The places where Jean hid the secrets that everyone knew…

Hidden from sight but ready to hand.

On the bookshelf behind holiday albums that no one picked up.

In plain sight; cleaning cupboard, third shelf. Old jam jar. Hand-written label: ‘white spirits’.

The Larder. Mixed well, in the sticky old cordial bottle

that no one would touch. Easy to hand, behind locked doors. Jean hated surprises.

Behind the mouthwash. Doubly convenient. At the back of the sock drawer wrapped in thick tubes of wool. Because secrets go clink.

Deep-frozen, but still a thickly fluid, under meals-for-one coated with frost.

In the living room cabinet, spot-lit and on show for all to see. In dusty, unopened bottles playing their role.

At the bottom of that steaming ‘herbal’ cuppa,

with a strong juniper tinge. Under intakes of breath with imperfect spearmint camouflage.

In the garage, labeled ‘Poison’. An in-joke for one.

And finally in the trash; each drained secret,  individually wrapped with newspaper and placed gently and quietly with care.

Because even when empty, secrets go clink.