might at that moment be feeling.

“Who is it for then?”

Cynthia in very dramatic mode said, “ There’s a dead body in the garden.”

Jeffrey amended this. “Really Cyn! A man was discovered this morning in the arbour at the bottom of the garden.”

“Who found him?”

“He had a dog with him and it came to the back door. Hilda knew the dog and went with it. Then she found the man. He had obviously sat down, probably not feeling too good, and then just died.”

Cynthia, still in heightened fashion, continued, “It turns out it was one of Hilda’s gentleman friends. She is very upset. The police turned up just as Jeffrey arrived on his bicycle.”

At that moment the door opened again, this time revealing Delphine with the breakfast tray.

“Oh, they have woken you already I see. Hilda is rather indisposed so I have done this for you. I’ll have to leave soon. That is why it is early.” After a pause. “ I hope these two are not upsetting you.”

“No. But, one of Hilda’s gentlemen friends?”

“Yes that’s what she said. She is very secretive you know. She gathers all this information about the extended family, but rarely passes much on.”

Another pause before saying rather anxiously, “I think the police may ask a few questions. Will you be alright.”

“Yes, but I don’t see I can possibly be of much help. What is Hilda doing?”

“She is contacting the man who oversees the flat were the man lives. He was in sheltered accommodation.”

“I suppose he came to see her. Was she expecting him?”

“No. evidently not. She had sent him a card for his birthday. How he knew she was here I haven’t established yet. I must go now, David has already left. He will be back within the hour. Just had to clear a couple of things, then he is free for the rest of the day.” Going toward the door she finished by saying to Cynthia and Jeffrey , “Let your Great’ma have her breakfast in peace. You two come with me.”

But from the bed came the response, “No, it’s alright, they can help me into my chair. I want to be up and about now. Hilda brought me some clothes and I would like to try to get into something.”

Delphine smiled as she left, thinking they were like three conspirators.

The order then came, “You can pass me that loose frock that is in the cupboard there.”

Cynthia obediently fetched what had been asked for, but also brought a silk scarf she found. Then discreetly and gently helped her from her nightdress and into the frock, telling Jeffrey to turn his back.

“You need some knickers. I would hate to think of you being interviewed without…”

Great’ma laughed, indicating where to find them, “Top one,” she said.

Cynthia helped her to sit upon the side of the bed.
“Your legs are not bad at all.”

Great’ma found herself accepting this help in an easy way. The girl did not make her feel helpless.

“I shall tell the police that you did it. You got into your wheelchair all by yourself and out onto the patio, down the garden, with your poison dart at the ready and had your revenge.”

They were both smiling and Jeffrey looked on, not sure of how to react.

“I’ll just go and see what’s happening,” he said.

He was back almost immediately with a phone in his hand.

“It’s Aunt Sophie,” he explained, holding out the instrument to Great’ma.

“I told her Auntie Delphine wasn’t here, so she asked if it was possible to talk to you.”

She took the phone saying into it “Hallo Sophie,” as she did so.

An excited voice exclaimed in her ear that she was finally passed fit to travel and was booked to come in two days time. Her husband would follow a few days after, but couldn’t come sooner as they had a mare about to foal.

Great’ma had never met this husband, though Sophie had been married to him for fifteen years. The longest marriage yet. He was longing to meet her, as Sophie so often talked about her.

Jeffrey was waving to attract her attention.

“Just a minute Sophie,” she said and he told her that a policeman was waiting. Just a few questions. Nothing serious.''

She returned her attention to the phone,” I have to go now. I look forward to seeing you. There is a policeman waiting to interview me about a dead body in the garden. Are you expecting to stay here?”

There was obvious interest in the dead body, but she would wait until she arrived to gather the details. And, no they were booked into a good hotel and wouldn’t be any bother to anyone.
While this was in progress, Cynthia was examining the breakfast tray and decided it was too cold now for Great’ma to eat her eggs and bacon and would see to a fresh tray while she was being interviewed. Adding that it wouldn’t go to waste as the dog was probably hungry by now.

As she left, Jeffrey asked, “Shall I stay?”

“Yes please. That would be good of you.”

He went on, “Cyn had quite a shock you know. She is making it amusing but I think she feels… I’m not sure…”

“Yes it seems quite bad that we are all relieved that the ambulance wasn’t for anyone here. The poor man.”

Jeffrey realised that she had thought that someone in the house needed an ambulance. He wondered if Cyn had realised this and quickly blurted out about the dead body. He knew she was careless in many ways, but also had a deep sense of other people.

“I do like her. She is like something that sparkles, yet there’s so much more to her.”

Great’ma wondered if the sparkle was helped by her feelings for him.

“I think she has a secret though…” then stopped as there was a knock on the door heralding the advent of the policeman. He went to open it and then sat down across the room from the bed beside which Great’ma sat in her ordinary chair.

“I have strict instructions from a very nice young lady that I am to treat you with due respect as you are by far the most important person I will ever meet.” he said. “I just need to know if you heard anything. You are on the side of the house that we think this man must have passed and would like to get some idea of the time he might have arrived.

Great’ma had heard nothing. She explained that she often dozed off yet would be bound to have been woken if anyone had passed her. She said that the man could not have arrived before five thirty as she had been on the patio till then.

The policeman said that was helpful in itself and if she did think of anything else to let them know. With that he was gone again