The Chipped Cup by the Sink

The tea-set had been bought to celebrate some achievement of someone – perhaps an anniversary that had demanded new dishes for the family. When that celebration was over it had lain in the back of a cupboard until that piece of furniture had been damaged during a bombing raid in 1941.

The cupboard was emptied, and Helen found that nearly all the cups and saucers had escaped without damage. Except, that is, for one cup which had a chip in it - on the rim.

It would not make a comforting cup of tea. So Helen held back one saucer and sold the other seven cups and saucers as a set for two shillings.

The chipped cup was placed beside the sink and held all manner of things: a toothbrush, a pencil, a wonky knife, and several types of soap. Helen saved up all odds and ends of soap, eventually making them into one usable piece. After all, there was a War on.

That day the Telegram arrived from the War Office and she rolled it up and placed it in the chipped cup. The news could wait until tomorrow, and so she slowly made her way up to bed.

When she got married, it was a custom in those parts to throw pennies at the bridal car as the bride left to go to the church. Helen’s uncle had collected all the coins and placed them in the chipped cup.

Helen and her daughter went to see the Beatles at the town hall as a treat for her fortieth birthday – Ringo Starr signed her ticket and then she had placed that glorious stub in the cup as a souvenir.

After her daughter had their first grandchild, Helen stood a photo of the little girl, Amy, in the cup for her to look at as she stood by the sink.

The letter arrived about a week after Helen had been to see the doctor, so she put the envelope in the chipped cup and went to her bed, after all the - news could wait until the morning.

On the day of the funeral, Helen’s daughter washed the cup, and although it was old and worn, she made a cup of tea and drank from it. She wished her mother well, where ever she was.

With her mother now gone, Helen’s daughter sold the family home, but the one thing she took with her before the new folks moved in was the chipped cup by the sink.

She placed it by the sink in her own home.

bobby stevenson 2020