The Pied Piper

...minus the hordes of skipping children. The high street was cold and quiet. The busker is excellent, I've seen him play Irish tunes on the penny whistle before, with a backing track. Most people stopped to drop a coin in his box. The shops remain shut.

The expected news came last night. Our mother's second husband has passed away in hospital. Not of CoVid; he had a stroke last year and has been hospitalised ever since. It hasn't been easy for anyone. They were only married for five years, but we've known him, and his children from his first marriage, for over 45 years, when we all lived in the same village.

On hearing the news, my brother in NZ immediately recorded himself playing a tune on the bagpipes, that can be played at the socially distanced funeral. I've sent a card, which feels inadequate. It's all so weird. There is no point in my going to the Scottish Highlands during lockdown, when I have two sisters already in the area. I must now contact the family chat group to see who's been in touch with our mother today. For obvious reasons, we decided not to all call last night.