Shortly before she died, Mrs Neville Smith gave me a black velvet pouch. 'Please dispose of this for me,' she said. 'Throw it in the incinerator.'
She passed away peacefully during the night.
Only when she had been taken away did I open it.
'How cruel!' I cried, shocked to see the poppet with a carpenter's nail stuck through its heart. I removed it gently, and the doll seemed to relax in my hands.
The telephone rang.
It was the hospital.
'Are you Mr and Mrs Neville Smith's carer?'
'Yes.'
'Please tell his wife that Neville's out of danger now.'
She passed away peacefully during the night.
Only when she had been taken away did I open it.
'How cruel!' I cried, shocked to see the poppet with a carpenter's nail stuck through its heart. I removed it gently, and the doll seemed to relax in my hands.
The telephone rang.
It was the hospital.
'Are you Mr and Mrs Neville Smith's carer?'
'Yes.'
'Please tell his wife that Neville's out of danger now.'
