Read Online Young May Moon by Sheila Newberry - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sheila Newberry
Ads: Link
August, May agreed they would take the day off from the Punch and Judy. Pomona and Danny passed the headphones back and forth as they listened to the commentary on Jenny’s wireless in the Swan kitchen. Toby snoozed and snored in her box by the stove, obviously appreciating a lazy day, too.
After eight hours and forty-three minutes, Miss Ederle had battled for over twenty-three miles in turbulent water and was showing signs of sea sickness. Her swimming coach, Jabez Wolffe took the decision to pull her out of the freezing Channel into the accompanying boat.
‘He shouldn’t have touched her – that means she’s disqualified,’ Danny said.
Pomona burst into tears herself, while her heroine’s sobs faded as the broadcast was curtailed.
‘She’s a brave young lady, and she won’t give up, I reckon. She’ll have another go.’ Brigid said, trying to cheer them up. ‘Did you read in the paper that she’s suffered from increasing deafness since a childhood illness? She was advised to stop swimming, but she refused. She’s very determined. Like you, Pom!’
Later, in an interview with the press, Gertrude Ederle insisted thatwhen she next attempted to break the record, she was not to be taken from the water however distressed she might appear. She later added that she had no complaints about her coach’s action. ‘I am not a person who reaches for the moon as long as I have the stars….’
Those words made a lasting impression on the young Pomona, and May.
‘There’s always next year,’ Jenny said comfortingly, as they drank their bedtime cocoa.
Sometime after midnight Jenny tapped on the girls’ bedroom door. May had only just managed to get off to sleep due to Pomona’s laments about the failed Channel swim. The tentative knocking didn’t disturb her sister from her slumbers.
Yawning, May tiptoed to the door, opened it. She took in the fact that Jenny was still in her day clothes, having only just finished her evening chores after the pub closed.
‘Can you come, dear? Your little dog seems to be in distress.’
In the kitchen Toby was panting and scrabbling at the old jumper in the orange box which Jenny had provided for her bed.
‘What’s up, d’you think, Jenny?’ May asked, in alarm.
‘Why, I believe she’s having pups. Didn’t you know?’
May shook her head in disbelief. ‘We thought she must be too old for breeding. That’s why Dad thought she was perfect to be Dog Toby. The one we had before, kept running off.’
‘Didn’t you say, oh, it must be a couple of months ago now, she went off with another dog along the beach?’
‘I wasn’t there, but Paddy got her back, thank goodness. D’you think…?’
‘Seems likely, doesn’t it,’ Jenny said. ‘Now, what do we do? Shall I fetch Percy? Though he’ll probably say, let nature take its course.’
They were startled when they heard the latch being lifted on the back door. ‘It’s only me,’ Paddy said reassuringly, as he entered, torch in hand. ‘I noticed the light was on in the kitchen, and thought something might be wrong.’ He spotted Toby, now growling uncertainly in her bed. ‘Oh, what’s up?’
May clutched her old robe round her. She thought, I must look a sight! She said, ‘Jenny thinks … Toby’s about to have pups!’
‘All right, old girl,’ Paddy said gently. He bent over the little dog. His hands gently felt her distended stomach. The growling ceased, and Toby licked his fingers. ‘Is it her first litter?’ he asked.
‘I’m not sure,’ May floundered. ‘We were told she was past … that sort of thing. Dad rescued her from a cruel owner; we don’t know anything about her early days.’
‘You look as if you know something about the process,’ Jenny addressed Paddy. ‘So how about I make you both a nice mug of tea, and leave you to it – you can always give me a call if there’s any complications. I don’t think it’s fair to crowd round the poor creature , eh?’
‘It might be
After eight hours and forty-three minutes, Miss Ederle had battled for over twenty-three miles in turbulent water and was showing signs of sea sickness. Her swimming coach, Jabez Wolffe took the decision to pull her out of the freezing Channel into the accompanying boat.
‘He shouldn’t have touched her – that means she’s disqualified,’ Danny said.
Pomona burst into tears herself, while her heroine’s sobs faded as the broadcast was curtailed.
‘She’s a brave young lady, and she won’t give up, I reckon. She’ll have another go.’ Brigid said, trying to cheer them up. ‘Did you read in the paper that she’s suffered from increasing deafness since a childhood illness? She was advised to stop swimming, but she refused. She’s very determined. Like you, Pom!’
Later, in an interview with the press, Gertrude Ederle insisted thatwhen she next attempted to break the record, she was not to be taken from the water however distressed she might appear. She later added that she had no complaints about her coach’s action. ‘I am not a person who reaches for the moon as long as I have the stars….’
Those words made a lasting impression on the young Pomona, and May.
‘There’s always next year,’ Jenny said comfortingly, as they drank their bedtime cocoa.
Sometime after midnight Jenny tapped on the girls’ bedroom door. May had only just managed to get off to sleep due to Pomona’s laments about the failed Channel swim. The tentative knocking didn’t disturb her sister from her slumbers.
Yawning, May tiptoed to the door, opened it. She took in the fact that Jenny was still in her day clothes, having only just finished her evening chores after the pub closed.
‘Can you come, dear? Your little dog seems to be in distress.’
In the kitchen Toby was panting and scrabbling at the old jumper in the orange box which Jenny had provided for her bed.
‘What’s up, d’you think, Jenny?’ May asked, in alarm.
‘Why, I believe she’s having pups. Didn’t you know?’
May shook her head in disbelief. ‘We thought she must be too old for breeding. That’s why Dad thought she was perfect to be Dog Toby. The one we had before, kept running off.’
‘Didn’t you say, oh, it must be a couple of months ago now, she went off with another dog along the beach?’
‘I wasn’t there, but Paddy got her back, thank goodness. D’you think…?’
‘Seems likely, doesn’t it,’ Jenny said. ‘Now, what do we do? Shall I fetch Percy? Though he’ll probably say, let nature take its course.’
They were startled when they heard the latch being lifted on the back door. ‘It’s only me,’ Paddy said reassuringly, as he entered, torch in hand. ‘I noticed the light was on in the kitchen, and thought something might be wrong.’ He spotted Toby, now growling uncertainly in her bed. ‘Oh, what’s up?’
May clutched her old robe round her. She thought, I must look a sight! She said, ‘Jenny thinks … Toby’s about to have pups!’
‘All right, old girl,’ Paddy said gently. He bent over the little dog. His hands gently felt her distended stomach. The growling ceased, and Toby licked his fingers. ‘Is it her first litter?’ he asked.
‘I’m not sure,’ May floundered. ‘We were told she was past … that sort of thing. Dad rescued her from a cruel owner; we don’t know anything about her early days.’
‘You look as if you know something about the process,’ Jenny addressed Paddy. ‘So how about I make you both a nice mug of tea, and leave you to it – you can always give me a call if there’s any complications. I don’t think it’s fair to crowd round the poor creature , eh?’
‘It might be
Similar Books
