Solving a problem for someone else can bring unexpected happiness – and honorary grandparents – all round…
BY VALERIE ELLIOTT
Oh, Sheila. Surely you can make your own sandwich!” Dotty tutted, shaking her head. Sheila beamed at Dotty and waved her hands in front of her, displaying her beautifully manicured nails.
“Of course I’m capable of making a sandwich, sweetie! However, priorities darling, priorities.”
Debbie sighed.
“Your nails put me to shame. Mine are a disgrace.” Lifting her face to the clear blue sky, she smiled. “What a good idea to meet in the park instead of the café. It might be a little bit cold, but listen to the birds singing their hearts out!”
“It feels so good to get out into the fresh air for a change,” Jacqui agreed. “Debbie, you’ve brought enough food to feed the entire village!”
Jettisoning her wilted sandwich, Sheila reached for a slice of ham and egg pie.
“This is really good, Debbie. Would you mind sharing some of your delicious coffee too – just to warm me up?”
“Honestly Sheila, you are shameless!” Jacqui retorted good-naturedly.
They ate in amicable silence, enjoying the glorious spectacle of a thick carpet of snowdrops cascading across the lawns towards the lake.
Dotty raised a hand to shade her eyes.
“The light from the sun is making the water sparkle like millions of tiny diamonds,” she purred. “It doesn’t get more perfect than this.”
They made an unlikely foursome. Sheila, dressed in designer clothes and always perfectly coiffed, was in stark contrast to her neighbour Jacqui, who favoured a practical, unfussy style of dress. Debbie and Dotty were twins whose sense of style could, perhaps, be described as “chaotic hippy chic”. Despite their obvious differences, they revelled in each other’s company and valued their weekly get-together for coffee and cake.
Normally they frequented a local café, but had ventured outside today along with their favourite waitress Jen, and her young daughter.
Dotty reached into her oversized shoulder bag and pulled out her artist pad, together with an array of pencils.
“Another masterpiece?” Jen enquired, flopping down onto the grass beside them. Debbie proffered a plate.
“Help yourself to food, there’s plenty. Would Ellie like some too?”
Jen sat up to look at her daughter, playing on the swings with her friends.
“She’ll be over shortly, once she realises
