get!”
However, before Johnny could reply, a distraught Senga burst into the room and declared, “I’m no eating any Christmas dinner because I know now why we were asked to feed up Tom, Dick and Harry!”
“You can’t mean they’re our …” protested Johnny.
“They are, and not only that, but once the cook had throttled them and hauled the feathers off them, she threw them in a big witch’s cauldron with some carrots, leeks and barley.” Senga was now sobbing uncontrollably. “And then she said to us: ‘Bet your sweet life you’ll never have tasted such wonderful cock-a-leekie soup like we’re going to make!”’
It fell to Etta to inform Patsy, yet again, that Dinah was away out with fake-tanned legs and possibly celebrating by drinking and dancing the night away.
“Och,” was the disgusted reply from Patsy. “Do you mean to say she’s just been told her man’s still alive and yet she’s gone out on the randan?”
Etta nodded. “But, Patsy, I think Dinah going AWOL again is the least of our worries.”
“You do?”
“Aye, you see Phyllis hasnae been herself all day. Wheezing and gasping. Hasnae eaten a thing. Took me all my time to get her to have a wee drink o’ water.”
Both women went over to the wooden bed and gazed down at what appeared to be a peacefully sleeping child.
“Oh my Gawd,” exclaimed Patsy as she bent over and lifted Phyllis in her arms. “She’s away. My wee angel’s away. And I never got time to say goodbye.” Both women were now weeping uncontrollably.
“It must have just happened,” protested Etta. “I was speaking to her just before you came in.”
Patsy made no reply. She just kept rocking her granddaughter back and forth while she lovingly stroked her face. “Knew I couldn’t keep you forever,” she whispered to the dead child. “But I just hoped you’d stay a wee while longer – specially now your Daddy will be coming home.”
Nothing could distract Patsy from mourning the loss of her granddaughter. Neither the sound of the outside door opening when Tess returned home nor Tess’s subsequent wails when Etta told her that Phyllis was dead had any effect. Only when Tess jumped back suddenly from the bed and screamed, “Oh, Etta, you dirty thing!” did Patsy become aware again of what was happening around her.
“Why are you saying that to Etta? It’s not her fault that Phyllis suddenly …” Patsy was finding it so hard to say the word – dead! “We were warned she’d have to leave us one day and that it would happen quickly, like this,” Patsy said through her sobs.
“But, Granny, I’m not blaming Etta for Phyllis. It’s just that she has stood there and peed hersel’!”
Patsy glanced down at the linoleum floor that was now awash and then raised her eyes to Etta’s, waiting for some explanation, but all Etta could do was mumble, “I’ve no been myself the day either. The pain in my back’s sheer agony now this bairn’s so big.”
“Oh, Etta, don’t you ken you’re in labour?”
“But my baby’s not due till February,” protested Etta, who had so many times told the lie about the time of the expected birth that she now believed it herself.
“Maybe so,” replied Patsy. “But Tess, just you run down Restalrig Road to the big house the midwives bide in.” Tess looked bewildered. “Ye ken, just up from the Leith Provi.” Still unsure, Tess slowly nodded. “And tell them to get to Etta’s as soon as they can.” Patsy now looked at Etta who was visibly wincing as a long contraction gripped her and Patsy called out after Tess, “In fact, tell them sooner than soon!”
“But, Granny, will they not all be in bed?” Tess shouted back.
Sheer exasperation made Patsy yell, “Aye, but when they hear the bell it tells them a baby’s on the way so they get up! So move yourself.”
Turning to Etta, who was now lying on the floor, Patsy dragged her upright. “It’s no that I don’t want to help you but with Phyllis
However, before Johnny could reply, a distraught Senga burst into the room and declared, “I’m no eating any Christmas dinner because I know now why we were asked to feed up Tom, Dick and Harry!”
“You can’t mean they’re our …” protested Johnny.
“They are, and not only that, but once the cook had throttled them and hauled the feathers off them, she threw them in a big witch’s cauldron with some carrots, leeks and barley.” Senga was now sobbing uncontrollably. “And then she said to us: ‘Bet your sweet life you’ll never have tasted such wonderful cock-a-leekie soup like we’re going to make!”’
It fell to Etta to inform Patsy, yet again, that Dinah was away out with fake-tanned legs and possibly celebrating by drinking and dancing the night away.
“Och,” was the disgusted reply from Patsy. “Do you mean to say she’s just been told her man’s still alive and yet she’s gone out on the randan?”
Etta nodded. “But, Patsy, I think Dinah going AWOL again is the least of our worries.”
“You do?”
“Aye, you see Phyllis hasnae been herself all day. Wheezing and gasping. Hasnae eaten a thing. Took me all my time to get her to have a wee drink o’ water.”
Both women went over to the wooden bed and gazed down at what appeared to be a peacefully sleeping child.
“Oh my Gawd,” exclaimed Patsy as she bent over and lifted Phyllis in her arms. “She’s away. My wee angel’s away. And I never got time to say goodbye.” Both women were now weeping uncontrollably.
“It must have just happened,” protested Etta. “I was speaking to her just before you came in.”
Patsy made no reply. She just kept rocking her granddaughter back and forth while she lovingly stroked her face. “Knew I couldn’t keep you forever,” she whispered to the dead child. “But I just hoped you’d stay a wee while longer – specially now your Daddy will be coming home.”
Nothing could distract Patsy from mourning the loss of her granddaughter. Neither the sound of the outside door opening when Tess returned home nor Tess’s subsequent wails when Etta told her that Phyllis was dead had any effect. Only when Tess jumped back suddenly from the bed and screamed, “Oh, Etta, you dirty thing!” did Patsy become aware again of what was happening around her.
“Why are you saying that to Etta? It’s not her fault that Phyllis suddenly …” Patsy was finding it so hard to say the word – dead! “We were warned she’d have to leave us one day and that it would happen quickly, like this,” Patsy said through her sobs.
“But, Granny, I’m not blaming Etta for Phyllis. It’s just that she has stood there and peed hersel’!”
Patsy glanced down at the linoleum floor that was now awash and then raised her eyes to Etta’s, waiting for some explanation, but all Etta could do was mumble, “I’ve no been myself the day either. The pain in my back’s sheer agony now this bairn’s so big.”
“Oh, Etta, don’t you ken you’re in labour?”
“But my baby’s not due till February,” protested Etta, who had so many times told the lie about the time of the expected birth that she now believed it herself.
“Maybe so,” replied Patsy. “But Tess, just you run down Restalrig Road to the big house the midwives bide in.” Tess looked bewildered. “Ye ken, just up from the Leith Provi.” Still unsure, Tess slowly nodded. “And tell them to get to Etta’s as soon as they can.” Patsy now looked at Etta who was visibly wincing as a long contraction gripped her and Patsy called out after Tess, “In fact, tell them sooner than soon!”
“But, Granny, will they not all be in bed?” Tess shouted back.
Sheer exasperation made Patsy yell, “Aye, but when they hear the bell it tells them a baby’s on the way so they get up! So move yourself.”
Turning to Etta, who was now lying on the floor, Patsy dragged her upright. “It’s no that I don’t want to help you but with Phyllis
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