by Audrey Mary Brooks
Music Appreciation
“HURRY up, Ethel! We won’t get a decent seat if you don’t get a move on.”
Olive Atkins bustled her next-door neighbour down the aisle of the hall.
“We were late last time through your dithering and had to sit halfway down the hall. You know it’s not a good place to sit.”
“It wasn’t me dithering, if you remember. It was your Victor who didn’t pick us up on time,” Ethel retorted.
“True, he’s a ditherer. He’s not my Victor, might I remind you? He’s my Maureen’s, my son-in-law. No blood relation of mine would dither.”
“Did you find out why he was late last time?” Ethel asked as they settled into two front-row seats facing the first violins.
“Some excuse about police work. On a Saturday? I think he just couldn’t be bothered to pick us up.
“I told him you and I aren’t getting any younger and we shouldn’t be expected to get two buses of an evening.
“He has nothing to do on a Saturday evening except sit reading the paper and listening to the radio. He might as well help his mother-in-law as do that!” She sniffed.
“Well, at least we got this seat,” Ethel replied. “Halfway back is no use – it has to be the front to get a good look at the orchestra, or the back to get a good look at the audience. Shall I buy a programme?”
“Yes. I like to see if things are the same. You get an idea of what people are up to. I’ve brought last month’s to compare.”
As Ethel rose again Olive removed her smart woollen coat and folded it up, putting it on Ethel’s seat just in case anyone decided it was vacant.
She kept on her silk scarf but removed her hat in courtesy to the person behind her, in the event the person was small and the feather blocked their view.
Then she took a programme from a large leather handbag and shut it with a loud snap of the clasp.
Those near her looked and tutted, though the concert did not begin for half an hour. Irritated, Olive vowed to do the same thing several times before the concert began.
She also fished out a small bag of wrapped, boiled sweets. That would have them all thinking she would be rustling those throughout the concert.
In fact she would never dream of doing so as she had come to listen to the music.
Ethel returned, smiling to see her saved seat as the hall was now filling up. Seats were first come, first served.
The Poverly and District Amateur Orchestra was very popul
