The Sofa

Gladys sat down on the sofa with her shopping bags all
around her.

“Bloody cold out there,” she
said.

“That it is mum,” said Beryl.

“At least we got the fancy
dress.”

“Yes. Do you want a coffee?”

“

Yesdear.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beryl walked away. Gladys took
off her woolly hat and fussed through the bags. She was still fussing when
Beryl returned with a tray of drinks and cake.

 

 

 

“Here you are mum.”

 

 

 

“Bloody cold out there dear.”

 

 

 

“Yes mum, your coffee.”

 

 

 

“At least we got the fancy
dress.”

 

 

 

“Yes mum, your coffee.”

 

 

 

“Smells nice dear.”

 

 

 

“I got you some cake too.”

 

 

 

Gladys fusses in the bags.

 

 

 

“What are you looking for mum?”

 

 

 

“My specs dear.”

 

 

 

“Mum, you’re wearing them.”

 

 

 

“Oh,” she says, and puts her hand
to her face, “so I am.”

 

 

 

Beryl does not laugh.

 

 

 

“Mum, your coffee.”

 

 

 

“

Oh yes dear. Oh, you got cake
too.”

 

 

 

 

“Better have it before it gets
cold.”

 

 

 

“Bloody cold out there love.”

 

 

 

“

Yes it is mum.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Did we get all the fancy dress?”

 

 

 

Beryl eats her cake and says
nothing. Gladys looks through the bags.

 

 

 

“I can’t find my specs.”

 

 

 

“Mum.”

 

 

 

“

Yes dear?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“They. Are. On. Your. Face.”

 

 

 

“Oh yes, silly me.”

 

 

 

“Now have your coffee.”

 

 

 

“Oh, yes, and you got some cake,
lovely.”

 

 

 

Gladys picks up the cup and takes
a sip.

 

 

 

“Oh, it’s a little cold.”

 

 

 

“

Well if you had drunk it when I
said…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I did!”

 

 

 

“Mum.”

 

 

 

Gladys nibbles on her cake and
sips the coffee.

 

 

 

“

Oh it’s cold.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beryl is quiet.

 

 

 

“I said, it’s cold.”

 

 

 

“Yes mum”

 

 

 

“

Well there is no need to ignore
me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Mum…”

 

 

 

“

Yes  darling.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Nothing.”

 

 

 

Beryl finishes her coffee and
cake but Gladys is riffling through the bags again with her cake and drink half
consumed.

 

 

 

“Now, did we get all the fancy
dress?”

 

 

 

“

Yes mum we did.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“

Oh good.” She stops fiddling and
looks at the coffee and cake. “

 

 

 

Oh is this mine?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Yes mum, it’ll be cold now.”

 

 

 

“Oh, it is dear, you could have
told me.”