To
Weigh A Planet
From the telling of Grannyjan
It was seven o clock, and everyone was coming home, except Marie. She had been at home, as usual, cooking, cleaning , clearing up. Why was it that everyday was the same? No one even listened too her.
Husband, daughter, sons...they all crammed the food into their mouths, and ran out again. "See you later, Mum." "Don't wait up darling." "I'll be staying over at Anna's".
A whirlwind of people and suddenly she was alone again.
The next morning Marie saw them all off to work, school, wherever. Feeling thirsty she sat down with a coffee. The television was still on, showing Open University programmes. This was some sort of astronomy project. It really was intriguing, bringing back memories of cold nights spent under the stars with her first boyfriend. He went on to be a real star freak and now worked for SETI - something to do with aliens.
Anyway, she did not feel like doing any cooking today. They could all have quiche tonight. Marie wandered off to the library. She got so engrossed in the books that she did not get back home until an hour after everyone else.
"Mum, where have you been? I need my shirt washed."
"Darling ,what's for tea?
Marie tried to get a word in ....."I went to......"
"Why hasn't the bed been made Mum?"
"I'm trying to tell you...." Marie said, absent mindedly putting the cat in the tumble dryer.
"We really need you at home when we come in..."
"What's for tea?"
On and on they went, great group of grown up babies that they were.
"I learnt something really interesting today, " Marie started,
"Tell us later," "Can't stop" "really"
"Yes she said" today "I learnt to...."
"Bye Mum."
"See you Marie," and they had all gone.
As the door slammed she finished her sentence -- "...weigh a planet."
When they returned, Marie was no where to be seen. Last I heard she was teaching astronomy at Oxford university
Original Story by Jan Cantle