mother's brow had puckered when she had heard th

*

and she had just got back

in mild concern, a faraway look in her eyes as

oose that godforsaken place? I

not so old. She had put on a lot of weight and I knew that she had taken to smoking although she never did it at home; she was too scared of my stepdad. She did not seem to

her waist, laying my he

ftly, resting my

e sighed,

l, I can take

t her

he added quietly, 'Yo

ived. I also knew that he didn't care to see any open exhibition of love and affecti

d to tidy up

n O'Neill walked

always full of self-importance. Mom turne

she said stepping forward to

lled

sat down, rubbing his meaty little hands.' Nothing hap

y derision. Listening to him, I thought, you'd think he was the President of the US. Not a totally insignificant

of him, that I merely tolera

t patronizing way he spoke to me,

e. "I said pleasantly, k

the good gentlemen who was regarded as a stalwart of the local Church, No one was prepared to believe me; not the pastor who had gently suggested that I might have imagined it, taken a fatherly pat for so

rovingly at me and said something about my

e had said little. I knew she had enough to handle. But I had had e

expression darkening as he looked at the plate of neatly arranged, delici

rking all day. And sandwiches are not rea

azing all day, I thought crossly. She worked extra hours to keep me in college

sandwiches had too little of meat. The c

as a firm believer in the idea t

*

ul laugh. They had made such a beautiful couple, I often thought, looking at the pictures I had saved of them together and with me; Mom with her petite looks and Dad, a genial

d come to offer; later he had proposed and kept on turning up till Mom had agreed. I knew that it was the

ery much. He was also firm; he would not help me through college. After all, he was paying

left behind any money so she worked to keep me in school. I knew that it was taking a toll on

was generally sweet and obliging. When it cam

in the kitchen one night

mine working, Diana!' tha

ad replie

udent. I don't want her t

e some more protests,

wanted her to have the b

as Brian tried to sto

raised voice

tion. Cara is too young to work now. I'll work to pay her f

are of my expenses. Since was not qualified for an

take up one," she would smile

me a home. So I put up with Brian even though he was a whiner

one day, on another day the mince pies were

d my love of cooking from her. This meant that I knew Brian was being frusty and unpleasant when

the door jamb and staring into space. The sad and weary look on her face, and the telltale tears in her

ld ever stop miss

*