The A-Z segmented story: Part I (as in the letter not the Roman numeral.)
In which some further sandwiches and mess occur.
In
the house, Claire lowers her little guest to the sofa.
‘Half
a sandwich wasn’t quite enough lunch for me: more cheese for you?’ She walks
through to the kitchen, opens the fridge; hears an enthusiastic ‘Ah!’
‘More
cheese it is.’ Four slices of wholewheat make a square of squares on the wooden
chopping board.
Slices
of cheese are pressed onto dots of butter.
‘We’ll
eat in now. Don’t share yours with the cat this time, or the floor. I’ll put
some water in a cup. Can you use a cup? I have seen things like cups, I think,
for little ones, with lids and spouts.’
The
child resumes its original solemn faced stare.
‘Well,
we’ll soon find out, eh?’ Claire brings the slender feast to the front room on
a tin tray.
The
cup of water is taken in two chubby hands. Most of it seems to be washing the
child’s neck.
‘Ahh!’
Lips are smacked. Claire concludes that enough liquid has been consumed.
‘Good
work, kid,’ she admires. She sits adjacent on the sofa, puts a plate on each
lap.
‘Nom
nom sandwich.’
‘Woff.’
‘Yeah,
the dogs like sandwiches too.’
Eating
and drinking go much the same for the child; some goes inside, much is used as
decoration.
‘You
look like an action painting,’ Claire tells it.
Child
looks at her, watches her eat. It holds a triangle of sandwich up to show her.
‘Cheese
for you,’ Claire explains, ‘Cheese and lettuce for me. We’ll be more serious
about the diet tomorrow, eh?’
‘Nom
nom.’ The displayed triangle is swiped over the face.
‘Action
painting,’ Claire repeats. ‘It’s a bit revolting, to be honest.’ She smiles.
‘But I pick up poo, right? I’m not squeamish, lucky for you. Lucky for me too,
since I’m trying to eat a sandwich.’
On
the child’s plate is a rejected squeeze of dough.
‘Enough
for you?’ Claire asks. Her guest sighs, leans back on a cushion. ‘Are you
tired?’
Half
closed eyes answer. With one further sigh, the child curls onto its side and is
completely asleep.
‘Oh,’
Claire says.
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