The Procession

It was the day he had waited for. He was finally old enough to be allowed to go and get the shopping.

He stood at the door with money in his pocket as he was handed the shopping bag and the all important list. Flour, bread (two loaves), bananas, one ripe plum for Nana,

As he set off from the house he could feel the worried eyes of all his family staring into his back. There was nothing to worry about. They had talked through the route he would take a hundred times just that morning. He knew all the dangerous places. This was finally the day. And what a lovely windy day it was.

As soon as he got to the end of the road he turned round. “Don’t you follow me,” he shouted, but there was no reply.

As he crossed over the track he had already decided that he would take the long way back after the shop so that he could enjoy being so responsible for a little bit longer. He would shop and then walk right up to the end of the high street before turning round and coming back.

As he walked towards the shop he saw people smiling at him. He smiled back, as a grown up would, and even said good morning to some.

“Good morning Mrs Cathcart.”

“Good morning Mr Kemp.”

“Good morning Barbara.”

This was the best as she was out with both her parents having to hold hands. She is so very young he thought.

As he entered the shop it was as if they were expecting him. Mr Daly took the list from his hand and spoke in his finest voice. “Now then young man, let’s see what we have here. Quite a list, quite a list indeed. Mrs Daly I might need some help with this.”

Mrs Daly came over and stared at the list, “This is quite a list Mr Daly,” she said. “Perhaps the boy might have some cherries while we get everything together.”

What a very sensible idea Mrs Daly,” said Mr Daly and he reached over and put a handful of cherries in a little paper bag.

Although he didn’t like being called ‘boy’ he did like cherries so he took the bag from Mr Daly and started to eat. He was not the best at eating cherries. Trying not to eat the stone was always difficult so he would nibble his way around holding the stalk. Unfortunately this did mean that a lot of the red from the cherries would stick to his lips and all around his mouth. Normally his mother would clean it off but unfortunately she was not in the shop with him.

“Right,” said Mr Daly. “Here we are. Now I am going to pack these in your bag carefully because we don’t want anything to spoil.” Mr Daly took the shopping bag

“Heaviest things at the bottom so that’s the flour, next the bananas, now the two loaves of bread and then the lovely ripe plum.”

With that he stared at his wife and said, “It looks as though only one loaf of bread will fit in the bag.”

“Perhaps we should give him another?” said Mrs Daly. But before Mr Daly could answer Paul stood up and said. “I will carry the other loaf of bread under my arm.”

“Are you sure?” said Mrs Daly, but Paul said he was quite sure and how much did he owe.

Luckily he seemed to have exactly the right amount in his pocket to pay for the shopping and so with the bag in one hand and the loaf of bread under his other arm he left the shop.

Now no one quite knows or understands how a large and angry Grizzly Bear appeared in the little village of Welmond on Mold. There was no zoo or circus nearby and the Police could never come up with a satisfactory answer but it is safe to say no one who lived there will ever forget that day and the carnage.

later 

Sitting on the sofa later that evening Paul looked at his parents and watched as his Nana gumlessly sucked on a plum. All their eyes stared at the flickering screen. It was so funny to see their village on TV.

“Isn’t it awful what happened to the Daly’s,” said his mother.

“Awful,” repeated his father reaching for another slice of fresh bread.