Tuesday December 7^th

Queenie died at 3 o’clock this morning. She had a stroke in her sleep. Bert said that it was a good way to go, and I am inclined to agree with him. It was strange to go into Bert’s house and see Queenie’s things all over the place. I still can’t believe she is dead and that her body is in the Co-op Funeral Parlour.

I didn’t cry when my mother told me the news, in fact I felt like laughing. It wasn’t until I saw Queenie’s pot of rouge standing on the dressing table, that tears leaked out. I didn’t let Bert see me crying, and he didn’t let me see him crying. But I know he has been. There are no clean hankies left in the drawer.

Bert doesn’t know what to do about death certificates, and funeral arrangements, etc. So Pandora’s father came round to do all the death paperwork.

Wednesday December 8^th

Bert has asked me to write a poem to put in the Deaths column of the local paper.

10pm. I am terrified. In fact I have got writer’s block.

11.30pm. Unblocked. Finished poem.

Thursday December 9^th

The following announcements appeared in the paper tonight:

BAXTER, Maud Lilian (Queenie). Passed away peacefully at home on 7^th December 1982. To the best girl that ever was. Bert, Sabre and Adrian.

White face, red cheeks.

Eyes like crocus buds.

Hands deft and sure, yet worked to gnarled roots.

A practical comfortable body, dressed in young colours.

Feet twisted, but planted firmly on the ground.

A sure soft voice, with a crackly sudden laugh.

Her body is lifeless and cold,

But the memory of her is joyful and warm as a rockpool in August.

Funeral service and cremation, Monday 13^th December at 1.30pm at Gilmore’s crematorium. Floral tributes to Co-operative funeral service.

Written with love, from Adrian, on the instructions of Mr Bertram Baxter.