Lunch in the park. True Story

10th May 2017

For my third blog I thought I will treat you to a completely true story. 

Hope you will enjoy it.

LUNCH IN THE PARK

On a typical summers day I struck up a conversation with a sweet lady who sat in a wheel chair next to my bench.
We exchanged niceties and exhausted every detail about the weather, then we established names and as in my case, my profession.
I felt very privileged to be talking to such a prestigious lady.
 “Have you ever met the Queen Lady Penelope?” I asked her.

“Oh yes, many times,” came the proud wistful answer with bubbly pride in her voice.

I studied her shiny eyes set deep in her crinkled face. I imagined every line and dimple had a story of it's own in their making. It was a nice change to be able to talk to someone so interesting in my lunch hour. Which normally consisted of feeding the ducks and watching the local children chasing each other in and out of the bushes.

          She seemed a bit nervous when we first started to chat. She was clutching her over sized handbag on her knee, her knuckles white with tension. A tartan rug was carefully wrapped around her frail body to keep her warm.

I nodded approvingly to encourage her to go on, but had to prompt her again,
”What is the Queen like? Is she as nice as she seems on the telly?” I busied myself getting the sandwiches out of my shoulder bag.
“Oh. Very nice.”  She smiled remembering. A shallow breath escaped from her thin lips as she sighed. 

I have managed to trigger the memory cells for her, but like an old clock that’s been stood in the hall too long, she needed prodding to keep ticking over. So I casually said, “I’ve always wanted to meet the queen. I have stood outside Buckingham Palace for hours on end with out any luck, until somebody told me; if the flag isn’t flying she’s not in residents.”

 I giggled a bit as it was a little white lie. I’ve never been to Buckingham Palace.

“Have you been to the Palace Lady Penelope?”“Many times.” She seemed to savor the memory and lingered on it for a few minutes. “I have been to banquets, garden parties, informal visits….” then after a further slight pose and another heavy sigh, “…. those were the days! Look at me now, stuck in this confounded wheel chair at the mercy of others.” Her words were weighted with emotion.
 

I tried to cheer her up. “There are always people like me who are interested in your life and the wonderful stories you can tell. It isn’t every day one meets a real Lady in the park with royal connections.”

          I offered her a sandwich out of my box. “It isn’t caviar but you are very welcome to share my lunch with me.”

She declined then started to talk about the weather again and the beauty of the park.
I was hoping to steer the conversation back to the ‘good old times’ as soon as the opportunity presented itself, when a young woman with a small child approached us rapidly.
“Sorry I was so long Aunty, I got stuck under some bushes trying to get his football.” She displayed the ball triumphantly.

“Don’t worry my dear; I’ve had a nice conversation with this young woman.”

Then she turned to me. “This is Sarah, my niece and Jimmy my great nephew.”

Not knowing weather to courtesy or offer to shake the young lady's hand I rose to my feet. I quickly decided for the conventional method and put my hand forward just as my lunch-box fell to the ground scattering butties everywhere. Unperturbed I said “Nice to meet you. I’m Jane. “Then I hurriedly began to pick up the remains of my lunch.

          “What a shame, you’ve spoiled all your sandwiches!” Her voice displayed concerned. “Not to worry, the ducks will enjoy them; it’s a small price to pay to have the chance to meet you both.” Then looking at little Jimmy, who by then was helping me to pick up the gritty buttes and was promptly placing them in his mouth, I quickly added, “and Lord Jimmy of course.”

Sarah took a step back and bent down slightly to be level with Lady Penelope. “What have you been telling this young lady Aunt Edna? Not the Lady Penelope saga again!” She turned to me with genuine concern. “I’m sorry, she likes to paint pretty pictures with words, and she’s royalty mad. All through her life her greatest ambition’s been to meet the queen. She felt cheated when Uncle Burt died before their 50^th Wedding Anniversary. Now she has to torment us for another 15 years, until she can receive a telegram from the Queen on her 100^th birthday.”

I was a bit disappointed but not completely surprised.

“No harm don, although she had me fooled for a while. Just for the record, I liked her very much, royal connections or not.”

I turned to my ‘Fake Lady’ in the wheel chair just in time to see the mischievous smile disappear from her face.

“You’ll always be a Lady to me Aunty Edna.”