Read Online The Village Show (Tales from Turnham Malpas) by Rebecca Shaw - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rebecca Shaw
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and heaven alone knew, there’d been little enough of that these last years. She’d browbeat Michelle into going to the theme park come Saturday – she’d pay her to go, anything so long as Barry took them out. Why shouldn’t she have some fun? Why-ever not? Right, Barry Jones, you’re on. Oh no! Half-past eleven. She unplugged the iron again, threw on her coat and wool hat, grabbed her bike and fled down the drive to the school.
After the school dinner was finished and the children were out at play, Mr Palmer left Mrs Hardaker in charge anddisappeared into his house for half an hour’s break. Pat, needing some more cleaning materials, went across to the schoolhouse to interrupt his rest and ask for some petty cash.
‘Hello-o-o, Mr Palmer! Hello! Anyone at home?’ She knocked on the door but getting no reply, pushed it open and called down the passage: ‘Hello! It’s only me!’ The sitting-room door was partly open so Pat pushed it wider and saw Mr Palmer standing by his sideboard with a silver photo frame in his hand and what appeared to her to be a daft expression on his face. She cleared her throat. ‘Excuse me – I did knock.’
Mr Palmer jumped and hastily put away the frame in the open sideboard drawer and slammed it shut. ‘You made me jump, Mrs Duckett. What can I do for you?’
‘Well, Mr Palmer, I’m needing petty cash for cleaning materials. I’m a bit short this week otherwise I would have got them and then asked for a refund. Sorry to disturb you. I did shout but you didn’t hear me.’
‘No, no. Sorry. Right. I’ll get the petty cash out. Ten-pound note be enough?’
‘Oh, yes. I’ll bring the change back. It’s bleach for the lavatories and the kitchen sink, and polish and window cleaner.’
Mr Palmer disappeared into the kitchen. Pat knew he’d be a few minutes, he kept the petty cash well locked up. She tiptoed across to the sideboard and after one quick check at the kitchen door, slipped the drawer open and found herself staring at Suzy Meadows. She swiftly shut the drawer and went back to where she’d been standing, her head racing with thoughts. He’d kept that quiet. Who’d have thought … Mr Palmer came back.
‘Oh thanks, Mr Palmer. I’ll be back with the bill and the change.’
‘I’ll be in school when you get back, so bring it to me in my office.’
‘Right-ho.’
Suzy Meadows. Well! She wouldn’t believe it. No one had heard a thing about her since the rector and Dr Harris had adopted the twins. Just fancy if the rector knew! Or more so, if Dr Harris knew! The crafty monkey, he must have been in contact with her all this time. Over two years since she’d left. Must be, ’cos the twins were born beginning of December and they were over two now. Wait till she told Jimmy and them, they’d be amazed. Then she thought about how kind Mr Palmer had always been to her, and how much she’d liked Suzy Meadows when she’d lived in the village, and how lovely Suzy’s three girls had been. Stupid names – Daisy, Pansy and Rosie. Beautiful girls, though.
The bell on the door of the Store pinged joyously as Pat pushed it open.
‘Hello, Jimbo! Am I glad to get inside. It’s still so cold. Hope this blessed slush will be gone soon. Can’t be soon enough for me. Cold better?’
‘Not much, but thanks for asking. Meeting go all right?’
‘Yes, thanks. Usual arguing and gossiping. I’ve brought you up to date in your file. Here it is.’
‘Oh good! Must press on. I’ll look at it later.’
The Store was busy. People who’d put off coming out shopping while the snow was at its worst, had now decided they couldn’t wait any longer and were busy stocking up. Barry’s mother was the centre of a small group exchanging news, thankful of an outlet at last after being incarcerated by the snow.
Barry’s mother had to move to allow Pat to reach for the bottle of bleach. Pat made a pretence of studying thedifferent brands on offer to give herself an
After the school dinner was finished and the children were out at play, Mr Palmer left Mrs Hardaker in charge anddisappeared into his house for half an hour’s break. Pat, needing some more cleaning materials, went across to the schoolhouse to interrupt his rest and ask for some petty cash.
‘Hello-o-o, Mr Palmer! Hello! Anyone at home?’ She knocked on the door but getting no reply, pushed it open and called down the passage: ‘Hello! It’s only me!’ The sitting-room door was partly open so Pat pushed it wider and saw Mr Palmer standing by his sideboard with a silver photo frame in his hand and what appeared to her to be a daft expression on his face. She cleared her throat. ‘Excuse me – I did knock.’
Mr Palmer jumped and hastily put away the frame in the open sideboard drawer and slammed it shut. ‘You made me jump, Mrs Duckett. What can I do for you?’
‘Well, Mr Palmer, I’m needing petty cash for cleaning materials. I’m a bit short this week otherwise I would have got them and then asked for a refund. Sorry to disturb you. I did shout but you didn’t hear me.’
‘No, no. Sorry. Right. I’ll get the petty cash out. Ten-pound note be enough?’
‘Oh, yes. I’ll bring the change back. It’s bleach for the lavatories and the kitchen sink, and polish and window cleaner.’
Mr Palmer disappeared into the kitchen. Pat knew he’d be a few minutes, he kept the petty cash well locked up. She tiptoed across to the sideboard and after one quick check at the kitchen door, slipped the drawer open and found herself staring at Suzy Meadows. She swiftly shut the drawer and went back to where she’d been standing, her head racing with thoughts. He’d kept that quiet. Who’d have thought … Mr Palmer came back.
‘Oh thanks, Mr Palmer. I’ll be back with the bill and the change.’
‘I’ll be in school when you get back, so bring it to me in my office.’
‘Right-ho.’
Suzy Meadows. Well! She wouldn’t believe it. No one had heard a thing about her since the rector and Dr Harris had adopted the twins. Just fancy if the rector knew! Or more so, if Dr Harris knew! The crafty monkey, he must have been in contact with her all this time. Over two years since she’d left. Must be, ’cos the twins were born beginning of December and they were over two now. Wait till she told Jimmy and them, they’d be amazed. Then she thought about how kind Mr Palmer had always been to her, and how much she’d liked Suzy Meadows when she’d lived in the village, and how lovely Suzy’s three girls had been. Stupid names – Daisy, Pansy and Rosie. Beautiful girls, though.
The bell on the door of the Store pinged joyously as Pat pushed it open.
‘Hello, Jimbo! Am I glad to get inside. It’s still so cold. Hope this blessed slush will be gone soon. Can’t be soon enough for me. Cold better?’
‘Not much, but thanks for asking. Meeting go all right?’
‘Yes, thanks. Usual arguing and gossiping. I’ve brought you up to date in your file. Here it is.’
‘Oh good! Must press on. I’ll look at it later.’
The Store was busy. People who’d put off coming out shopping while the snow was at its worst, had now decided they couldn’t wait any longer and were busy stocking up. Barry’s mother was the centre of a small group exchanging news, thankful of an outlet at last after being incarcerated by the snow.
Barry’s mother had to move to allow Pat to reach for the bottle of bleach. Pat made a pretence of studying thedifferent brands on offer to give herself an
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