Buns & Eggs

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page IX (Supplement)

Buns & Eggs

Maisie’s mouth opened wide, and the porridge fell from her spoon to her plate; Pauline's blue eyes expressed horror—utter and complete—even Bruce for all his ten years and manly indifference felt a stinging desire to howl. Only Rosamund appeared calm. The cause for their horror w;. this: It was two days before Easter Friday, and the Kintons, including Maisie, Bruce and Pauline, the eldest, who was almost twelve, were all seated at the breakfast table when mother had broken the news.

“You children are to go straight to Granny’s after school. I shall take your clothes over there, and you can stay until Tuesday. Daddy and I have to go to Auckland.” •

This was the cause of their upsets. Onee before, three years ago, they had spent Easter with Granny; Granny who did not believe in delightful things such as Easter eggs and hot cross buns. The minute their meal was over the children were sent off to school, discussing as they went this dreadful thing that had occurred. Rosamund only smiled.

“It’s all very well to smile,” Pauline cried angrily. “You hate it just as much as I do, but you’re too stuck-up to say so.” Rosamund's brows met. “Indeed! If you must know I have been thinking of a plan by which we can get our Easter eggs and hot cross buns,” she said coldly. “How?” screamed three excited voices.

"Buy them ourselves,” Rosamund smiled. Three disgusted pairs of eyes surveyed her. “Well If you're not the limit! And where are we to get the money from? I’ve got fourpence,” cried Pauline angrily. "I’ve got threepence,” said Bruce. “So have I,” said Maisie dolefully. “I’ve got two shillings. That makes two shillings and tenpence among four of us,” Rosamund said slowly. "That’s enough.” “Yes —and where can we eat them? They are no good at school, and the buns have to be hot, and Granny wouldn’t let us heat them. Oh, it’s going to be rotten!” groaned Pauline. And so it seemed. But on Friday night Rosamund arrived home with a big paper bag. The others were mournfully getting ready for tea when she came cheerily into the room.

“Well!” snapped Granny. “What kind of cakes did you get?” Even cakes could not rouse the three children, but Rosamund’s next words did very effectively. “Oh, they only had buns. The girl in the shop said they must be heated,” Rosamund told Granny coolly. “All right,” agreed the unsuspicious granny. And ten minutes later a pile of marvellous hot cross buns were rapidly disappearing, and granny, who ate her share of them, did not know that they were anything other than ordinary buns. But you may be sure the children did. And later, when Rosamund produced four giant Easter eggs, their delight knew no bounds.

“Mrs. Brown gave them to me for helping her in the shop,” she explained. So that Easter time was one of the happiest the children had-experienced, after all. — Original, by Miss Billy (13), Wellington.