Emmie 25

Emmie woke late on Sunday morning, the result of a regained familiarity with her own homely bed. She made some hurried preparations to meet the world and with no time for breakfast, set off for mass. It was a clear crisp morning and the freshness of a slight breeze brought her to full wakefulness.

She pushed open the door to be met by the strains of "Come oh come Emanuel" and realised that it was the first Sunday of Advent. " So soon" she thought, " Christmas to think of already." She slid into a bench next to Dorothy and her husband with a mimed " Good Morning" and a nod.

The injunction to stay awake in the Gospel was more than appropriate and Emmie felt a pang of guilt. She had only just come round and seemed to daydream through the rest of the service. She should have had some breakfast. On the way out Dorothy invited her for Sunday lunch and she gratefully accepted.

On the way home she called in Tesco express for a wholemeal loaf and a pint of milk and picked up a local paper in the process. The slice of wholemeal toast and honey together with a cup of tea had a restorative effect. After a shower and a change of clothes Emmie was prepared for her trip out for lunch.

The pile of post still needed sorting. It could wait till the evening and be acted on come Monday morning. At first glance the local paper had little news, apart from the council's £3.5 m debt and effect on future services. She would find out the detail from Dorothy. She left the house looking forward to Dorothy's excellent Sunday roast.

JL Dec 1st 17:05