The Apple-Tree Throne

by Premee Mohamed

Mrs. Wickersley, having recognized my name from the Major-General’s letters as well as the news reports, ‘took me under her wing’ at once while they negotiated with the bureaucrats; and I have still not been able to politely extricate myself from its feathery smothering.

Laughter was better than bread, we used to say; it could be shared infinitely amongst the squad, and it did not have weevils in it.