Sandra felt a surge of guilt as she saw the tears welling in Becky’s eyes. It must have been hard for her to see Sandra so distraught in the early days after Brian’s death, with her living so far away and not being able to help. She remembered how Becky had hugged her tight on the day of Brian’s funeral and told her she wished she could be there for her more.
‘Yes I am. I’m feeling much stronger now, and it’s so lovely to have Patti living nearby.’
They chatted for a while, exchanging news, and Sandra felt a lot lighter when the call had ended. She always did after talking to Becky. She missed her daughter so much.
Then she remembered the screenshot Becky had sent her. She opened her message and looked at it, smiling again at the photo. Written across the top of it in white capital letters on a black background were the words ‘You’re never too old to ink.’ She wondered if Patti had seen it yet. She sent it to her with the words:
Sandra
We’re Insta famous!
Patti messaged back a few minutes later.
Patti
Kit spotted it on her Insta last night. She said it had over fifty likes. She said that we should open an Instagram account.
Sandra
Isn’t it just photos? What on earth would we put on it?
Patti
Pop around for a cuppa in a bit and we can chat about it?
Sandra glanced at the clock. She needed breakfast and a shower, in that order. Her tummy was rumbling.
Sandra
Eleven okay?
Patti
Perfect. I’ll have the kettle on.
She got out of bed, pulled on her fluffy dressing gown, and went downstairs, Becky’s words about living her life for both her and Brian resounding in her mind. She and Brian had been so looking forward to going to visiting Becky, Hogan, Zac and Honey, in Australia this Christmas.
Was she brave enough to go by herself?
9
PATTI
Patti had the kettle boiling and a box with a selection of hats, scarves and other accessories on the kitchen table when Sandra arrived. ‘I’m having a green tea, what do you fancy? I’ve got quite a selection of herbals plus normal tea and coffee.’
‘I’ll have coffee please. I don’t really get on with herbals,’ Sandra replied.
‘I didn’t at first, but they’re healthier for me so I have a couple a day. Got to balance out the wine and cocktails.’ She grinned and indicated the chairs around the table. ‘Take a seat, I’ll be with you in a minute.’
‘Are you having a clear out?’ Sandra eyes were fixed on a jaunty purple beret on the top of the box.
‘No these are all for our Instapics. Kit often posts photos of herself wearing different hats, sunglasses, etc., so I thought we could do that too. It’ll be fun.’ She placed a mug of coffee on the table. ‘I’ve had all these for years, let’s have a sort through and see if there’s anything we like.’
‘I’m not too sure about this Instagram account,’ Sandra said as she sat down. ‘What would we post on it? I don’t know about youbut I don’t think my life is interesting enough for people to want to see photos about it.’
‘I thought that.’ Patti put a plate of assorted biscuits in the middle of the table and sat down with her own mug. ‘But Kit said that the photo of us both with our tattoos has got over a hundred likes now and we should open our own account. Kit often shows me her Insta, or some funny pics from other accounts. People post all sorts, what they had for tea, a new dress they bought, photos of their pets. You don’t have to be living an exciting life for people to connect with you, you just have to be relatable. And how about we make it a joint account – two old gals having fun.’
Sandra nibbled away at a chocolate digestive. ‘You really think people want to see photos of two older ladies messing around?’
