Even though Angela wasn’t expecting him, he turned up again this morning.
He had eventually gone, but she was worried that tomorrow he might return.
With an anxious look, she opened the fridge door. ‘Gee, not much there,’ she reflected. ‘What if he turns up and there’s nothing for him.’
Angela thought back to the last time he came and she could not satisfy him. It was awful and she was embarrassed at the thought of how the neighbours had to put up with the ruckus he kicked up.
‘I hope that never happens again,’ she sighed.
And, now today she had the worry of having an empty fridge and the threat of him turning up unannounced and being agitated if there was nothing on offer.
Angela never had much spare cash left in her purse after the rent took most of her pension and she felt trapped in this arrangement where she was expected to feed him at the drop of a hat. It was a tricky situation; one that she was having difficulty dealing with effectively.
She was really worried now.
Looking out the window at the rainy day, Angela was reluctant to venture out but she knew that she would have to in order to avoid yet another noisy performance if he was not satisfied.
‘Should I just race out to the little shop down the road and buy a small something that will not really please him? Can I afford that? Or do I have to go all the way to the butcher’s shop to purchase something he really likes; something that will ensure there are no complaints?’
Angela was in a dilemma and money was short.
She took the easier option and went to the small un-inspiring local store and bought something that was cheap and not really appropriate, but she made herself feel brave enough to cope with his possible wrath and told herself to not be ridiculous.
‘Get a grip, girl,’ she told herself. ‘You are no one’s servant’.
But he didn’t come that day and Angela breathed a sigh of relief as she later made her way to the big butcher shop in town, knowing that pension day had saved her from embarrassment.
‘This will please him,’ she half-smiled to herself as she walked away with her purchase.
The next day came. She heard him arrive even before she saw him.
Angela waited a while before she acknowledged his presence.
‘Let him wait a bit,’ was her thought as she looked towards the back door.
And then, ‘I’m ready for this,’ and she opened the door.
‘Okay, big boy,’ laughed Angela as she took a small handful of minced meat out to the magpie sitting on her veranda railing.

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