MONO ISSUE 1 PDF FLIPBOOK - Flipbook - Page 19
THE LITERARY LADIES OF MERTON
by Janet Howard
AUDREY HURRIEDLY LEFT the house banging the front door behind her; she didn’t want to be late.
It was 10.45am; she was due at Monica’s house at 11.00am. Monica didn’t like it if you were late. She
took the short cut down Trent Lane, past the church and through the cemetery, before crossing Merton
Green. She knew she would have to walk quickly and avoid talking to anyone on the way if she was to
arrive on time. The morning was warm, Audrey disliked the sticky feel of perspiration as she hurried
along. Thankfully she met no one she knew and on arriving at No.10 The Meadows she checked her
watch and sighed with relief, it was 10.59am. On seeing the blue front door ajar, but not daring to
cross the threshold, she tentatively rang the door bell. Oh why did she always feel so uptight when she
saw Monica she asked herself as she waited. Her anxiety increased on hearing the sound of footsteps
and the creaking of the door being pulled wide open by an angry looking Monica.
“The door was open Audrey, there was no need to ring the bell, oh do come in, don’t stand there
looking so scared. Tea or coffee, hang your hat up, there’s a girl.”
“Tea please” said Audrey, as she followed Monica to the kitchen.
The kitchen like everywhere in Monica’s house was spotlessly clean with gleaming surfaces, the
table cloth ironed with military precision and tulips stood to attention in a vase, not daring to bend and
twist as they always did for Audrey, who sat nervously watching Monica make the tea. She hated the
way she felt like a timid school girl entering the headmistress’s office when she was in the presence of
her, but, Monica had been a headmistress of a very smart girls' school and despite retiring three years
ago, she continued to dominate and command those around her. She was head of the school
governors, president of the WI, vice chair of the parish council, chair person of the village fete
committee and co-ordinator of the book club.
The book club known as The Literary Ladies of Merton met monthly and Monica had invited Audrey
round to discuss the latest book choice in advance. Audrey would have preferred to wait until the
meeting but Monica had summoned her and she didn’t have the courage to refuse.
“So Audrey, what do you make of the book?” asked Monica, pouring freshly brewed tea into two
china cups.
“Well, I’ve nearly finished...”
“There’s too much sex”, interrupted Monica rudely, “sex on every other page. It’s so unnecessary.”
Audrey blushed and tried to compose herself before she spoke. “Well, they are a tactile couple who
hug and kiss, but that’s not sex; is it?”
“In my view any physical contact that leads to carnal urges is sex. The man is obsessed with her,
and she is a weak recipient of his desires. Women will never achieve equality if writers continue to
portray them as needy, love seeking individuals,” ranted Monica. “Its Joyce that chose it you know.
You think she would be done with sex wouldn’t you, considering her husband had two affairs and left
her.” Audrey was trying to formulate a response, but even if she could come up with a suitable
argument, she knew she lacked the courage to express it out loud, so she adopted her usual stance of
muttering, “yes, Monica.”
“And to make matters worse,” Monica continued, “we are meeting at Sarah’s house, have you been
there?”
“Yes” responded Audrey.
“I can’t say I am looking forward to discussing a book in that woman’s house” raged Monica.
“She never puts the washing up away, there’s laundry all over the place, books everywhere, and
every surface is cluttered. I won’t be able to concentrate, I can tell you.”
Audrey hesitated as she attempted a response to Monica’s outburst, but once again could only
19
