decided.
Well, I'll leave you to it,' said Mrs Richards. 'I'm looking for a larger belt for Wayne.'
'You feed him too well,' I responded, before turning back to my task.
'Or these,' added my nice old gentleman, drawing out some light-weight pyjamas in a rather nice grey and white Paisley pattern. They felt warm but thin.
'A very nice crêpe,' enthused the man. 'Just come in. Fully washable, drip-dry and thoroughly approved by the medical profession.'
That clinched it.
'I'll take three pairs,' I said, getting out my cheque book.
6. Back To School
T HE PATIENT made steady progress. Jessie went in morning and evening, and I cooked his midday meal, such as it was. For the first few days he only wanted liquids, but quite soon came the great day when he clamoured for bacon and eggs.
He had lost weight and tired easily, but the fever had gone after a week or two, and the doctor pronounced him fit soon after that.
I ceased my regular midday ministrations when he insisted that he could cope again, and perhaps it was as well that I was able to do so, for I had a surprising telephone call from the local education office one foggy November morning.
'Miss Read?'
'Speaking.'
'Francis Hannen here.'
He was the local education officer, a cheerful fellow who had held the post for a couple of years now. What could he want?
'We wondered if you could help us out.'
'In what way?'
'Miss Summers has been smitten with the prevailing flu bug, but it has given her acute laryngitis, and she is speechless.'
'Poor soul! What an affliction for a school mistress.'
'It is indeed. Well, we've rung one or two ex-teachers on our list, but they are either in the same boat, or away, and I hardly liked to bother you when you are so recently retired, but -'
His voice faded away.
'How long for?'
'The doctor insists on a week, maybe longer.'
I mentally checked my engagements for the week. It was Friday today. That would give me time over the weekend to collect my wits and a few teaching aids. John Jenkins was now able to cope without help from me, and only a shopping trip with Amy lay ahead on Tuesday.
'Of course I'll stand in.'
There was a gusty sigh.
'Marvellous! Miss Summers will be so relieved. Her sister is with her at the moment, so I'll ring and tell her straight away. A thousand thanks. I'm sure the children will be thrilled to have you back.'
I was not so sure about it, but with mutual well-wishing we rang off.
Over the weekend I did a certain amount of telephoning myself. First, of course, to Miss Summers' house where I had news of the invalid from her sister.
'She seems a little better. Temperature down a trifle, and the throat not so sore, but not a sound comes from her. The house is remarkably quiet, and I find myself whispering to Jane. It's quite uncanny.'
Then to Amy to postpone the shopping trip, and then to Mr Lamb at Fairacre asking him to pass a message to Mrs Pringle about her usual Wednesday visit.
That evening she rang me, obviously delighted to be among the first with my dramatic news.
'It'll be quite like old times,' she said with such gusto that it sounded welcoming. This was a pleasant surprise, until she added:
Til come a bit earlier each morning while you're at the school. There's always more to clear up.'
'Thank you, Mrs Pringle,' I replied, hoping it sounded as sarcastic as I meant it to be, but she was not abashed.
'And I'll be at your place as usual Wednesday afternoon, catching the Caxley.'
'The Caxley' in this instance meant the Caxley bus. Sometimes 'The Caxley' means the Caxley Chronicle , as in 'I read it in the Caxley, so I know it's true.' The local inhabitants of these parts are loyal readers.
I also rang John to tell him where I would be the following week. There was no need to of course, I told myself, but it seemed the civil thing to do after our extra close ties recently.
He sounded aggrieved.
'Surely you're not tying yourself up with teaching, all over again?' His voice was
Well, I'll leave you to it,' said Mrs Richards. 'I'm looking for a larger belt for Wayne.'
'You feed him too well,' I responded, before turning back to my task.
'Or these,' added my nice old gentleman, drawing out some light-weight pyjamas in a rather nice grey and white Paisley pattern. They felt warm but thin.
'A very nice crêpe,' enthused the man. 'Just come in. Fully washable, drip-dry and thoroughly approved by the medical profession.'
That clinched it.
'I'll take three pairs,' I said, getting out my cheque book.
6. Back To School
T HE PATIENT made steady progress. Jessie went in morning and evening, and I cooked his midday meal, such as it was. For the first few days he only wanted liquids, but quite soon came the great day when he clamoured for bacon and eggs.
He had lost weight and tired easily, but the fever had gone after a week or two, and the doctor pronounced him fit soon after that.
I ceased my regular midday ministrations when he insisted that he could cope again, and perhaps it was as well that I was able to do so, for I had a surprising telephone call from the local education office one foggy November morning.
'Miss Read?'
'Speaking.'
'Francis Hannen here.'
He was the local education officer, a cheerful fellow who had held the post for a couple of years now. What could he want?
'We wondered if you could help us out.'
'In what way?'
'Miss Summers has been smitten with the prevailing flu bug, but it has given her acute laryngitis, and she is speechless.'
'Poor soul! What an affliction for a school mistress.'
'It is indeed. Well, we've rung one or two ex-teachers on our list, but they are either in the same boat, or away, and I hardly liked to bother you when you are so recently retired, but -'
His voice faded away.
'How long for?'
'The doctor insists on a week, maybe longer.'
I mentally checked my engagements for the week. It was Friday today. That would give me time over the weekend to collect my wits and a few teaching aids. John Jenkins was now able to cope without help from me, and only a shopping trip with Amy lay ahead on Tuesday.
'Of course I'll stand in.'
There was a gusty sigh.
'Marvellous! Miss Summers will be so relieved. Her sister is with her at the moment, so I'll ring and tell her straight away. A thousand thanks. I'm sure the children will be thrilled to have you back.'
I was not so sure about it, but with mutual well-wishing we rang off.
Over the weekend I did a certain amount of telephoning myself. First, of course, to Miss Summers' house where I had news of the invalid from her sister.
'She seems a little better. Temperature down a trifle, and the throat not so sore, but not a sound comes from her. The house is remarkably quiet, and I find myself whispering to Jane. It's quite uncanny.'
Then to Amy to postpone the shopping trip, and then to Mr Lamb at Fairacre asking him to pass a message to Mrs Pringle about her usual Wednesday visit.
That evening she rang me, obviously delighted to be among the first with my dramatic news.
'It'll be quite like old times,' she said with such gusto that it sounded welcoming. This was a pleasant surprise, until she added:
Til come a bit earlier each morning while you're at the school. There's always more to clear up.'
'Thank you, Mrs Pringle,' I replied, hoping it sounded as sarcastic as I meant it to be, but she was not abashed.
'And I'll be at your place as usual Wednesday afternoon, catching the Caxley.'
'The Caxley' in this instance meant the Caxley bus. Sometimes 'The Caxley' means the Caxley Chronicle , as in 'I read it in the Caxley, so I know it's true.' The local inhabitants of these parts are loyal readers.
I also rang John to tell him where I would be the following week. There was no need to of course, I told myself, but it seemed the civil thing to do after our extra close ties recently.
He sounded aggrieved.
'Surely you're not tying yourself up with teaching, all over again?' His voice was
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