Mixing It Up

The women’s group wasn’t terribly exciting, but at least it was familiar. . .

- Susan Sarapuk

I’M going to make my chocolate cake for next week,” Maisie said. “Oh, I love your chocolate cake,” Myra gushed. “You’re the best baker I know.”

Maisie flushed with pride. Everyone in the Women’s Guild loved her cakes. She produced one for their meeting every Tuesday.

“Don’t tell anyone I said this,” Myra confided, “but often the only reason I turn up is for your cakes. Some of the speakers are dire.”

Maisie had to agree, but the group was small and it was difficult to attract new members, and speakers were hard to come by.

Anyway, most of the members were happy with the way things were and didn’t want to change.

So it was a bit of a shock when Clare, their chairman, called them back to order after tea and cake and made an announcement.

“Ladies, next week we’ll be welcoming the women from Holiness Church to join us. Their building is going to be out of order for the next couple of months and there’s nowhere else they can meet.

“As their group meets on Tuesdays, I thought it made sense to invite them along.”

“I don’t know about that,” Connie Wilson said. “They’re God botherers, aren’t they? I go to church, but some of the stuff they get up to! They’re a completely different culture, too.”

“I think you’ll find they’re British,” Clare said drily.

“You know what I mean.” Connie flushed.

“You mean they have a West Indian heritage? Well, my background is German and I know Hetty’s father was Dutch.”

“I’m not racist,” Connie protested.

“I know you’re not,” Clare said gently. “It’s just that we’re being asked to change and we don’t really like to. Let’s just see how we get on, shall we?”