In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (036) – Stephen and Verity Escape the Madness

 

December

 

Stephen Farnsworth and Verity Virtue had been a couple since June and by December they were more in love than ever.

The only fly in the ointment for Verity were the Wedding plans, not that she wasn’t thrilled for her Uncle Charlie and Toddy, it was just that Verity’s mum Chloe was like a thing possessed it had become all consuming, and it had been going on for two months.

They were both sitting in the lounge at his cottage, Starlings, when he said

“Why don’t we get away?”

“Get away?” Verity replied

“Yes, let’s get away for a week and escape the madness”

“Get away?” she repeated

“We’ll be back in time for the Wedding” he continued, and she said nothing for a full minute and then suddenly she excitedly responded

“Let’s go online and see what’s available” 

He switched on the laptop, and she sat next to him as he opened the browser

“Do you want sun?” he asked

“Are you kidding? I’m redhaired and pasty” she said

“Ok, no sun, do you want activity?”

“Nah”

“America?”

“No to America and nowhere that’s more than two hours flying time” she said decisively

“So, Europe then” he said

“I think so”

“So how about nature?”

“Nah”

“History?”

“Hmm”

“Romantic?” he asked

“Definitely”

“City break then”

“Oh yes a city break” she said excitedly

“How about….” he pondered “Paris? Amsterdam? Brussels?”

Verity shook her head, so he cast his net a bit further.

“Berlin” he suggested

“Berlin?” she repeated “Oooh I like the sound of that”

“It has history, romance and a Christmas market to boot” he added

“Oooh a Christmas market” she said enthusiastically

“Ok then Berlin it is” Stephen said

“Let’s find somewhere to stay” Verity added

An hour later they had a 7-night booking at the Regent Hotel and flights booked for the following Friday, St Nichols Day, 6th December and a return flight on the 13th, St Lucy’s Day, which would give them a full week to do all the last-minute stuff and enjoy the run into the Wedding and their first Christmas together.

 

So, the next morning she notified her mum of their plans which Chloe took in her stride,

“Good for you” she said “Have a great time while you’re away”

But she did have one proviso, and that was that she went with her to Abbottsford to get her bridesmaids dress, so she and Stephen went with the Wedding party and went directly to the airport on Friday morning and flew into Berlin Brandenburg Airport just after 11.00am.

They arrived at the Hotel Regent about an hour and a half later and they were not disappointed by their choice, it was absolutely beautiful, very luxurious and they had a beautiful room and from the main window there was a wonderful view of the imposing dome of what they found out later was the French Cathedral.

They were so very pleased with their lovely room that they didn’t leave it all afternoon, in fact they only left it in order to go and eat, then they went back to the room and had an early night.

       

They began their holiday properly on Saturday morning after an early breakfast and crammed in a lot on their first full day.

They took full advantage of the unseasonably mild weather and did the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and the Glienicke Bridge in the morning and the Christmas Market at Charlottenburg Palace after lunch and into the evening.

When they woke on Sunday morning they were exhausted after packing so much into their first day, so they decided that they should perhaps have a more relaxing day beginning with breakfast to be followed by Church.

After speaking to the waiter, they took his advice and got a taxi to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on the Kurfürstendamm and when the driver turned onto the very broad, long boulevard full of shops, houses, hotels and restaurants he said proudly

“This is the Champs-Élysées of Berlin”

“Oh look” Verity said excitedly as they pulled up outside the beautiful blue Church “they have a Christmas market here too”

As Stephen handed the driver his money he said

“They have Christmas markets everywhere”

“Oh goody” she responded, and he laughed

The service was lovely and the new part of the Church with the blue glass was spectacular with the winter sun shining through.

Afterwards they ate lunch of Frickadellen with fries and mayo from a “Schnellie” at the roadside, then after lunch they went to Wannsee and walked around the lakes in the sunshine enjoying the scenery until the evening fell and so did the temperature.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (035) – The Wedding Party Sojourn

 

December

 

With three weeks until the Wedding, the plans as far as Charlie and Toddy were concerned were complete, the Church was booked for the Saturday before Christmas, the reception was booked at the Barnabus Manor Hotel just outside the Village and the tickets for their honeymoon in Rome were bought and paid for and Toddy’s passport had arrived.

 

Toddy’s Wedding Dress was ready for the final fitting and the other important intimate wedding day accessories were hidden away until the big day and Charlie just had to buy a new suit for the occasion.

