Penelope Maclachlan lives in London with her husband and cat. Last year she was longlisted for the Spread the Word Life Writing Prize with Lanugo. Her novel, The Star of the Funeral, tells the story of Frances Tristana, who moves back in with her elderly parents following the death of her much older husband.
She was the star of the funeral, Frances Tristana.1 Black accentuated her slenderness.2
The vicar spoke of Andrew’s courage when he was pilot of a de Havilland Mosquito during world war two,3 ended forty years previously.4
After the service5 the five mourners trooped6 back to the house. Andrew’s family must have thought him lucky, with a younger partner by his side when he lay dying.7
Tyrone, her father,8 reminded her that it was a long drive back to London, and night would soon fall.9 They took leave of their fellow mourners and boarded10 the Vauxhall Viva which11 Andrew bought12 second-hand for five hundred pounds.13
Tyrone no longer drove, and Frances took the wheel.14
“That was a lovely tribute from the vicar,” said Frances.15
“Very nice.”16
Tyrone had failed by a hairsbreadth to gain admission to the RAF because he had hitherto unsuspected myopia.17 He joined the Royal West Kent Regiment and rose to the rank of captain.18
The sky was black and sleet glistened in the headlights by the time Frances parked at Shepherds Bush.19
“Buzz us in,” he called up to Molly, his wife. Nothing happened. He muttered, and let them in with his key.20 When he opened the door to his flat, it was in darkness.21 Muttering again, he snapped on the light to reveal Molly on her hands and knees with a dustpan and brush.22 Frances wriggled out of her coat,23 tossed it on one of the twin beds, and began to talk animatedly:24
“It was great to meet Andrew’s family. They’ve invited me to Yorkshire and I’d love to go but it’s a long way and I’ve got my work cut out, selling the house in Braintree and buying a flat nearer my job.”25
Molly rose in silence and stalked26 to the kitchenette, dustpan and brush in hand.27