Read Online The Week at Mon Repose by Margaret Pearce - Free Book Online Page A

Repose.
    When Billy and Jimpy had their clothes dragged off and were thrown in the bath, the water fights started. The three girls were wet through before they got the boys clean. Then the boys were lifted out to be dressed in their pyjamas and dressing gowns.
    â€œThat was rather fun,” Allie said as the boys, suddenly quiet and well behaved, trotted off, leaving them to the wreckage of the bathroom.
    â€œWhy is it your job to bathe the boys?” Jenny asked.
    â€œI sort of started when Mum was so sick having Georgie, and now they won’t let anyone else bathe them.”
    â€œFancy having to do this every night,” Allie said. The dinner bell clanged, reminding her of how late it was getting. “Do you get saturated every night as well? We’re going to have to get changed before we eat.”
    â€œI’ll clean up the bathroom, put the laundry on, and meet you back at the dining room,” Marilyn said.
    â€œWe’ll help,” Allie said.
    Allie knew by the way Jenny was already blotting water off the bathroom window that Jenny thought the same way as she did. Marilyn was the most clever, efficient, and hard-working person she had ever met in her life. Even her mother and Jenny’s mother weren’t as clever and hard-working as their new friend.
    After the bathroom was clean and dry, the heavy laundry bag of dirty clothes and the sopping towels were stacked into the washing machines in the laundry. Marilyn sprinkled in soap powder and turned them on.
    â€œMum will hang them out,” she said. “Better smarten up on changing, or we’ll all be late for dinner.”
    Mr. Masterton’s room was near the laundry, and as they were passing, Jenny paused to open the door. Ahmed was stretched out on the small, folding bed, gazing up at the ceiling.
    â€œThe dinner bell’s gone. Are you ready for dinner?”
    â€œYou look funny,” Allie said.
    Ahmed didn’t answer. The three girls stepped farther into the room.”Why have you turned green?” Marilyn asked.
    The room with its one small window was dark. Allie turned on the ceiling light. Ahmed’s skin was definitely green! His eyes were glazed, and he didn’t seem to hear or see the girls. Jenny stooped to touch him and gave a gasp as her hand sank into his arm.
    â€œHis arm is soft all the way through as if he’s melting or something!”
    â€œHe’s been here too long and is fading away,” Allie groaned. “And it’s all our faults!”
    â€œWe’ve got to send him back and fast,” Jenny said.
    â€œExcept we don’t know how?” Allie pointed out.
    â€œHe said he could last three days before fading,” Marilyn said. “We’ve still got time to find out how to send him back before he fades out completely.”
    â€œDo you think he will last until midnight when we can have our séance?” Jenny asked doubtfully.
    â€œHis third day isn’t up until tomorrow night,” Marilyn said. “He’s just got to last.”
    â€œWe’ll tell Mrs. Marybone he’s got a headache and he won’t be along for dinner,” Allie said. She ushered them out the door, turned off the light, and shut the door. “If we’re late for dinner, someone might ask awkward questions.”
    This was enough to galvanize them all into movement. Marilyn sprinted off down to her bedroom, and the other two girls ran for their own room to change out of their wet clothes.
    Mrs. Marybone was all sympathy for Ahmed’s headache and was firmly discouraged from taking him along a cup of tea and some aspirins.
    â€œHe said that he doesn’t want anything to eat. The light hurts his eyes, and he has a headache,” Marilyn said glibly.
    â€œProbably a migraine, poor lad,” Mrs. Marybone agreed. “He’ll probably be better after a good night’s sleep.”
    Dinner was roast beef with parboiled potatoes and carrots