Wednesday Afternoon 3pm

Every Wednesday at 3pm, Stella puts out she has baked (Victoria sponge –Isabel’s favourite) and brews the tea (Stella has Darjeeling just for Isabel to drink) . Wednesday afternoon was one time of the week they had a couple of free hours.

They were born within week of each other almost 54 years before, a couple of years before the really hard times. They began school on the same day. They became teenagers soon after the war began. Stella left school at fourteen to work in the factory, Isabel stayed on another year, then also started at the factory before moving on to clerical work.

Stella always thought Isabel brighter than her, but she never made her feel less. Isabel was constantly praising Stella’s intelligence (more than Stella thought she deserved), sharing books she found interesting, and encouraging her to learn more about different topics. They would spend hours discussing books and newpaper articles when they had free time (which was rare).

Stella always thought Isabel a beauty - what it was to have seen her grow into the woman she was. Her sparkling eyes, auburn hair, her glowing smile. More than this, she always knew how to carry herself with grace. Stella admired her ability to dress as elegantly as any duchess even on the little money she ever had. Even in her mid 50s she was still a striking woman. Stella always felt dowdy and ordinary (actually she knew she was) but Isabel always told her she was anything but. And that made her feel beautiful.

Ian started courting Stella when she was seventeen and they married when she was 19. He has always been a gentleman. He had been all Stella could have asked for in a husband. If Stella had to chose a man, then she made the right choice. He has never once failed her in any way and always been an affectionate and loyal husband, always been a gentle man in every way. When Stella thought of some of the men in the town, she counted herself truly lucky. There was a sort of love between them and he was the father of her beloved children, the man she made a home with. They had grandchildren who visited them every Sunday. Would she have lived my life without her children and grandchildren, even for Isabel? Stella did not know. Ian will always have a part of her. He sometimes placed his hand in hers to let her know all is well and all is enough. But Stella sensed he knew what place Isabel held in her life.

Isabel married Stuart. She waited a bit longer to marry– until she was twenty two. Their two children live in other towns, being encouraged by Isabel to think beyond the streets of this town. Stuart sometimes looked at Stella like he knew. She felt there could be something cutting about how he spoke to her at times. Still he was a good man in his own way.

Isabel was always able to see the limits of this world and see the ways in which they were bound. She got involved with trade unionism. She managed to gain a seat on the local council. It had been hard work but Isabel won the respect of her fellow councillors.

When their children were teenagers, Isabel understood how things were changing for them. She always loved the music her children were listening to, particularly The Beatles. Stella never really got their music until she saw Isabel dancing round the room to them.

When the feminists started getting in the news a few years back, it was no surprise Isabel was a big supporter. She always said that women had it harder and needed to stick together (well she and Stella certainly did). She even set up a women’s consciousness raising group and she worked to help get funding for childcare.

Soon there would be more difficult times, Stella knew. She was glad that someone with Isabel’s sense was around this town.

Isabel arrived promptly at 3pm. Tea and cake are served and updates given on both families. Then Isabel would touch Stella’s face. Then she would pull her close into her arms. Every Wednesday 3pm it was just the two of them.

It was strange that it was not until Stella was in her late forties that she discovered the word for what she and Isabel felt for each other. Stella began to wonder at the miracle that she and Isabel had found each other. She started to comprehend the wonder that all she felt for Isabel was mirrored. They had a life together. They had this time.

Every Saturday at 2pm Stella and Isabel go for a walk in the local park. People are used to seeing them there at that time. They sit on the bench and talk a while if the weather is good. It was an early autumn afternoon and the trees were already beginning to turn. The last burst of summer’s rays warmed the park. How glorious Stella thought to be here in this moment.