Tea & Scones

It was almost the end of the month and Alison hadn't even started her Writing Group short story assignment.

Maybe a change of scene might help?

Wrapping up warmly against the biting Winter wind,she began to walk to the local shopping complex.It was a brisk ten minutes' walk away.

She strode along,trying to warm up.Her thick woollen coat flapped around her knees and the cosy knitted scarf swallowed her neck and jaw in a soft,warm embrace.

Turning into the main entrance,she made her way to "Yummies" - a slightly more upmarket cafe near the front doors.

A welcome wave of heat enveloped her as she ventured inside. She was pleased to see that her favourite table by the window was vacant.

Lining up at the counter,she glanced around at the other customers. As it was mid afternoon, the lunch rush had passed and there was only a scattering of people sitting at the other tables.

Over in the corner,she noticed a slight figure. She sat hunched over and her hands cradled her teacup as if to warm them.

She had an open newspaper on the table in front of her,but made no pretence of reading it.

Alison's tea and scones arrived and she saw the woman's eyes light up as she buttered the first scone.

Her face was wrinkled and tufts of frizzy grey hair were battling to escape from beneath a gaudily coloured beanie.

One side of her face seemed to droop a little and it gave her a mournful expression.

But her eyes! They did not look like they belonged in that tired old face...they were cornflower blue and sparkled brightly.

As Alison took the first bite of her scone,she could feel the woman staring at her. Her eyes followed the food from the plate to her mouth,then back to the plate again. She licked her lips and gazed hungrily at Alison.

" Would you like to join me?" Alison offered.

The woman blushed and shook her head and made a dramatic display of draining her teacup to cover her embarrassment.

The waitress came over to Alison's table.

" Don't worry about Mabel," she said.

" She comes in every day from the Boarding House around the corner. She always has a few coins for a pot of tea but never buys anything to eat. And there's nothing of her,she's just skin and bone. She says she has no family and she gets lonely and comes here for the company,God bless her."

" Sometimes I slip her a broken scone or one of yesterday's muffins. But the Manager has eyes like a hawk. I have to be careful."

Alison looked over at the old woman once more. Her clothes were clean but her rather shabby,scuffed,flat black shoes had definitely seen better days.

Alison buttered her last scone and carried it over to where Mabel was sitting.

" Can I sit here for awhile?" Alison asked.

Mabel looked down at the table and mumbled " Yes."

Alison slid the plate towards her.

" I hope you can help me out,I haven't room to eat this one.Could you please finish it off for me?"

Mabel's bony hand,speckled with age spots,crept over to the scone.She began to eat it eagerly and it was soon gone.

" Would you like another,or more tea?" Alison asked.

"No thankyou," she murmured." You have been kind enough already."

She stood up and struggled into a threadbare jacket.

"I've got to be going now," she said.

Alison put her hand gently on Mabel's arm. She could feel the woman's bones through the thin material of her coat.

" I usually come here every Wednesday, would you like to meet up next week?"asked Alison.

A brilliant smile lit up Mabel's face.

" Oh yes,that would be lovely," she replied.

And with that,she shuffled slowly away.

As Alison was leaving,she slipped the waitress a $20 note.

" Just make sure Mabel gets a snack with her tea. I'll be back next Wednesday."

Walking home,all Alison could think about was Mabel. Thinking that next week when they shared afternoon tea she would learn more about her and invite her to her home for a visit.

She thought about how blessed she was to have a loving family around her and decided that Mabel deserved a little blessing and love as well.

As the years went by,Mabel became an important part of Alison's family. She joined in celebrations and especially enjoyed Alison's grandchildrens' birthday parties,where she joined in all the games.

Alison had bought her some dresses and new shoes and Mabel felt like "the Queen herself" when she got "all dressed up!"

One of her favourite activities was going out for a picnic. Whether it was up in the hills or down at the beach,the family fussed around her,setting up her chair in a shady spot and ensuring she was included in all the fun and games.

Mabel especially loved simply having a thermos flask of tea to enjoy outdoors while she watched the children playing.

" Tea always tastes better in the fresh air,"she would say.

When the first Christmas rolled around,it was unanimously agreed that Mabel would be the guest of honour at Christmas dinner.

Everyone wanted to give Mabel a gift,but Alison was concerned that she would be embarrassed.

But she needn't have worried. For six months before the festive meal,Mabel had scoured the Opshops for handknitted preloved jumpers. She had unravelled them and used the wool to knit soft animal toys for all the grandchildren. Plus she had knitted a beautiful throw rug for Alison.

On Christmas morning,the look of delight on Mabel's face was matched by the grandchildren as they unwrapped their cuddly soft toys. Through the year,Mabel had listened carefully to the children playing and found out their favourite animals. So every child was delighted.

Two cats,knitted with fluffy yarn,one dog,a unicorn and even a dragon! All tastes had been catered for...

As Alison opened the beautifully knitted rug,Mabel said quietly, "This is to thank you for all you have done for me.

I knitted love into every stitch."