Wednesday, 17 March 2021

Snippets of Downshire Life – International Day of Happiness

 

The village of Highfinch sits just on the edge of the Pepperstock Hills and the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club separates the village from the Hamlet of Lily Green, and the combination of those two and Kingfisherbridge made up the parish of St Martins.

 

It was also the home of the Strong’s, brother and sister, Ben and Becky, who had a poultry farm on the Northern side of the village.

They were both the wrong end of their twenties and there were only the two of them left of the Strong clan, but they had two people working for them, 22 year old local girl Kamila Dziewirz, who was full time and thirty year old Greg Mizon, who Ben had known at Agricultural College, who was just helping out for a few weeks, unless they could persuade him to stay longer.

Which was something Becky was particularly keen on from the moment she first saw him, but he’d been working at the farm for several weeks before there was any impropriety between them, but when it did occur she felt more alive than she had done for years.

 

When Ben went downstairs for breakfast he found Becky in the kitchen, singing, and the reason she was so happy, apart from the obvious, was that Greg had just told her he was staying on, indefinitely.

“You’re in a good mood” Ben said but she didn’t share the complete reason for her good mood with her brother but replied

“Yes, I am, do you want eggs babe?”

“Yes please” he replied taking full advantage of her good humour

“Greg has decided to stick around a bit longer” she said matter-of-factly

“He’s in the other room, go and keep him company”

Becky instructed so he duly obliged

 

“Morning Mate” he said

“It’s not just any old morning” he responded, “it’s a magnificent morning?”

“Enough said” Ben answered and smiled to himself just as Kamila arrived behind him having also experienced little miss sunshine.

“Hi Kam” he said

“Hey Ben” she retorted but couldn’t meet his gaze and quickly added “Well Greg, I hear you’re staying on for a bit”

“That’s right”

“How long for?” Ben asked

“Indefinitely” he replied and there was a distinct smugness about him.

 

“So, what are we up to today?” Kamila asked

“Well this morning we’re going to get the enclosure ready for the new birds” Ben replied “So come on let’s get going”

“Glen! can you bring the dirty things to the kitchen?” Becky said as she appeared in the doorway.

“We were just heading out” Ben said

“That’s ok we’ll catch you up” she said cheerfully

 

“She’s very happy today” Kam said as she and Ben walked across the yard

“She’s very something” he responded enigmatically

“Have I missed something?” Kamila asked

“I think you must have” he replied

“So, what is it? What have I missed?” she asked “Tell me, tell me”

“Well the reason Greg is staying on with us, is Becky” he said

“Eh?”

“Ok let me put it another way” he explained “She didn’t want him to help with clearing the dishes”

“What then?” she asked and then the penny dropped and then she giggled “Oh” 

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