Look At The State Of Your Garden!

Bossy Marjorie was determined to keep the village up to scratch – but could anything distract her from tormenting her neighbours?

- Elizabeth Dale

The banging on her door was so loud, so insistent, Cathy thought a major catastrophe must be imminent. 

But it was only her neighbour Marjorie.

‘I just had to knock,’ Marjorie panted. ‘You obviously haven’t noticed the state of your garden!’ 

‘What do you mean?’ 

‘Just look at all those weeds!’ 

‘I like dandelions…’ Cathy began. 

‘Don’t be silly!’ Marjorie laughed. ‘Now spring’s here, you need to keep on top of your garden. After all, we want to win the Best Kept Village competition, don’t we?’ 

‘Do we?’ 

‘Of course we do! Rumour has it the judges are coming this week!’ Marjorie continued. 

‘Rumour had it they were coming last week…’

‘Which means it’s imminent. Look, no time to argue, I must see everyone in the street. The gardens are a disgrace!’

Cathy sighed. She’d planned to clean the house, but instead she found herself digging, weeding and trimming.

She glanced down the road. Poor Emily was struggling with her lawnmower. At her age!

‘Emily!’ Cathy cried, hurrying up. ‘I thought your son mowed your lawns?’

Emily stopped, looking frazzled. ‘Yes, but he can’t come until Saturday and Marjorie says I must cut it today.’