Cup Of Tea?

Sugar Sweet

'Mum's in hospital,' Tom said. ‘She's got diabetes.'
Janine choked. She was stuffing a meringue into her throat and instead of the intended condolence, a whiff of powdered sugar spluttered from her mouth. Tom frowned.
'They've taken her to the "Royal".' He looked to Janine. 'She's not going to die, is she?'
'Course not.' Janine's hand was poised over the biscuit barrel, but she drew back. 'It means injections or tablets and a change in lifestyle, that's all.'
Margery Johnson ate home-grown organic vegetables. She went to yoga classes twice a week. What lifestyle change could she make? Janine knew she was in hot water this time.
She always resented her mother-in-law's visits. Tom was her only child and Janine was far from being the sugar sweet wife Margery thought he deserved. Her darling was being poisoned by microwaved junk.
'Don't think I can't see the pots of instant noodles in the cupboard,' Margery said. 'If you don't do something you'll be sixteen stone.'
'Already am,' Janine muttered into her chocolate.
'Would it harm you to take more care with your appearance, dear?' Margery said.
Very funny.
Together with her gremlin-faced Pekingese, Mowgli, Margery was public enemy number one. Janine made plans to get revenge. She bought unfamiliar green objects from the supermarket vegetable section and followed internet recipes she was sure would delight her mother-in-law.
Except for the extra ingredient.
Tomato and feta salad with a generous helping of sugar.
Cucumber on rye bread with sugar.
Carrot and coriander consommé with sucrose, sucrose, sucrose.
Mrs. Johnson duly arrived for her weekly rant. Plonking Mowgli on the settee, her eyes popped as she noticed the wholesome buffet. She accepted a plate of oatmeal biscuits with a smile. Too polite to regurgitate, she was forced to swallow, wiping her mouth with her handkerchief.
'Have some natural spring water,' Janine offered.
Margery's face turned green. The carbohydrate-infused water didn’t help.
'Some homemade soup?' Janine leaned over to expose a roll of abdominal fat. 'Tom says this is as good as your artichoke and lentil.'
'No thank you. I’ll stick with the asparagus dip.'
Bad idea. The asparagus had been marinated in syrup overnight.
'Cup of tea?'
Margery took one sip and asked to be taken home feeling queasy. Janine had wet herself laughing, but diabetes wasn't funny.
Margery was confined to bed in the infirmary. Janine went to visit her, stopping at the grocers to buy grapes. Margery didn’t look well. Her face was drawn and wrinkled. With little to say, Janine picked at the grapes. Her taste buds rejoiced. When she left the ward there was only one emaciated grape left clinging to the stalk. The next day she brought a basket of mixed fruit. Her mother-in-law was asleep and it seemed a pity to wake her. Having remarked upon the weather to the sweet old lady in the next bed, Janine's fingers tapped their way towards the wicker basket. She gave the odd star-shaped fruit a miss, but the apple tasted sweet.
Margery suffered pains during the night and was rushed to theatre. The doctors were worried. Janine was terrified. Mowgli stopped eating and was looking peaky. When he started messing the carpet Janine decided it was more than pining for his owner. Tom took him to the vet.
'Mowgli has diabetes too,' Tom said. 'The vet is keeping him in.'
Janine hadn't given the dog any tainted food. She couldn't be cruel to innocent, if somewhat ugly, animals. Perhaps Margery had slipped Mowgli titbits. Could a little sugar cause so much harm?
Looking in the mirror, Janine knew it was time for drastic action. She emptied her cupboards of their artificial contents and enjoyed time at the farmers' market discussing rhubarb. Instead of sniggering at the leotard clad hopefuls in the gym, she popped in to register. She wasn't the only hippopotamus among muscle-toned gazelles and coming to terms with rowing machines and treadmills was fun when you could discuss the soaps. She swapped recipes and found pasta could be used for more than pre-school art collages. A much reduced Janine welcomed her mother-in-law home from hospital several days later.
'I've brought you a gift for looking after Mowgli,' Margery handed Janine an expensive box of Continental truffles.
'Thanks mum, but have you got any of your garden beetroot instead?'
Margery raised an eyebrow.
'I'm worried about diabetes, what with you having it,' Janine said.
'Diabetic? Me? I had a gall stone removed.'
'But Tom said your sample tested positive for glucose.'
'A stupid mistake. Mowgli was drinking more water than usual and I put aside his sample to take to the vet. Tom thought it was mine and handed it in at the clinic. Still, it does no harm to watch what you eat.'
'I guess not,' Janine smiled.
Margery's mischievous wink said it all.