Event Planning

The washing machine rumbled to an abrupt end. Lizzie removed the towels, letting them flop into the clothes basket just as her husband entered the kitchen.

‘What on earth are you doing,

Lizzie?’ He sounded annoyed, but his face was showing concern.

‘I need you to be with me when Ben says goodbye to the dogs, its not going to be easy.’

‘Do you think I don’t know that?’ Tears welled in her eyes; and she furiously wiped them away.

Ben came into the kitchen, knees muddy already, he had only been outside for half an hour playing with his best friend Bobby.

‘What’s wrong mum, are you okay?’

‘Of course I am sweetheart, come here.’

As he walked over to her, Lizzy grabbed him so tightly that he gasped with shock.

‘Do you remember that dad and I said that Bracken and Heather will need to go to the vet, maybe even stay over for tests?’

‘Yes, is it today?’

Yes Ben, it is, lets go and give them cuddles before dad takes them.’ Her arms hung limply by her side.

Dan was dragged into the kitchen by two black, rather scruffy looking dogs. They pulled so hard to reach Lizzie, that Dan let go of the leads. Lizzie dropped to her knees and bundled the two wriggling bodies into her arms, she couldn’t control the tears this time, they coursed down her face leaving wet patches on top of the dog’s heads.

‘Don’t worry mum, Mr Reid is a good Vet, he will take good care of them.’

‘Yes, you are right.’ Lizzie wiped at her red rimmed eyes and knew that she dare not look at her husband who was blowing his nose on a man size tissue.

‘Goodbye my sweet boy, goodbye my sweet girl. I love you.’

Bracken and Heather wagged their tails furiously as Ben and Dan joined in and offered them their favourite treats. They didn’t know what was going on, but they lapped it up with gusto.

‘I need to leave now or I will be late.’

Dan’s chin was on his chest; he had lost weight and the dark circles under his eyes could not hide the redness.

‘See you later or tomorrow you two, can I go back out to play now mum?’

‘How Lizzie envied her son’s optimism, she even envied the dogs if truth be told, but she must keep busy.

‘Will you be here when I get back or are we going to the community centre, I hear most of the village is going?’

‘I think we should go, it will be good to have a distraction, the company will do us good, I will finish up here and head over with Ben, he will be over the moon because Bobby is going.’

Alone in the kitchen, Lizzie picked up the clothes basket and headed into the garden. Dan had mown the lawn, the multi coloured flowers stood out against the blue sky. A perfect drying day, and nothing or no one would stop her hanging the towels on the line.

Lizzie rushed back inside and threw up in the small downstairs loo. She thought she might die there and then, part of her wished she could.

She started to walk around inside the house. Everything was bright, fresh and clean, just as she had planned. She had a steely determination in her belly she didn’t even know existed until recently and she was grateful for it.

Plumping up cushions and checking for specks of dust was keeping her calm, for now anyway.

She loved her home, the home lovingly created by her and Dan, when Ben had come along it was the icing on the proverbial cake.

‘Oh Ben, I am so sorry, I am so so sorry.’ Lizzy spoke into the ether.

                                                      ***

 Lizzie immediately looked for her friend when entered the community centre.  When she saw the familiar blonde curls framing a pale and drawn face, a slow smile crossed her face and her arms instinctively reached out.

‘Jean!’ Lizzy called out failing to hide the trepidation she was feeling.

Jean was by her side in an instant and hugged her tightly. ‘You made it, I thought you were staying at home?’

‘Last minute decision. Once Dan left with the dogs and you know… the house was so quiet, plus I knew you had been baking.’ She managed a watery smile.

‘Did you get the memo from Bert Green, asking for donations of alcohol?

‘Oh yes, and the one asking everyone to dig out their best crystal and China. We complied of course, why not?’

‘Where are the boys? Do they suspect anything? Lizzie pulled a face.

‘Outside, playing with all the other kids. They have no idea what is in store for them.

‘Mum, can I go outside to play, I need to find Bobby? When will Dad be here?

Lizzy frowned at Ben. ‘Yes, but remember, you must come back in when I call you, do you promise? Dad should be back in about an hour, do not leave the grounds, no matter what you see or hear, do you understand?’ her son, the image of his father, smiled and promised. She thought that her heart might burst open, it was so full of love for this boy. How could she let him down this way?

‘It’s good to see how everyone has come together, we could so easily have been divided into opposite camps, Church on one hand, the rest of us on the other. I wish I did believe, I really do, but I suppose it’s too late to swap sides at this stage of the game. ‘Lizzie attempted a smile.

