What a silly woman you are!’ Margaret thought as she lay marinating in the damp, soggy mush of grass cuttings and leaves mixed with various prunings that she and her husband, Philip, had methodically removed from their garden last year.
It was very unlikely she would have found Matilda here anyway, she considered. But, having exhausted all the usual avenues in the last five days, she was resorting to desperate measures. Neighbours had been dutifully pestered, notices posted and calls to the local police, fire brigade and refuse- collection services had revealed nothing of her missing cat. Every box, drawer and dusty cupboard in the house had been turned over. Three times. And, as anxiety increased to madness, Margaret had even investigated the oven, microwave and washing machine for signs of recent inhabitation.
It was the gloom of futility that had driven Margaret back into the garden to scour bushes and the trusty old shed where Matilda had been discovered in the past. But not this time.
Cats go to ground to die, thought Margaret. Perhaps Matilda had eaten something poisonous and taken herself off to a secluded hideout. Which left the compost heap as the only place in the garden not yet searched.
However, in climbing to the summit to test her theory, Margaret had stumbled, twisted awkwardly and fallen, so that she now lay, prostrate, in the valley between their fence and the south face of a rotting mountain of vegetation.
A heap on a heap.
Margaret shifted her weight uneasily to confirm that she could not get up. She must have done her back in, she thought. It was unlikely to be broken. The fall was not that heavy. Besides, if it was broken, she would be nearly dead – and she was not ready for that yet. The irony and indignity of dying on a compost heap was simply unthinkable.
Denne historien er fra January 15, 2024-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
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Denne historien er fra January 15, 2024-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Lizzie's LONG LIST
No one in her family realised just how much she did at Christmas-but things would be different this year
SEX-MAS Is Our favourite season!
Slipping into a party dress and heels and heading out for festive drinks with your other half is always a treat, isn't it?
Life is different - BUT STILL *MAGICAL
After losing two limbs, Sarah de Lagarde cherishes every moment
We have chocolates for BREAKFAS
TV cooking stars John Torode and Lisa Faulkner reveal their blended family Christmas plans and why you should ask guests to bring a plate of food
It's time to CELEBRATE
After a tough few months, Ruth Langsford is ready to embrace her favourite time of year
T'LL BE DRUNK by 11.30am'
Chef and TV personality Gino D'Acampo on how to make Christmas run smoothly, his favourite tipple and why not to worry if it all goes wrong!
'Even the PETS HAVE STOCKINGS'
The star on all things Christmas and why she won't be making a New Year's resolution
LONELY HARRY wants to come home
After six years away, the prince is keen to spend Christmas in the UK, writes royal biographer Emily Andrews
Being blind won't stop me LIVING MY DREAM
When Sassy Wyatt lost her sight, she vowed to have a whole world of adventures
I gave birth to my own GRANDDAUGHTER
Kristi Schmidt was desperate to give her daughter the baby she longed for