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- I -

 

 

It is a priest’s duty to keep the peace.  So, the vicar agreed to the Morris Dancers, agreed to the folk music, the face painting, the bric-a-brac stalls.  Keeping the peace.

 

The vicar knew it was coming.  Even with his limited knowledge of May Day he knew it centred around the pole.  It would centre around the centre of the village, the Green.  The vicar also knew that it involved white, the colour of purity.  It involved ribbons of bright colours in contrast to the outfits of the maidens, the traditional maidens.  It also involved dancing and it involved fun, but most of all it was about traditions.

 

Committees bored the vicar.  He preferred to act on his own impulses and make decisions accordingly so he was barely listening.  The vicar simply nodded his approval when asked.  He wasn’t listening.

 

It was agreed then.

 

The vicar was not sure what he had agreed to.

 

The vicar would be the judge of the May Day Queen.

 

It was worse than the Morris Men.

 

 

- II -

 

 

Aunt Evelyn did not believe in Sandra.  Nobody believed in Sandra.  Sandra did not believe in Sandra.

 

Sandra was plump and uncoordinated.  But what she lacked in grace, she made up for in effort.  Sandra tried her best.

 

Within a heartbeat the vicar knew.

 

Many were disappointed.  Many a Mother, a Grandmother, an Aunt.  Many could not understand his decision or his direction.

 

The vicar was judgemental.  He was the judge and a judge judges’ values.  That was the true value of a queen – a May Queen.

 

So, when he picked her there was surprise and there was disappointment.

 

Sandra had never experienced recognition.  She recognised the value of her crown and she wore her crown with pride.  She was crowned the May Queen.

 

She was the one who has been picked, selected by the vicar.

 

Sandra won the prize, but she did not want to be his prize.

 

She was not.

 

Sandra’s eyes were elsewhere, on the eyes of someone who barely noticed her every day.  But this was not every day.  This was May Day.  All eyes were on Sandra, including his.  The girls resented her, resented the decision but, for this one day (this special day) Rodney looked at her.  It was just a smile to an unconfident, chubby girl who for one day was the May Queen, the Queen Bee.

 

Rodney asked her to dance.  She thought she would explode.  Sandra knew it was only for one day.  Tomorrow would be normal and she would be forgotten.  But for one day he smiled at her and held her in his arms.

 

The life of a Mayfly.

 

 

 

 

- III -

 

You shouldn’t have favourites, not if you are a parent, a teacher and especially not if you are a priest.  The vicar’s Mother was unexceptional.  She was unexceptional because she was just like any other Mother – caring, providing, nurturing.  She loved both her sons.  She didn’t have a favourite.  They were very different and she loved them in different ways.

 

She had not spoken to the vicar in four years.  She did not answer his letters.

 

Her name was Sandra.

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