EDENVILLE

Cheese and Whine

By @silenttomorrows

'Eli have you got your ladders? I need someone to put this bunting up. Carlos are you sure the chocolate fountain will work with melted cheese? Edward Fudge. Will you come here.'

'Yes darling Candy my Candice. Edward puffed as he struggled up with boxes in arms. 'Your crackers!'

'I beg your pardon Edward Fudge.  I won't be talked to like that. Not even by you.  I've never been so insulted....'

'Your crackers to go with the cheese dear.  They are in these boxes.'

Candice stared at him at him for a second, wondering. 'Not over there Rosemary, you need to sell the raffle tickets as they come in the door.  Thomas Riddler, have you got the wine?

'Yes Mrs. Fudge.' Tom didn't dare not have the wine'

'Good, and at a reasonable price.  Where did you say it came from?

'The vineyards of Guatemala, it's a cabinet Sir Vinion.... I think, kind a cherry, passion fruits and notes of onions they said, £2.00 a bottle to you'

'Ok, put it over where Mr Kemp has the wine glasses.'

Little by little the Edenville village hall became the emporium for Candice Fudges Cheese and Wine soirée.  And this to raise money for the forthcoming poetry completion.  By 7pm all was in order and villagers started arriving for the evening's refreshments. 

Reverend Cuthbert Smidge was one of the first to arrive.  He headed straight for Sam Kemp who was pouring the wine. Cuthbert downed a couple of glasses just to make sure it was a good vintage.

'And are you going to try the Stinking Bishop', Sam asked Cuthbert knowingly.

'Maybe, Stilton first then maybe the Cheshire'

'That wine seems to be disappearing quicker than the Cheshire cats smile' Sam's own smile reflected the conversation.

'Oh Reverent, you forgot to buy raffle tickets.  Rosemary had nabbed Cuthbert. 'Will you buy a book for £5?'

'Er... yes, of course.' Cuthbert brought his purse from his smock and reluctantly bought the tickets with the counterfeit £5 note that some crooked parishioner had left in his collection plate.  Some parishioners are absolutely criminal he thought as he passed the illegal tender over for the book of five tickets.'

They then heard the sound of Bianca's voice  above the hubbub of the crowd, 'These cheese biscuits are a bit soft Candice,'

'That's because they have been matured in our shop to accompany the soft cheeses.   Have you tried the Jamaican Brie or the cheese triangles'.

'No darling, I like a strong cheese, something hard and more potent' Bianca turned towards where Hudson Rock was tasting  the St.Agur.

'I bet you do' Candice said to herself.  She was pleased with the way the evening was progressing. Fudge's stores were making money from the supply of food and sales of cheese and glasses,of the wine seemed to be going well.   She was sure there would be enough to find the poetry competition prises.  She would get Corky to make an international announcement about it .