Day Twenty-nine

(For more information on my 'April Challenge' see HERE)

(And so I complete the challenge today when I reach 150 with my 50-word SNAPS... a whole day before the end of the month. I will of course do one more set of SNAPS tomorrow to round off the challenge and then a rest from this... even though it has been the greatest fun.)

(146)CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT FOOD AND GOSSIP

There’s a park at the heart of the city. Trees scraping the sky and stretches of green laid out like carpet. And benches to sit on where pigeons gather in hopeful crowds expecting gifts. Marge and June meet their daily, cups of seed and all the news of the day.

(147)FOR SARAH

This one’s for Sarah. She likes benches, you see. All sorts and all places. Collects pictures of them and hangs those pictures where others can look at them. She writes about them, too, all the stories of people meeting and not meeting in public places where birds are and trees.

(148)A HUSBAND’S GIFT

There’s a brass plaque on the back. Rub it a while and it turns from dark to gold so the engraved message can be read by more than the blind. It says her name, some dates and how her husband brought her here sometimes just to see and be seen.

(149)BELONGING

Every day for years now. So many that the place is theirs. Like it’s booked and everyone knows and visitors directed away from the place with smiles and apologies and there are other benches for them. No, this bench is for Frank and for Mavis. Not lovers but in love.

(150)LATE

She said six. Benedict checks his diary. Yes. Six is what she said. What he wrote. He checks the location and it is right, too. He looks at his watch and then holds it up to his ear to hear the whispered confirmation that time is passing. Ursula said six!