Everything else they left in the capable hands of Charlie’s sister Chloe, who after being given the parameters was a force of nature, she knew everyone in the Village and knew who did what the best, Flowers, Wedding Car, Invitations, Order of Service, Menu’s, Wedding Cake, Photographer, Videographer, you name it she knew someone who could do it.

 

Toddy had considered Chloe to be her Matron of Honour, but in the absence of any family Charlie suggested Chloe give her away instead.

“Really? You want me?” Chloe asked and burst into tears

With that settled she had to find another candidate for Matron of Honour and it only took a moment of thought to decide and chose Church Warden, Kirsten Vaughan, the two of them had become very close friends since she had been in the Village, and she was thrilled to be asked, and didn’t dissolve into tears, instead squealed and said “Yes”

Bridesmaid was the easiest choice of all and required no thought at all, so she asked, her soon to be niece, Verity Virtue.

“I was going to do it whether you asked me or not” she said and laughed

As Verity normally played the organ, her boyfriend Stephen Farnsworth had agreed to play in her stead.

 

So, towards the end of the first week of December Charlie hired a Ford Galaxy for a few days and drove, Toddy, Chloe and Kirsten to Abbottsford, he could have fitted Stephen and Verity in as well as it was a seven-seater, but they followed on behind in his car as they were flying off to Germany the next day.

They went straight to the Abbottsford Regents Hotel, where they had stayed before, and checked in but unlike previous occasions this time Charlie and Toddy shared a room.

As soon as they had taken their bags to the room, they all met back downstairs in reception and then drove in one car to the Phoenix Shopping Centre where they had lunch.

When they left the restaurant, they split up, the girls headed off to sought out their wedding clothes, Stephen went to do some shopping of his own and Charlie went to meet up with his Best Man Paul Day and went to buy new suits.

Paul was his oldest friend, and they had worked together a lot over the years and when he had his Aerospace Engineering Company Paul’s Company was one of his suppliers.

But it wasn’t just a business connection between them, they were both widowed around the same time and were there for each other, and such bonds are hard to break.  

 

Paul and Charlie spent about an hour getting their suits and then after putting their suit bags in the car they headed to the Phoenix Espresso Café to have a coffee while they waited for the girls.

After about twenty minutes they were joined by Stephen and Charlie introduced them and they sat chatting for the next hour before the girls arrived, laden with bags and more introductions were made before they returned to the Hotel.

 

Later that evening Stephen and Verity opted for some alone time while the other 5 went to see a play at The Empire Theatre and then they all met up again to have dinner together at The Wooden Slipper.

The meal was notable in one respect and that was that Paul and Kirsten seemed to make an instant connection.

 

The next morning, fortified by a good breakfast, Stephen and Verity said their goodbyes as they were driving to the airport and the rest of them drove to the multistorey car park at the Phoenix Shopping Centre, so they could do some Christmas shopping before saying goodbye to Paul, who had to stay in town for a couple of days, and then they headed down the Expressway with a boot crammed full.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (034) – Careful What You Wish For

 

December

 

Michael Bailey was an Estate Agent in the Village, and he had been dating Maisie Threadgold, one of the family of Threadgold’s Garden Centre fame, whose business had been in existence in some form or other for over 100 years and was still family run.

She was a pretty blonde girl, and everyone thought Michael was punching above his weight.

But a few months earlier he proposed to her and furthermore she accepted, and ever since plans upon plans were being made by both mothers.

They hadn’t moved in together by the time December arrived, but they were spending more and more time at each other’s homes but weren’t officially living together.

Monday was a normal workday for Michael but Maisie had managed to book off a couple of days off work so she could do some early Christmas shopping and do a bit of housework.

When he returned home after work, he could tell that apart from her shopping she had spent some of her time productively and the house was looking more homely than it had ever done and as he walked into the lounge he was greeted by the smell of home cooking.

“Hi Hon” he called “Something smells nice”

Her head suddenly appeared from around the kitchen door and said

“It’s me”

So, he walked down the hall to meet her and gave her a kiss

“No, it’s not you” he said “I can definitely smell something tasty”

“Cheek” Maisie said and hit him with a wooden spoon

“Ow” he said, “what’s cooking then?”

“Bacon and onion dumpling” she replied then continued in a very bad Italian accent “Justa lika mamma used to maka”

“And is yours as good as mamas?” he asked thinking that if it tasted half as good as it smelt he was in for a treat.

