THE SHOUT OF A KING

By Tessa Harvey


Alice was leaning back in her favourite chair, eyes closed. A cup of fragrant steaming tea sat at her right hand, balanced somewhat precariously on a small carved Indian table inlaid with decorative ivory.

May
A sound alerted her. A car door slammed, then another. Visitor? Standing, Alice moved to the window. A woman and her baby were walking towards her door. At first Alice did not recognise the young woman, then with joy opened the door and hurried to give Moira a hug.

The young mother was so different from the year before, well-dressed, her hair buoyant and shining with health. The child beamed at the old lady and jerked in her mother's arms.

Alice stood back and gazed lovingly at them both. Moira felt like a daughter to her, or rather, granddaughter, she thought wryly, remembering her age. So baby...Jasmine...would be a great grandie. The younger woman hugged her also. Tears threatened to overwhelm both adults, but the baby's wriggles to be put down could not be ignored! Laughing, Moira hefted both babybag and child and sat the baby on a square of soft-coloured flannel cloth, and propped her against an armchair with a cushion to each side. She produced a baby rattle and some bright toys. 

Alice smiled and hurried to the kitchen to get her young guest a drink, making sure her own still warm tea was safely out of harm's way.

Alice and Moira had recently been in touch, but not all events could be comfortably discussed at a distance...

Over tea and biscuits, the ladies chatted companionly.

Jasmine gnawed on a hard baby biscuit, dribbling cheerfully.

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