Changes

Mabel's husband was planning something, and she wasn't happy about it

- Janet Boyle

Just the milk, Mabel?

'Just the milk today, Fred,' Mabel replied.

'How long before you leave now?'

'Four weeks, three days,' Fred's wife Sarah sang from behind the tinned-goods shelf where she was replenishing the stock of baked beans.

'Then it's three weeks on the ship, in a cabin with a balcony, followed by retirement to the seaside,' Fred grinned.

Mabel nodded knowingly.

Sarah and Fred had been regaling the villagers for months with details of their Mediterranean cruise and their new bungalow on the coast.

'I hope you both enjoy your retirement as much as Derek is enjoying his,' Mabel said. 'We've settled into a nice routine.'

'I saw him the other day,' Fred said. 'He told me it was like being on holiday at first, but he now had ideas for changing a few things.'

Mabel didn't like the sound of that one bit. She didn't like change.

She set off home at a brisk pace.

She knew she should be grateful that the shop would be staying open. The post office, which closed a year ago, was now a holiday rental cottage.

But Sarah had told her that the new owners of the shop had lots of changes planned, which was a worry.