Crossing the Border / Trouser Ladies (Storycuts)

In 'Crossing the Border', Flora is in the process of writing a biographical account of a famous ancestor. She sets out to interview her great-uncle Lorimer, who - as one might expect from a celebrated ex-clown - now resides in a home for retired circus-folk. Upon arriving at the home, however, she is informed that Lorimer sadly passed away only a few hours earlier, and that he has left her a perplexing yet fitting memento. In' Trouser Ladies', 'Aunty Bea' is...
More Description

In 'Crossing the Border', Flora is in the process of writing a biographical account of a famous ancestor. She sets out to interview her great-uncle Lorimer, who - as one might expect from a celebrated ex-clown - now resides in a home for retired circus-folk. Upon arriving at the home, however, she is informed that Lorimer sadly passed away only a few hours earlier, and that he has left her a perplexing yet fitting memento.

In' Trouser Ladies', 'Aunty Bea' is remembered by the red-haired daughters of Betty Ling, a lady for whom Beatrice secretly nursed a life-long, unrequited love. Following their mother's deaths, twins Erica and Heather Ling fondly reminisce about when the exotic Beatrice came to stay - much to their father's displeasure. Meanwhile, Betty's other daughter Catriona resolves to meet the now elderly Beatrice.

Part of the Storycuts series, these two stories were previously published in the collection The Atmospheric Railway.