The Committee Letter

A letter came from the allotment committee. It was about the tenancy, who the plot was in the name of, and it used the word deceased, which Eileen had not yet seen in print and did not enjoy seeing. There was a waiting list, the letter explained, kindly, in the way committees are kind, which is to say in a way that still ends with you off the list. She put the letter on the kitchen table and looked at it across two dinners. Then Sandra from plot four knocked. Sandra ran the committee. Sandra said, put your own name on it, Eileen, that's all the letter's asking, it's a formality, the plot stays yours as long as you want it. Eileen had not known you were allowed to want it. She had thought wanting the plot had been Bill's job, like the bins, like the car.