EDENVILLE

Edith Churn

By @silenttomorrows

Edith whistled as she walked along the road. Yes a grave digger was maybe a strange occupation for a twenty three year old girl, but the job came with a lot of personal fulfilment and she served the community that she loved.

Although she had a licence to drive the cherry picker digger, she mostly preferred to use a spade and shovel to dig her holes. She was a perfectionist. Her last grave had been a late, rushed commission; she had dug it in a small patch in a corner of the graveyard, usually reserved for outsiders; mostly they were unmarked graves.

Now she was in her way to Fudge's corner shop. She knew they had liquorice and cucumber ice cream for sale that week, and that was one of her favourites. As she entered the shop the bell rang and Japonica came out from behind the counter to meet her.

'Oh Hi Edith, nice to see you, what can I give you the pleasure of today.' Japonica studied Edith with her Goth looks. Her curly long black hair swirled around her shoulders, tattooed arms, lip piercings, short leather miniskirt with fish neck stockings. Edith had a sweet but mischievous face with dark eyebrows and hints of purple on her lips.

'Well wouldn't you like to know, but a Liqumberice ice cream in a waffle cone would be lovely,' Edith said as she leaned on the counter., checking her phone.

'You know I could do with some help Friday afternoon. I want to make a frog crossing on the main road into Edenville; you want to give me a hand?'

'Sure Jappy,' Edith licked at her ice cream and walked round the counter to stand very close to her. 'Do you want a lick?' Edith grinned, her top lip a creamy moustache.

Japonica stuttered a little and managed, 'no thanks, melon, watercress and Toblerone is my kinda thing'.

'You care a lot for animals and the environment, don't you. I like to help nature along too you know. I got a couple of new bee hives down the cemetery, and some hedgehog houses too'.

'Ooh, that's so cool Edith, I'll come and have a look if that's ok.'

'Yes, somethings you gotta explore Japonica'. Edith gently stroked a stray piece of Japonica's hair back over her ear. Her face very close, she said, 'you need to try everything.'

Japonica trembled and closed her eyes but the moment was staved off by the shop bell.

'Oh hello love, don't mind me. Have you got any St. Agur cheese, Breem asked. It's my turn to make the sandwiches for the sergeant today, oh and some pickled walnuts. They go down a treat with a bag of crisps. I'll take a couple of tubs of mint and parsnip ice cream too thank you.'

'Sure there you go Constable, £7.49 and have a nice day.'

'Thanks Jappy' the Constable left again.

The door shut and Japonica kissed Edith.

'What about Porter, will he mind? Edith whispered.

'No, I'll tell Porter. He won't mind, he will be cool with it, and me and him will still do our thing. He can be a bit adventurous himself.

'Cool, I'll see you Friday then. Sounds like fun. Just you me and the frogs'. They both laughed and Edith set out once again, plugging her phone in so that she could hear REVfm through her headset.

'Hi villagers of Eden, this is Corky Flute, DJ of ill repute, playing a little song for the gothic one. This is Status Quo, Down Down, Deeper and Down. And why is there a stone wall around the graveyard? Because people are dying to get in.'

Edith was thrilled to hear a request for her on the radio.

'And can I remind you all, it's theme night Karaoke night at the Tiki Bar tomorrow, and this weeks band to sing along to is The Shadows. Specially chosen by Carlos Monteverdi.

Meanwhile , tomorrow our own special journalist Mille Peed will be making a report on Edenville Watermill called, What goes round comes round.

So have a nice day villagers, don't get in a huff, just puff puff puff.'