Review, Revision, Edit and Update
Tinkering. That's it. A couple of misplaced words, one or two words missing. Fixed. Done and dusted.
When it is only one or two words that are the subject of revision, it could almost seem a waste of time. It's not only because there is a mistake, but because it interrupts the flow of any piece of writing.
Who would notice? As a reader, I notice. (Too bad this writer didn't notice in the first place.)
Kitchen Help
Elizabeth wouldn’t write to her brother-in-law Charlie just yet. She knew Martha was just being kind when she suggested that she write to him. She knew her tears were too ready to smudge the ink on the paper. They ate breakfast, cleared away their dishes and set out for a good brisk walk to Martha’s cottage on the other side of the Estate. It had been a great comfort to have her stay the night. The two women had talked till the wee hours, carefully avoiding the reality of Lily’s death. Elizabeth would be getting to work in the Estate kitchen and Martha would stop in to see James before continuing home. She was certain that Martha would spill all the beans about her blubbering and carrying on. But she didn’t mind. The three of them had known each other too long for that to worry her. Or that they'd eaten all Samuel’s raspberries and the whole loaf of banana bread! She smiled as she put on her apron.
“There. That feels better. Now I can get on to some real work. I suppose I should give Samuel a call and let him know I’m all right. I don’t think I was very nice to him yesterday. Just pushed him right out the door without so much as a by your leave.” Muttering to herself while she was methodically going through the pantry, refrigerator and freezer, she didn’t hear Miss Emelina come downstairs. “Good morning, Cook. I have a favour to ask.” Cook stood up straight and whirled around. “Miss Emelina! You scared the living daylights out of me!” She’d been so caught up in her own muddling thoughts that she had been completely oblivious. “Of course I’ll do any favour you want, but I didn’t think you were home! Is Dr. Jeremy with you?”
“I know it’s sudden but I just found out myself. He’s been at work for the past week and has been given a few days off. He’ll be out here this afternoon - he’ll only be using the front door. Did I tell you our plans for protecting us all from the virus?” Cook did not look well. Her eyes were puffy, her face pale and drawn. “Are you all right? Have you been sick again?’
“No, no, Miss Emelina. I’m fine. Just received bad news from England. Had a few tears last night but I’m right as rain today. Now, what can I do for you?” Turning away from her boss, she filled the tea kettle, cleared off the cupboard and checked to see if her writing things were where they always were. “Cook, stop. You are not ‘right as rain.’ I’ve never seen you so nervous. Emelina took the teakettle from Cook and put it on to boil. “Come sit down with me and I’ll tell you what I need. You don’t have to tell me anything about your news.”
Cook took a tissue from her apron pocket and wiped her eyes. She was quite annoyed with herself. Not able to control herself in front of Miss Emelina was just not right. But she decided that whatever she could do for her would be the best thing to get her mind settled. “Jeremy will be out here for two - maybe three - days. While he’s here, we’re going be staying upstairs. Not really isolating because we’ll be going out on walks, but we’ll take all our meals upstairs. Do you think you could make up some sort of a menu for the weekend. You told me quite a while ago that the old dumbwaiter still works.”
“I think I could get something together and have it ready for you to look at this afternoon. I’ll get Samuel to come in and make sure that old lift is working properly. Meals up and dirty dishes down. I’ll get out the thermal coffee pot and another with hot water for tea or cocoa. I’ll need to bake bread for sandwiches.” She pulled out her pen and paper from her apron and started jotting everything down. She looked up at Emelina “I’ve got some good beef stew in the freezer - do you think Dr. Jeremy would be satisfied with that? I’ll make you a proper dinner tomorrow. Maybe a roast chicken?” She jotted down - Samuel, chicken, stew from the freezer. Emelina was relieved. The tension had drained from her dear friend’s face. She knew that Cook would tell her what her troubles were when she was ready.
“Now, are you ready for a cup of tea, Miss Emelina? I don’t have any fresh baking, but here’s those oatmeal cookies that you like.” Cook was already up and getting out mugs for tea, a couple of napkins and a plate for the cookies. “Better now, Miss Em. I’d been feeling all bunched up. You tell me about how you and the Dr. are doing. You’ve been taking his meals into him? And I haven’t been here to help you with that.”
Emelina smiled. “Oh, but you have, Cook! You have had so many lovely dishes of food in the freezer. I’m just glad I didn’t take the beef stew! You probably noticed that things are looking pretty empty. Now you are back, and I’m so relieved that you’re feeling better. Now what are you scribbling?”
“I need to talk with James about an order for groceries. Just that.” Cook finished her tea. “Now I must get to work.”
“When a person is down in the world, an ounce
of help is better than a pound of preaching.”
~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton
