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It turns out that luck was with our heroines, and they arrived safely at their destination, Moor End Farm in Broxted. The cab burst upon the farmyard scene with a great show of speed, then nearly took flight off a speed bump (hump). The ladies hit their heads on the cab roof. The fat lady glanced at the bag of Jelly Babies, disappointed that it was still in the old lady's vise-like grip. The usually thrifty old lady was so relieved to have survived the taxi trip that she overtipped the lousy driver by 4 times! It was worth it just to be there at last! At long last!
Immediately a young man who had been working nearby came up to help the ladies to their shared rooms. The old lady's eyes gleamed. She hadn't had a nice young man to talk to since the LA airport. She glanced around for her daughter. "There she is, behaving improperly again!," the old lady thought, while smiling charmingly at the young man, shaking his hand, and still managing to give the fat lady on the ground behind her a swift little kick. The fat lady slowly (which was as fast as she could) hefted herself up off her hands and knees, and stood up to meet their greeter. "Have I irritated Mother again?", thought the fat lady as she smiled and shook the man's hand. "Can't even kiss the ground in peace, dammit! You know, if I kept walking on this holy ground in that direction, I'd get to Liverpool, the sacred land of the young Beatles. Oh my God, Mom's flirting again, and probably thinks I should too! Will she ever forgive me for not saving myself for Prince Charles?" The old lady sweetly giggled at something the man said as he gallantly opened their door.
Their rooms were in what used to be the byre, but had been converted into modern and comfortable abodes. The pleasant man showed them the rooms then left and returned immediately with teas and instant coffee packets. "Coffee!" announced the fat lady with a sigh of relief. Grinning broadly she thought, "I WILL survive!" The old lady noticed the bowl of fruit. "How nice! We will eat fruit and not get fat" the old lady silently plotted. The fat lady spied the bowl of eggs. "Far out! Now Mom can't try to starve me with just that fruit over there!" She had been regretting her failure to cash a check for British pounds at the airport. She realized, belatedly, that now she was totally under her mother's control, like a child, since Mom was the only one with money. Of course, it didn't matter much as there was no grocery store for miles. Or any other store for that matter.
The fat lady's ponderings were interrupted by the astonishing sight of the old lady suddenly sprinting to the far end of the room, turning around in the doorway to face her daughter, crossing her arms across her chest, and rudely shouting that the bedroom beyond was hers. "Riiiight!" said the fat lady in her best Hugh Grant imitation. "Riiiiiiiight", answered the old lady with her best imitation. "Age before beauty!" shouted the fat lady as she smilingly lay down on her bunk bed with it's very soft duvet and pillow like a cloud. It felt like heaven. "That means the rest of this place is mine!" she crowed.
Instantly there was a knocking on the door. Both ladies greeted the newcomer. It was Cathy, who owned the farm with her husband and brother-in-law (the nice man who had greeted them). She had been picking up the children at school, but now was here to quickly meet the guests and supply them with fresh milk, farmhouse bread, and real butter. The fat lady's eyes widened in pleasure! Cathy was very pleasant and helpful, and spoke and moved about very fast, as she was always busy with a farm, a Bed & Breakfast (2 other families would show), and a lively family of 3 children, all boys, one a demanding toddler. The fat lady had empathy (and sympathy) for Cathy, as she too had spent many years in the service of her own family of five, and was thankful to now have some time for herself.
To be continued..Version 7 click Here!