Pies & Prophesies
‘Yes, great! 3.30? I’ll be there. Yes, see you later, bye then!’ and putting the phone down, Louise looked at her watch. It was 10 past one, and with a quick calculation, she reasoned she had just two hours to finish the baking and change in time to drive across town to the coffee shop.
That morning, thinking she had a free day ahead once Tim had left, Louise had planned on a baking session. All morning she had been preparing apples from the autumn glut, and lots of pastry. The contents of the freezer were rearranged to make room, and she had four pies already baked and cooling.
‘I guess it would be nice to take Jenny a pie, too,’ mused Louise as she rolled out another batch of pastry.
Jenny was a friend of long standing. They had met by the school gates when their children started attending the local primary. Gosh, they were well grown now. How the years had passed. Jenny hadn’t been too well lately, but fancied a run out for an hour and called to see if Louise had time to meet at the small cafe they frequented. Although she presently had her hands full, literally, of pastry and accoutrements, she felt she should make time for her friend. She was just putting the last tray of pies into the oven, and set the timer when the doorbell rang. Grabbing a towel to wipe her floury hands, Louise went to answer it.
Two ladies stood by the door, each holding a leather zip file, and a book.
‘Good afternoon, madam. We wondered if we might just take up a few minutes of your time?’ She was a pleasant lady, short and presentable, with a calming voice.
The penny dropped….Jehovah’s Witnesses! The book would be a Bible.
‘Oh dear,’ thought Louise. ‘Not today!’
She started…’Well, it is rather inconvenient just now, you see,’ but this was not a deterrent they wanted to hear.
‘We would like to ask you to share a couple of things with us which might be worrying you in your life right now’ said the other lady. ‘There are many dark times in our lives. What are you unhappy about, or disagree with in the world?’ She was tall and slim, with rather piercing eyes. She wore a blue coat and hat.
‘Well, er, I suppose there are, like everyone else, but I am rather……..’
‘The Bible tells us to have faith, and our paths shall be…..’
‘Look, I am really sorry,’ Louise said hurriedly, ‘but I am short of time.’ Pointing to her watch, saw it was already 10 to 3.
‘We all dash about in our busy lives, but should take the time to consider….’ continued the taller partner. ‘The day will come when we are answerable…..’
‘Look, I am really sorry, but I am on my way to see a sick friend, and I don’t have time for this right now!’ Louise thought she had stretched the truth a little. Well, Jenny had been sick, even though they were meeting in the coffee shop.
The vocal lady finally took the hint, smiled falsely and thrust a copy of the Watchtower towards Louise, who took it.
‘There is a particularly good article this month on ‘Faith, Hope and Charity’… I hope your friend recovers soon.’
They left, the smaller one turning to smile again as they walked down the front path.
The cafe was quite busy but Louise found Jenny already seated in the corner at a convenient table for two. Jenny waved and Louise pushed through to her, giving her a quick embrace.
‘Before I forget it, let me give you this pie I just made. I’ve been baking all day, using the apples up. There seem to be loads this year. Just as I was checking the time to get ready, would you believe it but I had the Jehovah’s Witnesses call! Oh, my word, one was pushy…’
A young lady came to take their orders.
‘That reminds me,’ tried Jenny, but Louise went on:
‘If it was a day when I wasn’t so busy, I wouldn’t have minded too much, but I did say it wasn’t convenient.’
‘They do have a commitment to fulfil, you know,’ Jenny informed her friend, who still continued.
‘Yes, a commitment! But why do they have to use their commitment to harass me when I don’t have the time. I tell you, Louise, she was pushy that one, the taller one. She was dressed smartly, blue coat and a hat, but wasn’t happy that I didn’t want to talk.’
Their orders arrived and they paused to start on a drink and scone.
‘Did you shop, Jenny, on your way here?’ asked Louise, eyeing two fancy carrier bags on the floor beside her friend’s chair. Jenny described her purchases briefly.
Louise noticed Jenny was quiet, and put it down to her recent debility. She tried to cheer her up with other anecdotes of her week, but with her earlier visitors on her mind, unconsciously returned to the subject.
‘I suppose they’ll come back’
‘Who will?’
‘The darned Witnesses!’
‘Why should they?’
‘I just bet they’ll try again!’
‘I shouldn’t worry. I’ll tell, I mean I’ll bet, they won’t come harassing you again.’
‘Well, I do hope not, but how has your week gone? Did you say your sister was moving house? Where was she living, Sussex was it?’
‘Yes, that’s right. They lived in Sussex since they were married. You never met Katy, did you? She decided she wanted to return to familiar ground once again. In fact, she’s in the area this afternoon. She might pop in actually, as I told her I would be here.’
They finished their refreshments, and as she remembered she needed some ham for tea, Louise put on her coat and was bidding her friend goodbye when the cafe door opened.
‘Here she is now, Louise. Here is Katy,’ and Louise turned to see a familiar tall lady, wearing a blue coat and hat, heading towards them.
(to be continued)
