NEXT morning the
Sunday peace of the hamlet was shattered by the arrival of Willie Cobb in the
lorry. He brought with him Bert's motorbike, which had been left at the quarry
when he was taken ill, plus a long ladder and some scaffolding poles. The day
had been set for a joint effort to mend the Trims' roof. Mrs.. Trim, after
mopping up puddles for a week, had gone on strike.
Bert Reece had
contributed a few tiles from his old ruined outhouse, lately re-roofed with
corrugated iron. He and Willie pegged them while Ted Mostyn, at the top of the
ladder, nailed new battens to the joists.
A lot of noise
accompanied the work, shouts and bangs and men's laughter. Bert's laugh was the
loudest, ringing throughout the hamlet in the still frosty air.
The sound of it
infuriated Miss Coker who was still smarting from his impudent remarks about the
cat. Moreover she had seen through his strategy. Plainly he had intended that
frequent sight of the cat would finally break down her opposition. Thus it would
find a home and the minds of those whose doors were barred to it would all feel
easier.
No doubt he
thought, like so many others, that no one lived a solitary life from choice, and
that by foisting on to her a stray animal he would be doing both parties a
kindness. Well, he thought wrong. She decided to go out for a walk to get away
from the detestable sight and sound of him. She put on her thick boots and her
warmest coat and set off up the lane. Work ceased for a moment and all heads
turned to watch her go. She kept her own head resolutely averted and did not
betray by the slightest movement that she was aware of their existence.
'That's good
riddance,' chortled Bert when she was out of earshot. 'Like as not to put the
evil eye on us, she is, and bring the whole bloomin' house down.'
`Think she's a
witch then?' asked Willie.
'I dunno whether
she is or not. But there was a time, not so long past, when folks would have
said she was, and they'd have sewn her up in a sack and thrown her in the pond.'
The two older
Reece children had been roped in to help clean the tiles and knock out the old
pegs.
'Is Miss Coker a
witch?' Joey asked his sister.
'You heard what
our dad said. I say she isn't. If she was one, she'd ride a broomstick 'stead of
a bicycle.'
This struck Joey
as enormously funny. He pranced about with a stick between his legs,
hysterical with mirth.
When the work was
done they all flocked into the cottage. Mr.. Trim had killed a couple of plump
cockerels and Maggie Trim had roasted them with parsnips, potatoes and
onions. She had set the table in the parlour for seven and a smaller one in the
kitchen for the four junior members of the Reece family. She had made a huge
apple pie for the adults and a bread pudding for the children.
Planned as a way
for the Trims to thank their neighbours, the occasion became a real celebration
when Amy Reece announced that she was going to have another baby. Maggie Trim
brought out a gallon jar of her famous blackberry juice.
It was
mid-afternoon before the meal was finished. Then the men were left to chat while
the women washed up. Jinny scraped the plates. 'Can I have some scraps for the
kitten, Mrs. Mostyn ?'
`Yes, love, you
can take a few.'
'Now, Jinny,'
said her mother, `you know it's no use. The birds get it all. Anyway the kitten
seems to have gone. Or maybe it's dead.'
`No, it's not,
Mum. Dad saw it come out of Miss Coker's shed. He says it sleeps there. I could
take it some food -'
'You'll do
nothing of the kind. That old woman catches you on her place she wouldn't half
kick up a rumpus. You keep away from there, do you hear? You don't want to get
mixed up with her.'
'Yes, Mum, but -'
'Don't pester,
Jinny. Keeps on and on about that dratted cat,' she said to Mrs. Mostyn. 'I'll
be glad when it's dead, and that's the truth, for I'm right sick of it.'
Mrs. Mostyn said
nothing. Her own opinion had altered lately and she now agreed with Amy Reece
that the poor creature would be better off dead, but did not like to say so in
front of Jinny. She decided privately to take up the matter with Ted and get
some action.
WHAT'S
NEW? 