They had little in common, the younger woman and the older one. At the root of these differences was of course age, but this was compounded by differences in culture, in class and in language. They could not communicate with each other through speech. So when the younger woman went in search of something, it was not going to be a simple task to achieve. At first the older woman wasn't there. Every time she went in during that day she did not see her. Not once. It was very strange that it should be so, for it was more usual to see her what felt like ten times a day; and this week of all weeks she needed to find the older woman. Two days later their paths once again crossed. The older woman saw her and approached her from across the room. She said something. Something that the younger woman had no hope of understanding. The younger woman shook her head and smiled apologetically as she made this point clear. The older woman advanced towards her - towards the cupboard on wall. Opening it, she took down what the younger woman had been looking for and handed her the two knives.
© Nancy Laidler 2012
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