The Flower Box by Jane O ’ Connor, short story category winner 2020

Kay sat on the step of her pottery studio cradling a cup of tea when she felt a nudge on her arm as Pansy, her Nan’s Yorkshire Terrier, rushed past her and began doing joyful circuits of the lawn. Kay had been apprehensive about taking Pansy in, but things had happened so quickly after Nan’s fall that she had felt it was the only option, and her Nan had been so grateful. It had been left to Kay to break the news to Nan that she was going straight into a nursing home after hospital due to her failing vision, and that her bungalow would have to be sold. ‘I never really liked the place anyway,’ Nan had confided in Kay. ‘My home was with your Grandad in Sheridan Lane, the bungalow was just a place to live after he died.’ ‘I know,’ said Kay stroking her hand, relieved that she was not more upset. Nan suddenly clutched at the blanket and Kay looked at her in alarm. ‘But my garden Kay,’ she said, her eyes filling with tears. ‘All my beautiful flowers. I’ll miss them so much.’ Her bottom lip trembled as the realisation sunk in, and Kay had felt helpless to do any more than sit with her and quietly share her loss. The next morning Kay drove to Nan’s bungalow with Pansy on the back seat, and they made their way through the side gate and into the garden. It was late June and they were met with a glorious riot of colours, scents, butterflies, and bees. Kay took a small linen bag and some secateurs out of her satchel and began snipping off the sweetest blooms s...
Source: The Hysterectomy Association - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Hysteria hysteria 2020 hysteria 7 short story Source Type: news