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bellaj632 — Calla Lilly
Published: 2010-06-08 14:32:25 +0000 UTC; Views: 168; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 1
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Description I went to a weddin' yesterday.  Beau'iful it was.   In a huge, old – cold – church with lovelay widows an' a huge...oh...errm...organ - I think.  Yer, that's it.  It was a huge, grand organ, which belted out the hymns – especially tha' one song...err...Jerusalem it was called – I think.  I recognised it.  I thought I'd sang it before: it was at Johnnie's weddin'.  What a wonderful day tha' was.  All bright sun an' blue sky an' green grass: I remember the huge lawn with a big marquee an' a pond.  There were a pair of swans tha'...err...the children fed.  It was at a huge, big house, like an estate up north – or was it down south...prob'ly south 'cause the weather was so gorgeous.
Anyway, back to the weddin' yesterday.  It was yesterday wasn' it? Yer, I'm sure it was.  The church was filled with loads o' flowers.  Huge arrangements of them: white calla lilies; how I do love calla lilies, they're by far my favourite bloom.  They were surrounded by peonies an' mums an' roses an' greenery. The window sills an' pews were all decorated with little bouquets: look I 'ave one 'ere.  Sarah, the bride tha' is, said I could take one.  Isn't tha' so lovelay.  But the main arrangements were on tall, medieval stands made of...errm....iron - I think – tha' was twisted a curled.  There were two on either side of the main body of the church, next to the pillars, with large cream candles in the centre.  All the candles were lit, which must've bin a big safety 'azard, there were also other stands, holding matchin', long candles tha' illuminated the church in the dusk.   Sounds spooky doesn' it, but when we were all sittin' there, listen to the string quartet: it wasn' scary.  It was magical.
Then everyone stood up an' the bridal procession came up the aisle.  I 'ad a very good view 'cause I was one away from the end of the pew.  And I watched as Charles...no...err...Chris – I think – walked Sarah up the aisle, 'ad a huge grin of 'is face, 'e did.  Their dresses were just breathtaking.  Sarah's was traditional, but modern.  It was creamy-white, with three quarter length lacy sleeves tha' slightly puffed at the shoulder.  It 'ad a heavily embroidered bodice tha' snugly shaped 'er body an', I think, a separate skirt that puffed out a little round 'er hips, an' then draped into slick, neat train: also embroidered.  How I would love to be able to make somethin' as beau'iful as tha'.  I used to do a little dress makin', you know; but I've long since given it up.  When I was younger I made a gorgeous blouse: fitted an' cotton an' frilly an' what not.  I had so many remarks asking where I got it from, an' how much it was: even from strangers in the street!  Oh and I made a red coat, for church on Sunday, long it was, with a wide collar an' big buttons.  My Mum loved sewin'...or was it my Aunt...perhaps it was my Gran...well, anyway, when they died I just slowly stopped: an' tha' lovelay talent died too.  As it 'as today.  I bet not one child today knows how to make a good quality coat: not as good as my brown one.  
Oh I do go off track.  Wha' was I sayin' again?  Oh yes, the weddin'.  Very cold it was, even at the reception!  We 'ad to stand outside for all of the photos, my feet were cold an' numb an' aching from standing for so long.  But then we went inside, so they could receive their presents.  I got them a silver tankard.  It 'ad been my fathers, 'e would've liked to know tha' it was going through the family.  After tha' we ate, an' the food was delicious: warm an' toasty an' very posh.  The first course was...err...errm...a soup - I think.  
After the wedding breakfast an' all the speeches there was more Champagne and every one milled around chattin'.  My feet were far too painful to stand on for another two hours, so I sat on a padded armchair and listened to all the conversations I could!  Jimmy came to cheek on me a few times, which was sweet of 'im, but I was quite content just sittin' there.  The third time, 'e brought Sarah, she seems a lovelay girl, but oh she was so nosey.  'Where did you do this?' an' 'When did you do that?' – it was like one of those crime programs tha' are shown late at night.  My memory isn't wha' it used to be.  I don't remember the name of my school or the road I grew up in.  Luckily Johnnie came over and interrupted, saying someone wanted to speak to 'er, while winking at me.
There was a disco late at night.  But I didn't go, not tha' they expected me to, I think the invitation was just out of politeness.  Imagine an old woman like me at a disco!  The bed was comfy though, they 'ad booked me into a first floor room, away from all the noise of the party.  I 'ad a long warm bath, changed an' fell asleep almost instantly!
*   *   *   *   *

