4/4 Glasshouse

Richard spent the afternoon tending to his plants in the glasshouse which completely occupied his yard. His wife had passed away a year earlier, and this hobby had helped him through the time afterwards. His favourite plant, a Calla Lily, sported one large flower and it held pride of place.

Annabelle, Ricard's daughter, was in the kitchen cooking a fish pie and talking to Richard's cat. She knew that dinner would be ready shortly, so she went into the yard to check on Richard and let him know.

She reached the glasshouse and was about to speak when she noticed a burning smell. She turned to the house and saw smoke drifting through the open doors. Richard also noticed and exclaimed "Annie, you're just like your mother, always absentminded!" Annabelle looked at him in anger. "Don't you speak poorly of mum, at least she tried," she snapped.

They jogged to the house to remove the fish before it caught fire. The cat came running through the door and gave them a look of indifference while walking towards the glasshouse.

Annabelle removed the dinner while Richard fanned the smoke into the yard.

"I'm sorry, I know you mean well," he muttered.

"It's ok dad, we both miss her," replied Annabelle.

They embraced briefly and Richard suggested ordering a takeaway when they heard a banging sound from outside the house. Through the dissipating smoke the glasshouse appeared to be shaking.

They ran towards the glasshouse to find the cat in pursuit of a sparrow which had entered through the door. There was a terrible mess and most of the plants were broken. The Calla Lily's only flower was ruined.

The cat was later buried in the yard underneath the Lily which, unlike the cat, had survived.