Fibonacci’s Tree – Winner of Hysteria 2013

Fibonacci’s Tree by Tracy Fells ‘Here I am!’ I jab a finger, one of the few that still works, at the notebook page. ‘Right at the bottom of the tree.’ Tanya is adding too much milk to my tea. She doesn’t think I’m looking when she shoves a custard cream into her mouth. It disappears whole like an envelope propelled through a gaping letterbox. Crumbs splutter across the back of my useless left hand as she chants, ‘Teatime, Ellie. Sorry, we’re out of custard creams, but I’ve saved you a Bourbon. They’re your favourites.’ I can hear the words inside my head. They are crisp and clear like Mum’s best crystal, singing out, perfectly formed in tone and pitch. ‘My name is Eleanor and I loathe Bourbons, they are not proper chocolate biscuits.’ ‘Go on then, you can have two today.’ Tanya’s swollen pigeon bust almost knocks my glasses off as she bends forward to peer at the notebook. ‘What you drawing? Oh, is that your family tree, Ellie? My brother’s into all that, he’s always on the Internet searching those family history sites you see on the telly.’ I steer my right index finger to the name adjacent to mine. ‘Jacob, my brother, son of Harold and Kitty, he died a millennium ago, before the Falklands. Back in the day when a soldier dying overseas didn’t make the news, it was expected – par for the course.’ Retracting the shaking hand to the safety of my lap I stare at the chipped teacup, resolve to focus on the now and not slip ba...
Source: The Hysterectomy Association - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Hysteria Writing Competition hysteria 2 hysteria 2013 Source Type: news