I haven' done much lately.  My bouquet of white calla lilies 'ave drooped an' died, so I suggested we go to a Garden Centre.  This was a few days ago, with Yvonne: it was a great day.  We looked round all of the indoor plants and then wen' outside to admire the statues.  There was a particularly nice one of a frightened child, looking behind 'er shoulder at a frog on the ground.  How people can sculpt such masterpieces is beyond me.  Then we wen' back inside an' sat in the...err...inside garden thing...it was nice and warm an' we sat there drinking our cuppa tea while lookin' through the huge glass out at the clear, frosty day.
Old age is catchin' up with me fast 'cause after Yvonne had dropped me off, a women phoned...err...Becky – I think.  She started chattin' to me, an' talkin' about how long it had been since we had meet up, an' askin' how I was an' how Johnnie an' Jimmy an' Sarah was.  Who is Sarah?  I have been thinkin' all night: an' I don't know a Sarah.  Obviously I know who my son an' grandson are.  But who is this Sarah?  I've bin though all of my pictures and not one of them is of a Sarah – tha' I can remember.  I just replied an' said she was really happy and doin' fine, as it seemed the right thing to do; perhaps she is fine and happy – I wouldn' know.  I thought about ringin' Johnnie an' askin' him: but what if I should know who she is an' it upsets 'im tha' I don'.  No, I'll remember 'er, eventually: I just need to sleep on it.

*   *   *   *   *

I'm stayin' with Johnnie at the moment.  'E said 'e didn' think I should be alone - I said am I really tha' old an' laughed, to show there's no resentment.  And there isn' – I just sometimes wish tha' 'e wouldn' fuss so much.
We wen' to look round a lovelay...errm...boarding home.  Johnnie said it would be so much easier for me to stay there.  'E said tha' during the week I would live there, in my own little flat type thing an' then at the weekends I could choose to stay there, or go to stay at 'is.  I've got to say it would be lovelay.  There are lots of people: and groups where you can go to socialise.  I've been so lonely since...errr...my friend...errm...Yvonne...that's it – I think.  She passed away some months ago now, and, and, I do miss her – so, so very much.  Look at me – cryin', it's not like I haven' known death before.  It, it, it just gets me at the back of my throat, every time.  Every time I'm alone.  I mean, we'll all 'ave to die sometime: it's just a matter of when, where and how.
Perhaps I should go to this boarding home.  It will be like school again, not tha' I can really remember school.  Ah well, that's what comes with old age.  The gardens at this home were breathtakin', all of the...errrm...flowers were out, and smelt so nice.

*   *   *   *   *

I moved in here..err...a while back.  It's so nice.  They make such a fuss of you.  I've made some good girlfriends.  We play scrabble, but I always lose.  How they know such a lot o' words I will never know – I always forget them.  I miss livin' with Johnnie.  But we still talk - sometimes.  I do hope 'e is well.  I always tell 'im I am.

*   *   *   *   *

A strange man came to see me today.  'E was tall an' middle-aged, with a kind face.  'E gave me some long...errm...white – I think – flowers.  I don't know who 'e is: but 'e kept sayin' 'is name was Johnnie.
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Comments: 4

BronxGuy75 [2010-07-05 10:55:00 +0000 UTC]

wow! what a descriptive novel you inadvertantly wrote for me to enjoy such an involved individule like yourself..

-in other words i really enjoyed readin your words and i'm american so i now have a UK accent . I just LOVE IT!
-please write more...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

bellaj632 In reply to BronxGuy75 [2010-07-17 13:47:03 +0000 UTC]

thank you so so much!
that means alot!
(that you even bothered to read it - and then you enjoyed it!! )
[[and you dont want that kinda english accent hahaa]]
yea, i havnt written a story for a while, i think i will ill start throwing ideas around..
X

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

BronxGuy75 In reply to bellaj632 [2010-08-21 02:33:42 +0000 UTC]

i LOVED it!!! you really put me there where you were in your mind...
i can't express how much i enjoyed reading your words. it..you..are one of those rare cars that pass you by and 'm glad i found your stuff!

deepest art love,

Mark

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

bellaj632 In reply to BronxGuy75 [2010-08-21 16:22:29 +0000 UTC]

wow thank you, alot. that has really made my happy that you think that
deeest gratitude

👍: 0 ⏩: 0