Matilda Peri Rusterson sat brooding in her backgarden.  She stared up at the weeping willow and sighed.

     “You know, you look just like how I feel inside.  I…I’m just not the same person who I used to be.”  Just then, some black and white magpies swooped down on the green grass and began to play with one another.  She gazed at them and smirked. 

     “Everyone seems to be pre-occupied in one thing or another…except me.  Nothing exciting seems to be happening in my life.  I don’t know what to do now!”

     Matilda lived alone in a large semi-detached house.  She had no job, but had a good amount of savings which kept her stable.  She was in her mid-sixties and tried very hard to keep herself busy with household activities, but once she did the chores for the day, there always came that point of time in the late evening which she called “the void hours” or “limbo time” in which she would sit in her back garden, pondering and, like today, brooding.

     “You know,”  She said to herself, a regular habit of hers, being alone, “I still seem to have this estranged fantasy in my mind that one day someone will appear in my life.  A friend who I can talk to and we can sail through life’s journey together.”  It was 06.30pm and by now, more magpies appeared in her back garden. 

     “More magpies.  I don’t mind; but, why don’t robins ever appear here, like in other peoples gardens?”  She got up from her white chair and began to walk around on the slabs.  She stared across at the plants.  It was Summer and some of the new crop of buds were opening up.  She saw that some were also thirsty and so she got hold of her green hosepipe and turned on the tap.  Matilda altered the water so it turned from a strong jet into a soft spray at fast speed.

    “Weeeee!!!”  She giggled and raised the hosepipe up in the air until the water went upwards and landed onto her hair and face.