Anne fought her way determinedly through the crowded supermarket aisle. Necessity, not choice, dictated that she undertake the weekly shop now rather than at a time which she knew would be much quieter. Since Brian had become mayor - and she his mayoress -- the days and weeks had become so much busier and she'd felt that her life was no longer her own. Still, his mayoral year was more than half over and she looked forward to May when he would be handing over the reins to someone else. He was rather enjoying his spell as mayor and had expressed the view that he wouldn't mind standing for a second term in the absence of too much competition - and there wasn't much. Anne, however, had put her foot firmly down. There was absolutely no way she would be prepared to go through another year like it -- if she could possibly help it. Submissive as ever but nevertheless reluctant to accept her ruling, Brian had resigned himself to the fact that it was his one and only chance to serve as mayor so he determined to make the most of it.
Make the most of it he did too -- by accepting any and every invitation that was offered to put in a public appearance somewhere - and if possible contrive to get his photo in the local rag. Brian was anything if modest! Only that morning, they'd opened an extension to the local swimming pool which had recently been refurbished. Immediately afterwards they'd been whisked off to put in an appearance at a glittering charity luncheon and helped to raise funds for a worthy cause. Afterwards, Brian had adjourned to a local hostelry with his councillor friends, assuring his wife that he wouldn't be home early!
Anne, however, had a public engagement -- yes a very 'public engagement' of her own that afternoon. Wendy, her best friend, had asked if she'd go and open the new toilets which had just been installed at her village hall. For three years Anne had helped Wendy with fund raising for the new loos and played an active part on the village hall committee. Furthermore she'd helped Wendy serve at several fund raising coffee mornings during the last couple of years. One in particular -- or rather the aftermath of it -- came vividly to mind but she chose not to dwell on it. There was no way she could have refused to perform the opening ceremony, had she wanted. It was an honour Wendy thought she should have -- in her capacity as mayoress no less. Furthermore it would be followed by a Sale of Work and, she hoped, an opportunity to buy Brian a jar of the home made marmalade he so much loved but which she seldom had the time to make.
Thinking of duty which shortly lay ahead of her, reminded Anne of her own needs and she became increasingly conscious of a steadily filling bladder. She'd had a major session on the toilet first thing, Brian firmly but gently insisting that his wife was thoroughly 'drained down' before they embarked on the morning's engagements. However, that had been at eight o'clock, six and a half hours earlier. It was now two thirty and she was feeling the need for another trip to the toilet. She didn't need to go badly but the sensation in her bladder was strong enough to tell her that a visit would be wise before too long -- particularly in view of the engagement which lay ahead.
Finally through the checkout (it was a good job she had sufficient cash to make fiddling about with plastic unnecessary) she grabbed her carrier bags and headed towards the ladies. Her heart sank at the sight of an all too familiar plastic notice and brooms blocking the entrance. A lad of about nineteen was busily mopping away in the entrance and, noticing her approach, he looked up.
"Sorry madam. The ladies is closed for cleaning."
Anne's heart sank. This was all she needed.
"Oh dear. Would you mind if I used the disabled loo then? "
The youth shook his head.
