Nostalgia

Mr.\ Spooge turned on the electric kettle. It was one that his wife had left behind after the divorce: pink and contrasting with the kitchen decor. He placed a teabag from the box into a cup.

It had been a long time since he'd seen Ellie now. The divorce was not exactly acrimonious, just a slow slide into differences of opinion and attitude about how conjoined life should be lived.

He poured the water and stirred the teabag with a fork. It was a Saturday morning and spring blossoms were on the trees lining the drive. The house was a little large for one person and maintenance kept Mr.\ Spooge busy with tasks most days. But for now he was drinking tea and reading the paper.

Thinking about Ellie, he had an urge to call her. She had remarried again, of course, but he had heard that her husband had cancer and things weren't looking too good. Best to try to be supportive. But right now the gutters needed cleaning from last year's fallen leaves and so he left that idea at the back of his mind.

Later, searching through boxes in the back room, he came upon a collection of old photos. Here was Ellie with the two of them outside a pub on a touring holiday around Scotland; then there was another photo at auntie Jane's villa in Spain. Looking at the old snaps, Mr.\ Spooge felt a wave of sentimental nostalgia.

Washing the dust off his hands, he once again put on the kettle for another tea. It was starting to rain slightly, but at least the gutters were now clean.

Then the phone rang. It was Ellie. After a short conversation it became clear that Marvin had passed away. Mr.\ Spooge fell sad for her, but also pleased that she had turned to him for emotional support.

He thought of mentioning the old photos, but then decided not to, as really the call was about Ellie's feelings about Marvin's death. Instead he decided to invite Ellie over for a cup of tea.