SERIES Say It With Flowers by Jan Snook
When Alison got an idea in her head, there was no stopping her!
NOT again,” Alison said under her breath, so that only Jennifer could hear her. “Every single meeting of this wretched club seems to start with a bit of a nag recently.
“And she always looks so accusing,” she added, looking at the chairwoman of the Brampington Floral Decoration Society, “as if it’s our fault the club isn’t doing too well.”
Doreen, the rather officious chairwoman, turned her steely gaze on to the two friends and continued.
“The treasurer tells me that the club’s coffers are desperately empty, and that unless we recruit members soon we will be in serious trouble.” She looked over her glasses and raked the sparse audience with her eyes.
“It’s up to you to coerce your friends into coming. Tell them what fun they’ll have!” She beamed.
“Can’t we just get on with it?” Jen muttered.
A large lady was sitting on the stage, looking up at Doreen and smiling politely.
“That poor woman looks fed up. You’d think Doreen would realise she’d like to get her flowers out of their boxes.”
But Doreen hadn’t finished. She turned to include the lady who was about to give the flowerarranging demonstration and cast her an anguished look.
“We’ve been fortunate up until now that Edna Potterton is a member of this club and, for countless years, has kept us supplied with new members from her own flower-arranging classes.
“Sadly, Edna has now given up teaching, and no-one else from the club would have the temerity to try to fill her shoes!” She gave a tinkling laugh, and Jennifer could feel Alison’s hackles rising beside her.
The visiting demonstrator made to stand up, but Doreen felt obliged to remind the audience yet again that the lady’s beautiful arrangements would be raffled at the end of the evening, and that they should all buy as many raffle tickets as possible.
They should also remember that the Christmas Fayre was fast approaching, and she expected everyone to contribute at least one festive arrangement for the sales table – and there would be dire consequences if each and every one of them didn’t make more of an effort.
After what turned out to be a brilliant demonstration, where the unassuming demonstrator created a dazzling array of exhibits suitable for winter weddings, Jennifer and Alison went to the back of the hall to get a cup of coffee.
“I haven’t enjoyed a demonstration so much for months,” Alison said sincerely, looking towards the stage where the seven beautiful exhibits glowed under the lights.
Lilies, roses and anthuriums were vying with each other for attention.
“They are simply exquisite –” Jennifer began, but another voice interrupted.
“Yes, very pleasing,” Edna said, looking critically at the display. “I really don’t know how many more evenings like this we’ll be able to enjoy, though,” she added, shaking her head.
“People have begged me to continue with my classes, but I really can’t. I look around this hall and I think I’ve taught every single member here.” She looked round grimly. “And there’s no-one who’s . . . willing,” she continued, “to take on the mantle.”
Jennifer and Alison exchanged looks.
“It’s such a pity,” Edna said complacently. “The classes are in the adult education prospectus, and there are lots of students already enrolled, but I just couldn’t manage another year.”
Jennifer’s heart sank. When it came to Alison, red rags and bulls sprang to mind.
Alison had enough to do. Unlike Jennifer, she had a husband and three teenagers to look after.
She genuinely hadn’t the time.
And she had a part-time job as an art teacher in the local primary school as well.
Alison smiled sweetly, and Jennifer’s heart dropped another couple of feet.
She stared at the floor, willing Alison not to commit herself.
“Jennifer and I,” Alison began, “would be delighted to take over.”
More next week.