Apron of Love

Tattered from custom slightly stained her old apron lay in a corner idle Each stain gains life used as a mitten for oven roasts apple tarts carried outside on the back-porch to cool down a handkerchief to wipe off grubby faces a solace for spoilt tears She bundled in it loads of black figs juicy peaches ripe tomatoes legumes from the garden fresh eggs and sometimes baby chicks cheeping to our delight It was a purse a clothes-pegs basket A glove around her hands to warm them in winter she slipped it on each morning to protect her clothes and shy little me from strangers she only took it off when she slept….