A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

Emily peered through the sitting room window at her wet garden. Rain! Rain! More rain! She loved gardening but in this weather it was impossible. She sighed and made herself a cup of tea. What could she do with herself today? She suddenly remembered the recipe that her friend Maisie had given her a week or so ago. She found it tucked inside one of her recipe books. A quick check of her cupboards revealed that if she wanted to try it out she'd have to go to the shops. A nuisance but it would get her out. Rain-coated and armed with an umbrella, she set out.

The rain was relentless and Emily started to get wet. Her nearest shop was a small supermarket run by the Patel family. They had most things in stock. She headed there. To her surprise the small shop was crowded. Because of the weather people had decided to shop close to home.

Pushing her trolley between the crowded shelves she gradually found all the items listed in Maisie's recipe. The queue at the checkout was a long one. It didn't matter, she was in no hurry, no one was waiting for her, she had all the time in the world.

Her son, Christopher, had been sent to Canada for 2 years by his firm. He seemed to be settling in well and had found a Canadian girlfriend. He phoned every Sunday to give her his news and ask her for hers. She never seemed to have much news to give him. A few items about the neighbours but there never seemed to be much to say about herself.

The queue inched forward. Emily found herself level with the notice board. It seemed to carry the wants and needs of the neighbourhood on an assortment of coloured Cards. Amazing the things that folk wanted to acquire or discard! To while away the time she started to read them. One advert, carefully typed held a plaintive request. "University student (female) in second year Master's degree in Law, desperately seeks quiet lodgings to study in." A mobile phone number followed. Emily found herself reading the advert twice.

She finally reached the checkout, paid for her purchases and headed for home, deep in thought. Hers was a pleasant home, everything carefully planned and bought over the years, but since the death of her husband and Christopher's departure, it had suddenly seemed too big. She filled her days as best she could. She didn't think she was lonely, but, was she?

She thought hard over a snack lunch. Did she really want someone sharing her house, someone she didn't know, how would she feel about it, how would they get on, would it work out? She felt that she was still young enought to be adaptable, but, but, but! She looked at the clock. If she phoned now she might just catch Christopher. He listened carefully. "Mum" he said, "why not? You've got the room. I know that the university are always on the lookout for lodgings for students, especially at that level. Ring them up, they'll be able to give you advice. If you are happy with the idea, phone the girl and ask her to come and see you. Let me know what happens." Emily followed his advice. She found the university helpful and reassuring.

It had stopped raining and a watery sun was struggling through. She set off for the supermarket with paper and pen. Mrs Patel watched her take note of the phone number on the card. She smiled. "She seemed a charming girl when she came in to place the advert", she volunteered, "she told me that the lodgings where she was were full of other students from the university. It was noisy and, with the heavy workload that she had, she found it hard to concentrate." Emily thanked her and smiled back. Once home she phoned the number the girl had left. "Susan Clayton" said a polite voice. Emily explained the reason for her call and issued an invitation to tea on Sunday.

Sunday was a beautiful day. The house and garden looked their best but Emily was on a fidget from early morning. All her reservations came back. She dusted and re-dusted, opened and closed windows, barely pecked at her lunch and, by the time 3pm came, she was in a lather.

The door bell rang and with one last look at the tea tray, Emily opened the door. On the doorstep stood a neatly dressed young woman, with soft, curly fair hair. Her blue eyes were filled with laughter and her smile was a warm one. In her hand she held a bunch of flowers. "For you", she said.

Tea became supper and by the time Susan left, Emily knew all about her. She's like a breath of fresh air, she thought, with all the reassurance she's given me I need have no worries at all. With a light heart, she phoned Christopher.

Copyright Jacqueline Hastings 2009