Page 17 of The Silent Appeal

That terrible hollering toddler is your grandchild!

7:00 p.m. Carol wrote:

And your CHILD!

7:01 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

There is no way I’m staying home while the Fairway Players rehearse. NO WAY. AND I’M SHOUTING.

7:01 p.m. Carol wrote:

LIKE DAUGHTER, LIKE MOTHER.

7:01 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

YOU SAID IT.

To: Carol Dearing

From: Marianne Payne

Date: January 4, 2025

Subject: Charity shops

Dear Carol,

I’ve got a list of props and costumes. Fancy doing the charity shops tomorrow? We can start with the British Heart Foundation, PDSA, and Cancer Research in Lockwood, then Oxfam, Age UK, and St. Mark’s Hospice in Lockley Bois. I’ll drive and we can stop off at the Wheatsheaf on the way home. Marianne

To: Marianne Payne

From: Carol Dearing

Date: January 4, 2025

Subject: Re: Charity shops

I’m furious, Marianne. I’d love to come with you, but I’ll be no company at all. Had a bust-up with Sarah-Jane. She wants me to babysit during rehearsals—and you know how I usually help at the drop of a hat—well, The Hollow has a wonderful leading part for a woman my age and I want to audition for it. I never had the chance years ago because Helen would always get the leading roles, so I gave up trying. I haven’t acted for years—not counting that disastrous stint as Father Christmas in the pantomime a couple of years ago—and this may be my last chance. I’m at that girl’s beck and call and this is the one thing I want for me.

The problem is, Kevin has a vested interest in me NOT getting that part—or any part. It’s so frustrating!

Meanwhile, Nicky-Rose has had a tiff with her business partner, thrown all her toys out of the stroller, and flown back here with just a tote, makeup bag, phone, charger, and a change of pants to her name. She’s sulking in my spare bedroom. Only discovered that much thanks to SJ, because NR has been in bed with jet lag since she arrived. When she’s up, she sits in front of Netflix nursing a coffee and scrolling through social media.

Tell me, am I being unreasonable to expect my eldest daughter to look after her own child and my youngest to look after herself?

Sorry to land all that on you. Carol

To: Carol Dearing

From: Marianne Payne

Date: January 4, 2025

Subject: Re: Charity shops

Don’t apologize, Carol. All the more reason for us to get out and have a rummage around the shops together. You can forget your girls and I can forget Karen’s new boyfriend. She met him on a dating app, which he was trying out because he “doesn’t meet the right women” in his line of work.

I thought that meant he worked with men. Maybe a builder or a plumber. Turns out he’s an undertaker. He doesn’t meet many women who are alive.