“Promises Are Like Pie Crust”
“Mum, I’m too hot When will Dad be here?” whined little Annie, standing in the hallway bundled in her winter coat, scarf, and hat.
“Annie love, I told youwait for your father *before* you get dressed. Lets put the sled aside for now. You can take these off and play a bit Ill finish lunch, and well go out for an hour,” suggested Vera, the girls mother.
“No. Dads coming soon, and well go out together. He *promised*,” Annie replied sulkily.
“Promised Exactly*promised*!” Vera sighed, glancing at her daughter before stepping into the kitchen. She peered out the window, tears welling before she could stop them…
Vera had married Gerald, as shed believed then, for love. Gerry had been the handsomest lad in their circle, and shy Vera had been flattered by his attention. When hed asked her to be his girl, the naive young woman had been over the moon. All her friends had whispered enviouslywhat a striking couple they made! Vera had been proud, certain shed won lifes lottery. Gerry wasnt just charming; the Wilsons were one of the wealthiest families in Leeds. His father ran a thriving factory, and his mother owned a chain of grocery shops.
“Vera, you lucky thing! A wedding soon” her friend Margaret had said, half-jealous.
“Yes. Gerrys promised well go abroada proper honeymoon,” Vera had whispered.
“Good heavens! Youre joking!” Margaret had gasped.
Everyone had envied Vera. Only her mother, Margaret Holloway, had hesitated, uneasy as the wedding approached.
“Darling, must you rush into this? Its only been a year. Therell be other suitors” Margaret had murmured, watching her daughter twirl before the mirror in a white lace veil.
“Mum, not this again! Gerry and I *love* each other.”
“Oh, child Love fades. What matters is the man beside you. There are rumours about your Gerryplenty of girls before you,” her mother had warned.
“Honestly, Mum! You just dont want me to leave. But dont fretGerrys promised us a grand house. Youll visit whenever you like. And hell buy me a car! Everything will be splendid. Hes *promised*.”
“Promised, promised Lets hope those promises hold water.”
The wedding day came swiftly. Gerry arrived in a gleaming Rolls-Royce to collect his bride. Vera stepped from her mothers flat for the last time as Miss Holloway…
At the registry office, Margaret had felt out of place. Vera had invited only a few friends; most guests were Gerrys family. When the registrar called for the rings, Gerry slid his onto Veras finger with ease. But Vera fumbledthe ring meant for him clattered to the floor.
“Oh!” she gasped.
Gerry had laughed, scooping it up. The guests chuckled*look how quick he chased after his own luck!* Only Margaret had paled. Her gran used to say: *A dropped wedding ring means no joy in marriage.*
Whether omens were real or not, Veras married life soon soured. At first, things seemed fine. The young couple lived with Gerrys parents. Vera quit her jobagainst her mothers advice.
“Mum, Gerrys promised to provide. I shant need to work.”
Soon, Vera was expecting. Little Annie arrived, though Margaret saw her granddaughter rarely.
By all appearances, Vera wanted for nothingclothes, toys, all bought by her mother-in-law. Vera merely nodded and agreed.
“Gerry, might we move out?” she ventured once.
“Whats wrong here? Weve every comfort,” hed shrugged.
“But you *promised* us our own home”
“Fathers business is struggling. No money for houses now.”
“You work so late, even weekends”
“Well see.”
Years passed. Vera began to suspect Gerrys “late nights” were lies. The rows started.
“*This* is the scene you make? So the lad steps out! Must you shriek like a fishwife?” her mother-in-law had snapped after Gerry failed to come home.
“I wont endure this! Annie and I are leaving!”
“Good riddance! But the girl stays,” Gerry had slurred.
Vera had fled to her mothers. Margaret had grieved for her, yet relief flickered beneath. But their refuge was brief. Days later, Gerry stormed in. “*My* daughter wont live in some cramped flat!” Defeated, Vera had returned.
Gerrys straying resumed. Vera bore it silentlyno need to complain. Rumours spread fast in Leeds. Margaret knew. She ached for her daughter.
Then, Margarets heart gave out. In hospital, shed whispered, *”Dont wait for rescue, love.”*
Something in Vera snapped. She packed their things and left for good.
Gerry barely contested the divorcehed a new girl by then. His mother raged.
“Youve no right to take Annie!”
“Im not. Visit her whenever you likebut Im *done* here.”
Soon, Vera met David. He treated Annie as his own, even offered adoption. Gerry refused.
“Ill *take* her! Youll regret this!” hed roared, drunk.
“Spare me your promises, Gerry. Ive a trunkful already.”
That day, Annies father never came. It wasnt the first broken vow.
“Mum, Dad *promised* a bicycle for my birthday!”
David bought it the next day.
“Mum, he *swore* hed take me to the fair!”
They went without him.
At fourteen, returning from camp: “Uncle Dave, Dad *said* hed fetch me”
“He mustve been held up. Comeyour mums baked a feast.”
Before her prom, Annie twirled in her dress. “Dad *promised* hed come! And a carhell pay for driving lessons!”
“Love, when will you stop believing him?”
That night, Gerry never came.
Next morning, David grinned. “Dry those tears. Fancy a driving lesson?”
Serious?”
“Dead serious.”
That evening, Vera asked, “Howd she do?”
“Born to drive!” David laughed.
“Just let her be happy. And stop trusting empty words”
Vera had taught Annie: *Judge by deeds, not talk.* But the lesson stuck poorly. Perhaps time would teach her. Life always did.