‘Look, it is what it is. We are all in this together, and I find that comforting. There is no favouritism, no us and them now. One for all and all for one, eh?’ Jean smiled, but it did not reach her eyes.

‘Did your sister manage to call you, before… you know?’

‘Yes, yes she did.’ Lizzie’s eyes glistened. ‘She sounded so calm and composed, we reminisced for a while, made promises we knew we couldn’t keep, shared photos, that sort of thing. It was surreal’

How about you? What about your mum and dad? Lizzie asked with trepidation.

‘You know what Lizzie, I can’t talk about this now, I need to go and check that the kids are okay, I will just be a minute.’

Lizzie watched her friend cross the wooden floor and head towards the main entrance.

Friends and neighbours sat around rectangular tables chatting and enjoying the fare on offer. There was a makeshift bar in the corner of the room, next to the small stage that had hosted so many plays and concerts over the years. Some people seemed reluctant to order a drink, others were already three sheets to the wind, laughing, singing, some even dancing.

‘Mum.’ Ben nudged his mother’s arm to get her attention. ‘I think dad is on his way back, he is coming up the hill with lots of other people. Can I stay out even when he gets back, we have a great game going and I think I might even win.’ Ben’s eyes shone with delight.

‘Yes, of course you can, but remember, stay in the grounds so that you can hear me.’

‘Do you remember when we used to play from dawn until dusk? Jean looked at her friend. ‘How we survived half of the things we got up to is a miracle.’

‘You mean falling out of trees, landing face down in the river, swallowing concoctions we made out of weeds in the garden pretending they were delicious dinners. ’Lizzie grinned. ‘Those were the days. I’m glad our kids have experienced the freedom we did. Days full of make believe and pretence.’

‘I have decided that all of this is make believe. We have made up a strange macabre tale and we must fight the monsters until the very end. I’m going to the bar for another gin and tonic, you are having one too, no arguments.’

‘You will get no arguments from me.’ Lizzy slurred a little. ‘Pick up some cake too.’

‘They say there is a reason for everything. I have thought about that saying a lot. Maybe it’s better that our children have such happy, carefree memories, you know, rather than…

 Lizzie instinctively hugged herself and slowly sank into an empty chair.

‘Is John with the shooting party? Jean nodded. ‘Yes, it’s his first time with a gun, he was physically sick this morning.

‘Here comes Mr and Mrs Green, look at them, they have obviously got over the fact that this isn’t being held in the church hall.’ Jean pulled a face.

‘I’ve got the tea, coffee and cake.’ Sarah Green said cheerfully.

‘And I’ve got the communal hard stuff.’ Bert Green pointed to the groaning trolley filled with seemingly every alcoholic beverage known to man and a host of crystal glasses gleaming in the shaft of sunlight coming through a window.

‘I will take a large gin and tonic please.’ Lizzy whispered.

‘Same for me.’ Jean quipped.

‘When will the men be back?’ The words tangled in Lizzies throat and came out staccato.

‘Its not just men you know, and it will be as soon as they have finished. They have a robust plan. If everyone remembers what to do, it shouldn’t take long.’  Jean choked back a sob.

‘Dan, thank God you are back.’ Lizzie ran towards her husband and clung to him tightly. She could hardly bear to look into his woeful eyes. She could feel his warm wet tears, tainted with sorrow and distress seep into her shoulder, and her heart ached for this man in what she knew must be one of the worst times of his life. He had been following orders, nothing more, nothing less. They both knew that it was for the best, but that did not make it any easier. She could hear him stifling sobs as she cradled him in her arms. As she looked over his shoulder, she could see other people doing exactly the same, it was like some sort of bizarre communal grieving do. In an instant she was glad that they had made the decision to come, they were not in this alone, every single person in this room knew exactly what they were going through and it was forebodingly comforting.

A raised, strangely high-pitched voice instantly commanded attention. ‘Listen everyone, we have a signal.’ The room became eerily quiet, the monotone, matter of fact voice filled the air that could now have been cut with a knife.

“The following instructions are directed to those residing in any remaining rural areas. Please be advised that you are among the last to receive this message. Major cities and towns have already succumbed.

The chemical gas is due to arrive in your area within the next hour. It is impossible to be more specific; much depends on the wind direction and speed. Remember, it is lethal only to humans and we have it on authority, that death should be pain free. Sit or lie down if you can. Take sedatives if you have any. Alcohol may also help

If you have not already done so, please euthanise any pets who will not survive without you. Farm animals are excluded; they will be utilised.

May your God be with you and…