Tuesday 2 June 2015

Junk


"Three dollars left, I must treat myself to something," said Sybil. "There's a fete down at the church, I'll get down there early in case it's hot later."

Sybil, was a lonely woman who lived by herself. She immediately answered with her other self. "No, no. Its better to go later when they sell off the goods cheap." Again the first Sybil took over to indicate that all good stuff would be gone by then. Eventually the conversation ended when she persuaded herself to go early after all.

The sun was already very warm as she left home and her trusty brolly which was her faithful companion was used as a sunshade. It was a ten minute walk to the fete and every step was a trial and she arrived panting. Little beads of sweat had formed around her lips and her arms felt prickly in her dress.

The brightly colored booths were busy with activity as the stallholders finished stocking their tables and readied themselves for the opening. Already there were a few anxious customers like Sybil hoping to pick over the wares. Sybil could also see the dealers ganging together, chatting among themselves waiting for the official to let them all in. Glancing at his watch and array of stalls he looked at the eager crowd of buyers and said "Off you go then!"

The stampede of men women and children took him by surprise and he was lucky not to be bowled over. Sybil too was caught up in the rush and a few seconds found herself close to a bric-a-brac and junk jewellery stall. She was bent over the trestle when she spied a black necklace and a matching set of black earrings in a bowl of oddments. With one movement she grasped them both and asked the pretty snub nosed teenage stall holder, "How much for these?"

The girl replied almost without looking at Sybil, "A dollar each in that bowl."

The girl was distracted by another customer and took the two dollars offered with barely a nod of her head. Sybil slipped away from the stall and stood in the shade of a tree to better examine her find.

When she opened her hand she examined the two pieces. They reminded her of some Victorian mourning jewellery that her own grandmother had possessed many years ago. The earrings were a tapering three stone pendant of faceted jet with a gold screw fastener. The necklace used the same sized stones in a repetitive pattern and were fastened with a gold snap at the back.

Sybil looked lovingly at them and placed them in her handbag.

"What have you got there?" she coyly asked herself.

"You have done very well Sybil," she replied.

She continued to browse the stalls but felt so tired that had to find somewhere to sit down. At the tea and coffee stall she sat down on an empty seat to rest. The sun was really hot now and the crowd was thick and noisy. She considered going home but it seemed so far. She just remained seated.

She closed her eyes and let the sounds and smells of fete wash over her. She heard the clinking of tea cups, the buzz of conversation and smell of barbecued sausages and onions. There were some children shouting and screaming with glee on the bouncy castle and she imagined she was young again too. She remembered playing in the stream with her brother, fishing for tiddlers and sticklebacks. Now she could see her Jack looking so proud of her on their wedding day. Then she lifted her baby Tessie in her arms and hugged her tight to her breast.

As she did so the others in the refreshment stall could see her grasp herself round her chest as she rocked her baby in her arms so many years ago. She sat there like that with her eyes closed for some time and was only brought out of her reverie by a gentle shaking of her shoulders by a priest.

"Are you all right? He asked her gently. Then he continued, "would you like a lift home?

Sybil looked up and nodded. he quickly summoned help and in no time she was riding in a car back to her little apartment. The lady who drove her back helped inside and fussed around her ensuring she was settled in a chair and tried to make tea for her too.

Safe inside her own home Sybil just wanted to be alone. She endured the woman's presence until she was recovered then said to her, "I mustn't keep you any more, you should get back to your job at the fete." The woman looked doubtful but eventually agreed that she should.

Sybil breathed a sigh of relief when she had gone. She drew her handbag close to her and opened it eagerly. As she drew out the shiny black jewelry and put it on she crooned, "Now who is a clever girl, Sybil?"

13 comments:

  1. Nice one. I really enjoyed this. I could feel the heat, the rush of excitement as she found the jewellery and also her heart ache over the past. I loved how she talked to her alter ego, I can really relate to that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A story! Wasn't expecting that... but I sure had fun reading this. What a great knack you have for telling a tale.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well told - vivid and vibrant - the imagery is alive!

    ReplyDelete
  4. sort of reminded me of greed when people discover something they think is valuable. good story

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice read! Loved your take on the prompt.

    Cheers,
    JP/deb

    ReplyDelete
  6. This was interesting! A well-written story that kept me wondering. I liked it! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sybil is one interesting lady - smart too. She managed to get herself a ride home :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was on the edge of my seat. Good background, description and that extra something that brings reality to life. I enjoyed this take on the prompt very much.
    Click here please for mine.

    ReplyDelete
  9. lovely - isn't it true that we claim as treasures what others wouldn't think of?! Thank god for individuality!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you Josie for inviting me to re-post this piece that sat with yours back in 2009 on the old Sunday Scribblings. My wife Maureen pictured here in the foreground looking at the bling died a little more than a year later in 2010.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I do indeed remember this wonderful story, Old Egg, and I commented as "Sophie" then. You left the following comment on my story back then... "Once many years ago when we moved half way round the world I threw out some junk that I bitterly regret now. Young and foolish and didn't know then how valuable some junk can be. A sad but insightful story, well done."

    We've been blogging together for some time now, my friend! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is a wonderful story, Old Egg.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well done. I feel like I know Sybil you have written her so well. She seems to be a bit crafty in her ways.

    ReplyDelete