Dorcas and Kitty were in Curl up and Dye.

Their shrill little voices could be easily heard over the low hum of the blowers as they discussed their latest project.

“Oh Dorcas, we’ve so much to organise, isn’t it wonderful?” Kitty gushed.

Dorcas, always the more practical of the two sisters, was equally excited but determined to sound put-upon never-the-less.

“It’s not going to be easy, Kitty,” she cautioned, “There’s the question of ‘where?’ for starters, and then we’ll need all sorts of things: cooking utensils, supplies, someone will have to put up posters. Saints preserve us, I’m sure Rita hasn’t thought any of this through!” she exclaimed, sounding just like their dear late mother, thought Kitty.

Guy’s interest was piqued “Cooking utensils? Supplies? Don’t tell me you’re planning a big old booze up of a party, Ladies?” he joked.

Kitty giggled at the very idea of it, but stopped abruptly when she saw the look on Dorcas’ face – it was the very one made famous by the old Queen, Victoria.

“Rita is setting up a soup kitchen to feed the homeless, of which, as you know, there are many in Grecondale,” Dorcas replied pompously.

Only the day before, Rita had popped round for a cup of tea and put her idea to them. Since the sisters had so nobly dedicated their lives to God and carrying out good works, who better to help her? she’d suggested.

But the soft-soaping had been quite unnecessary as the idea sounded right up their street and Dorcas had agreed readily. It might also prove to be a good opportunity to offload some more of their surplus crucifixes, she’d thought too.

“A soup kitchen?” interrupted Katrina sitting up at the washbasin where Guy had only just made her comfortable, “She saw you coming, she did. That one can’t even cook, everyone knows that!” she said rather unkindly of Rita, “You’ll have all the work to do, you mark my words.” she prophesised disparagingly.

“Katy’s right,” chimed in Antonio – the only person ever to get away with shortening Katrina’s name – “lovely woman, but doesn’t know one end of a cocktail sausage from the other!”

Katrina chuckled, “You’re not wrong there, my dear!” – she had a soft spot for ‘Naughty Antonio’ as she always thought of him, “But she’s in safe hand’s with you two helping her,” she added, noticing Dorcas’ stony expression.

“Well ah think it’s a lovey idea, Ladies,” said Vicky who had been listening in on the conversation while she swept the floor, “Am sure the homeless’ll be really happy aboot it.”

Just then, the phone rang in the salon and Vicky went to answer it. Clearly someone wanted to make an appointment and Vicky noted it in the diary and hung up.

“That was that new girl from Rita’s,” she volunteered, “Ye know, the really pretty new maid. Can ah get any of you ladies a magazine?” she added.

“Forget the magazines,” said Katrina, “when’s she coming in and what’s she having done?” There had been much speculation that week about the enigmatic new maid at Y Bwthyn Bach and she was what passed for a ‘hot topic’ in Grecondale.

“Can’t tell ye that,” said Vicky tartily, “client confidentiality.” she added with a smug little smile. Katrina was most put out.

“She’ll be after having her roots done no doubt,” chipped in Dorcas.

“Oh now, Dorcas, don’t be unkind, I’m sure she’s all God’s own work,” said Kitty kindly. Feeling suitably chastised, Dorcas made a mental note to pop to confession on Saturday.

“Well,” said Antonio, who loved a bit of salacious gossip and cared not if any higher authority judged him, “I heard a whisper that she’s recently had her heart broken by someone… someone to whom she possibly had no business giving her heart in the first place if you get my drift.”

“Ah had me heart broken once,” interjected Vicky, who had never really recovered from being brutally thrown over by Wayne upon the arrival of raven-haired Calamity in Grecondale.

Antonio and Guy exchanged worried looks and Guy hurried to change the subject – Vicky was prone to bursting into tears at the drop of a hat and neither of them felt up to that.

TO BE CONTINUED…

© 2020, Zoe. All rights reserved.