The Other in-laws

With each frayed and fretted hour Liz found her husband’s words less and less convincing: “They’re only human, love, you’re every bit as good as them, and don’t you forget it.”   It was alright for him, he got on well with everybody, and expected them to get on with him (which was probably the secret) but Liz expected always to be in the wrong when meeting new people (though once she got to know them it was fine, she could relax and be herself, she listened more than she talked, but once they knew her it wasn’t a problem.)

And Dora was a lovely girl, lovely, and Harold so lucky to have found her ... not that she wasn’t lucky too, but he’d had plenty of competition to start with, and with working away ... he’d certainly proved himself cycling that dreadful hilly journey twice a week, just for a few hours ... and the letters he’d written, and postcards they’d sent ...

It was just that Dora’s father was so ... educated? ... well, no, not really, he’d gone to work for his Dad at thirteen same as Luther, but he’d had articles in the paper and certainly read a lot, according to Dora ... and as for her mother ... well, that was the main problem, Sarah Sutcliffe had a reputation as a bit of a dragon, not a woman to cross (but she’d also heard it was a case of having to be because Tom was inclined to be a bit of a dreamer, a bit daft with money at times).

By now she’d just about got the hang of who was who with all Dora’s aunts and uncles (dozens of them) ... but that knowledge might desert her when she met them all at once ... it was a toss up as to whether it was better to meet them all at once or two at a time ... at least outside, going for a good long walk, it’d be easier to deal with them than sat in a stuffy front room, face to face over tea things, everyone looking at her, and unable to get away.

As Luther stirred beside her she smiled to herself, thinking of his attempts at reassurance ... so long as he was beside her she could face anyone in the world.

Comment:  The attached photo has always seemed to tell a story, Luther Pickles is extreme right with Liz seated beside him, holding a cup of tea.   I think it is Dora in the light coloured outfit, putting something into her mouth but cannot be 100% sure.   Sarah, Tom and Liz and Luther’s son Harold are not in this photo, which I estimate was taken Spring 1910, a month or so before Harold and Dora got engaged.

[submitted to 6S February 2010]