It came as a revelation, a bolt out of the blue, as her
mother used to say. Dusting her trinkets one morning she realised it was all
tat. Why not get rid of it all. Save her children having to sort it when she
was dead.
She smashed the Dresden
figurines against the garage wall. She buried her gold jewellery underneath the
lilac tree and her silver pieces beside the fish pond. Let her children hunt
for them. It might be fun to leave clues like the Easter egg hunts of the old
days.
Maybe it wouldn’t be found for hundreds of years and classed
as treasure trove. She found herself smiling for the first time in ages. She
hoped someone worthy would dig it up. That eliminated her own children. High
powered jobs, grandchildren and basic laziness put paid to their visits. The
occasional phone call from one of her daughters seemed to suffice, like a smoke
signal telling the rest of the family that she was still alive and kicking.
She wondered how they would react when her will was read out.
She’d left the house to the girl who had run off with her husband. That skinny
little girl with the big breasts, doe like eyes and amazing job in publishing.
Tamara had done her a great favour, had spared her the task of ending her days
with the most boring, selfish, inconsiderate man ever. Her children had all
approved of their father’s choice and were great friends with Tamara. She was
sure they’d applaud her decision.
Pulling the tickets out of the envelope she read them over
and over again. A round the world cruise for two. She was so pleased when
Anthony agreed to go with her. He was the young man from the bookshop with the
foppish hair. They’d spent time together discussing the places that he’d love
to visit. He’d be travelling solo when the cruise was over but what fun she’ll
have till then.
Amazed at how much money could be released on the current
value of a house, she hoped by the time Tamara got her home it wouldn’t be in
negative equity.
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