Challenges

by NancyMay

The stories in this stream are a result of challenges to my English students. They are required to write a story using the words in their weekly spelling list. The list will be at the top of the story. I encourage my pupils by attempting the same challenge. I hope you enjoy. All will be rated K as the pupils are 11 years or less.

8. Chapter 8 For remembrance

Words required:

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apparent, cemetery, curiosity, explanation, forty, language, recognise, temperature, muscle, interrupt

Jean slipped her coat and hat on and picked her handbag up from the hall table. Today was her wedding anniversary, one whole year as Mrs Lucien Blake. She had worn a light dress and jacket that day, but the temperature had dropped of late and she decided a coat would be better today. Lucien was taking her out to dinner that night, at the club but there was one thing she had promised herself she would do every year on this day; she would put flowers on Genevieve's grave. She had made the promise the day she wed the doctor, when she had taken Lucien to the cemetery and placed her wedding flowers there on that sunny Autumn morning.

It had been hard for him not to let his curiosity get the better of him, a cemetery was a strange place to visit on one's wedding day. But as they strolled amongst the graves it became apparent where she was heading. She had offered the explanation later, that Genevieve had brought them together even though she had never known her, having died forty years before she and Lucien met, it was important to Jean that she recognise the part his mother had played in their life.

Jean had explained the reason for some of the foliage in her bouquet, the language of flowers had been important in her choice, particular the sprig of rosemary, for remembrance. He had did not interrupt her but she knew he was moved, there was a muscle in his cheek that twitched when he held back the tears, it had moved him greatly.

Today, as she had done a year ago, she had cut some late blooms from the garden and arranged them into a simple posy, including the sprig of rosemary.

At Genevieve's grave she did a little tidy up and put the flowers in the vase, adding water from a bottle she had brought with her. She stood up and realised she was being watched. She turned to find her husband smiling at her.

'Thought I'd find you here,' He said, kissing her cheek.

She took his hand and they strolled through the graves and home. At peace in each other's company.

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Total fluff for a change.