THE WORTH OF ONE - A CHRISTMAS STORY

By Tessa Harvey

     Veronica awoke, coughing and spluttering. Someone held a bowl for her and helped her wipe her face clean. She looked up and saw two matrons and shuddered. "There are two of you," she exclaimed, unwisely. "One is enough," Alissa answered somewhat edgily. The girl had seemed horrified.

    A nurse hurried in to help. She felt Veronica's head. "Good, much cooler," she remarked, cheerily, then whispered to the small girl, "you should thank this lady. Many hours she sits with you to come." Ronnie dutifully mumbled, "thanks."

    "You gave us a fright," stated matron. Veronica said nothing. "Go on, tell me no-one loves me. Everyone hates me!" matron commented, briskly. "Well today I heard some good news. Want me to tell you, Veronica?"

    That young lady bit back an unpleasant retort and tried to smile.

    "My son is coming home with his children. I told them all about you (Veronica flinched, matron noticed) and about your friends and they would like to meet you. How about that?!"

    "Where is their mother?" asked Veronica, curious. "She wants a break," answered Alissa, avoiding telling a child that a younger man had so appealed to Maisie that she had left both husband and children for him.

    "Will they like me if I try to be nicer?" whispered Ronnie, sleepily. "Certainly," answered Alissa hopefully, but the girl was asleep.