Vicky’s shopping trip was definitely not going as planned . . .
BY ALISON MARLOW
VICKY always tried to avoid shopping on Fridays. It was just so busy. It appeared to be the one day of the week when anyone who didn’t have to be at work got in their car or clambered on the bus and headed to Templeton’s.
The biggest supermarket for miles around, the store sometimes seemed too big now that most people did little “top-up” shops a couple of times a week.
But some families would still pile two trolleys high on a Friday evening.
The aim was to see them all the way through to the following Friday without the need for even a loaf of bread.
But today Vicky just couldn’t avoid it.
She’d got back from a business meeting in London at 10 p.m. last night, managed to gulp a cup of instant hot chocolate and collapsed into bed.
Now she had three days off and no food in the fridge.
On top of that, her mother had run out of all the essentials, including birdseed.
Since her father died a year ago, Vicky’s mother had coped remarkably well, adjusting her recipes to cook for one while still helping out at the library.
“Your dad said I shouldn’t wallow,” she’d told Vicky. “He was very clear on that.
“Keep eating, keep reading and keep getting out there. It’s no good stewing in your own juice.”
Vicky thought about that phrase.
She knew what it meant – don’t mope. But these days, expressing your feelings and taking time to grieve was definitely seen as a good thing.
And then there was Joey and Flo, two blue budgies who issued a range of chirrups and whistles whenever her mum came downstairs.
Just lately the pair appeared to sing together on occasion, releasing a little scale of notes in short bursts before settling down to their seed.
Seed – yes. That was also on the list today.
There was a queue for the trolleys.
Or rather, there was a queue for the space where the trolleys should have been.
Vicky sighed and stood back as a lanky lad pushed a snake of retrieved trolleys towards the waiting crowd.
But she was not paying attention by the time she moved forward There was one trolley left and an elderly man was about to grab it.
“Oh,” she said, not meaning to make a sound out loud.
He motioned for her to take the trolley.
“I’ve got all the time in the world, and you look as if you don’t,” he said, standing back.
“If you’re really sure? I’m doing my mum’s as well and can’t fit it all into a ba
