The Retiring SORT

Eleanor had loved her job but was it all a waste of time? A chance encounter gave her the answer

- Holly Crawford

Aren't they gorgeous? They were a retirement present from the children in my class.' Eleanor looked up from her book. She knew her sister Claire was somewhere in the kitchen but couldn't see her through the forest of flowers and piles of presents covering the table.

She stood and peered over the top of some gerberas. 'Lovely.

'And my colleagues got me this.' Claire pointed to a golden bee brooch.

'How thoughtful,' Eleanor observed, in a neutral tone.

'Well, I was always advocating how important bees are to the planet. Educating the next generation is such an important job, unlike some others.' She paused to sip her champagne.

'Hmm, that's delicious. The parents must have collected a lot of money for my leaving gifts, this is the expensive stuff.

Do you want some?' Without waiting for a reply, Claire reached for a glass.

'I'll stick with tea, thanks.' Eleanor had to keep a clear head or risk saying something she might regret.

Claire filled the glass anyway.

'It's surreal knowing I don't have to go to work on Monday.' She shook her head in disbelief, making her blonde bob shimmer. 'How did you cope with early retirement? I finished work five hours ago and I'm already bored out of my mind.' 'Thanks very much,' Eleanor grumbled, bashing at a bunch of balloons.

'Not bored of your company, silly, Claire giggled. 'I just meant... Oh, I don't know what I meant. Perhaps I've had too much fizz. Maybe it's time for tea. I could use my new mug.

It was a leaving present...'

'Let me guess, from eternally grateful parents,' Eleanor snapped.

But Claire was too busy swaying across the kitchen to hear.

Eleanor loved her sister, but sometimes her unchecked remarks hurt. Especially when Claire knew perfectly well that Eleanor had been forced to take early retirement from the local library (which itself was soon to become a victim of public sector cutbacks by the council).