MONO ISSUE 1 PDF FLIPBOOK - Flipbook - Page 20
muster a “yes Monica.”
“Tidiness that’s what I like and I can tell you this,'' said Monica moving closer to Audrey in a
way that made her lean back in her chair. Monica lowered her voice and whispered. “They say she
buried her husband in the garden.”
“Who says? That’s madness,” retorted Audrey who was by now feeling angry, but not daring to
show it. “They separated; it’s just silly village gossip.”
“You may say so my girl; but look at the garden, it hasn’t seen a pair of shears or a lawn mower in
years, it’s an ideal burial place. No one would suspect anything. He’s there all right. I can sense it.
There is something not right about that place and something not right about that woman.”
Having suffered an hour of listening to Monica’s diatribe and barely daring to utter a word, Audrey
was relieved when Monica announced she had another engagement and that Audrey must leave.
Glad she had been offered the chance to escape, Audrey assured Monica that she would look
forward to seeing her on Friday, and yes, she was happy to drive and no, she wouldn’t be late.
Walking with her head down, her shoulders tense with anger and her mind deep in thought, Audrey
was relieved when she arrived back to the safety of her home.
Friday arrived and Sarah was busy preparing to greet the book club members. She laid out three
cups and saucers and three slices of chocolate cake. Today there would only be herself, Monica and
Audrey. At the sound of a car entering the drive, Sarah went to the door to meet her guests.
“Hello Audrey” she said, giving her a warm friendly hug. “Hello Monica, good to see you,” she
smiled. Wishing to make the most of the warm July weather, Sarah invited them to sit on the terrace
over-looking the wildlife area. Although relieved the meeting would not take place at Sarah’s
cluttered farmhouse table, Monica was equally disgusted to have to sit on the leaf strewn,
cobwebbed terraced; but she told herself, she was less likely to succumb to any nasty germs as
there would be fresh air.
Seeing the table was set for three people, Monica asked, “Are there just the three of us, where
is everyone else? I saw Jennifer on Wednesday; she didn’t say she wouldn’t be here. I was looking
forward to hearing her perspective on the book. And Joan and Liz, where are they?”
“Joan and Liz send their apologies, they have to attend a family event this weekend,” Sarah told
her. “Myrtle’s varicose veins are playing up again. Jennifer has an appointment she had to keep,
Joyce is feeling unwell and Annie has gone away in her camper van as the weather is so nice. So,
yes, it’s just us three. Do help yourself to cake, its home-made and very delicious.”
“Home-made? Lovely.” said Monica helping herself to a slice of cake which she had no intention
of eating, as in her view the kitchen fell well short of her exacting standards of hygiene. Having
finished their refreshments while listening to Monica boasting about her important role in the
community, the three began to discuss the book. As expected it became a 'listen to Monica' session
rather than a group discussion, but Audrey and Sarah listened politely for half an hour, until...“Shh,”
said Sarah, “Can you hear that?”
“Hear what?” said Monica, irritated at being interrupted, “I can’t hear anything.”
“I think I can hear something” said Audrey, “it’s a wailing noise, coming from over there.” All
three turned their attention to the overgrown garden which was full of thistles in purple bloom,
grasses, and tall stinging nettles.
“There it is again,” said Sarah, “it sounds like a cat, we can’t leave it.” and she got up from the
table. Monica got up too and in her usual brusque manner said, “Leave it to me. Ex-girlguide
leader you know, taught the animal care badge to my girls and hiked through all sorts of terrain, it’s
not a problem for me to walk through this jungle of a garden.”
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