Book Beginnings – 9th July 2021

Book beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader and it is a chance to share the first sentence or so of a book you’ve reading, about to read or recently read.

The book I’d like to share this week is 34 Days by Anita Waller.

Chapter 1 Monday 9 March 2015 Day One

‘Are the eggs done?’ Anna flinched as she heard the shout from upstairs, just as she flinched every morning at the sound of Ray’s voice. This particular morning hadn’t started too well; she’d knocked over her first cup of coffee and while she was cleaning that mishap she caught the edge of the sugar bowl, sending it shimmering spectacularly all over the floor. As far as wedding anniversaries, this one was not proving brilliant. Ray came downstairs as she confirmed his breakfast was indeed ready and they sat down to eat after he had made a scathing comment about the stickiness of the tiles; he had no idea of her earlier traumas and without saying a further word he handed her the cards they had received. She developed instant post-natal depression. That was the only explanation for the frustration she felt when she opened the first envelope to see the card that shouted in big, silver letters: To Mum and Dad On Their Silver Wedding Anniversary. And it wasn’t really frustration, it was more frustrated amusement. Caroline had written in her distinctive curly handwriting, 35 years! Amazing! and Anna wondered yet again where her daughter’s head had been when she went to buy the card. Anna passed it across to Ray. ‘Spot the non-deliberate mistake.’ He looked at the front of the card, opened it, and said, ‘She’s forgotten the kisses.’