Friends and neighbours
Graham used to visit Mary Morgan regularly, checking she had enough firewood, sharing a pot of tea and passing the time of day.
"Is there anybody at home?" are the first ever words I say as I walk through the front door, knowing very well she's in as I felt her presence as I open the garden gate.
"Fancy a cup of tea?" as I put the kettle on the open fire. "Ah, nice cup of tea." as we chatted about the meaning of life. "I'll go and get some more coal for the fire, and while I'm at it, chop some stick."
Time for lunch, lamb chops today. "Put the kettle on the fire," she said. "Ah, nice cup of tea." as we chatted about the meaning.
"Graham," she asks "Could you fill the gerry cans with water from the well?"
While waiting for the gerry cans to fill up, I lights a cigarette, feeling her presence once again. She doesn't like me smoking. I extinguish the cigarette under a stone as if hiding a secret but I know I could not hide anything from her.
As I return with the water, she immediately said "If God meant you to smoke you'd be walking around with a cowl on your head."
I puts the kettle on the fire. "Ah, nice cup of tea," as we started chatting once again about the meaning.
Three o'clock. "Time to feed the chickens and ducks," she said. "I'm off after that," I replied. "Ok, see you tomorrow." she said. "Don't forget to chain the gate on your way out."
"Ok." I replied.
Graham Baldwin