“Better” she replied “now go and finish setting the table”

So, he did as she instructed, and then opened a bottle of wine, he returned to the kitchen just in time to see the suet delight coming out of the oven and he could have sworn, he heard the oven sigh.

 

As he sat and ate the heaviest most indigestible dumpling he had ever experienced along with lumpy mash, anemic gravy and overcooked veg he thought to himself

“How bad a cook is her mother?”

He persevered and ate most of it and when she said

“Well?”

He didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth

“Lovely” he said and thought it was a good job he wasn’t marrying her for her cooking.

 

Fortunately, Michael could cook, and he generally got home an hour before her so he would get the evening meal on the go so as to minimize the risk of having to eat her offerings.

 

It was about a fortnight after the night of the dumpling when they were summoned to the Threadgold’s house, for Sunday lunch, which he had to admit, he was rather looking forward to.

Her father Martin was very easy company, especially if you restricted the conversation to sport while Eliza thought the sun shone from his every orifice.

But the main thing he was looking forward to most was a Roast dinner, and he wished he could have one every week.

But there is a very old saying “Be careful what you wish for”.

 

They were in the car on their way to the family home and she asked

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Of course,” he said “I like your folks and I’m looking forward to a great Sunday lunch”

“Oh” Maisie said doubtfully “Good”

They arrived just after two and found Martin in the lounge watching football.

“Hi Dad” she said

“Hello baby girl,” he replied and gave her a kiss, then he shook Michael’s hand.

“Michael dear boy” he said “sit down, they’ve just kicked off”

“I’ll just say hello to Eliza first” he said, and Maisie led the way.

The aromas emanating from the kitchen were mouthwatering.

“Mum?” Maisie called

“I’m in here darling” a disembodied voice called back.

He followed Maisie into the kitchen and kisses and hugs were exchanged between them and then Eliza turned her attention on him.

“It’s lovely to see you Michael” Eliza said “I’m glad you could come”

“It smells delicious” he said “I can’t wait”

“Oh” she said all flustered “that’s a really nice thing to say”

Then Maisie kissed him and dispatched him to keep her father company.

Martin had a freshly poured beer sitting on the table waiting for him.

“Are there you are” he said without taking his eyes off the screen.

“It’s one nil to City, completely against the run of play”

 

Eliza called them to the table about half an hour later and they sat down at the table.

Martin poured the wine and Maisie and Eliza carried the tureens in, then when they were all seated, she lifted the cover off the meat platter to reveal the charred remains of what would once have been a very expensive joint of beef.

The vegetables and the gravy were a similar disappointment; the insipidness of the gravy was clearly a family tradition.

As Martin unceremoniously hacked his way through the charcoal, he slowly revealed the undercooked redness at its core.

As he struggled politely through the hideous meal, he was left to ponder how two such beautiful women could be such ugly cooks.

 

So, it was with a full stomach and a bad case of indigestion that they drove off from her parents’ place.

“Did you enjoy your Sunday roast then sweetie?” Maisie asked

“Oh yes” he replied, “it was ….”

“Horrible?” Maisie interrupted

“No, no” he protested

“Yes, yes” she corrected him “Mums even more rubbish at cooking than I am”

“You’re not rubbish hon” he said gallantly

“I am, you could have beaten someone to death with my bacon and onion dumpling it was so heavy” Maisie said and laughed

“Well maybe not to death, but certainly into a coma” he said, and she punched him.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (033) – Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

 

November

 

The six weeks following Charlie’s proposal to Toddy, had been really busy, but the Wedding plans were virtually complete, the Church was booked for the Saturday before Christmas, the reception was booked at the Barnabus Manor Hotel just outside the Village and the tickets for their honeymoon in Rome were bought and paid for and Toddy’s passport application was being processed.

The guest list was problematic because Toddy didn’t know many people having still been in the convent less than a year before.

Charlie had accumulated a lot of friends over the years so his side of the pews would be full, but Toddy on the other only had the Sister’s from the Convent so there were only four people on her list.

“Who else can I invite?” she asked

“Start with the people you like” he suggested

“I like everyone” she replied and laughed

“Then there’s you answer” Charlie Said  

The rest of the plans they left in the trusty hands of his sister Chloe.

In addition, the work was in full flow up at the Convent and they’d made a number of site visits and had quite a few meetings with their Project Manager Nicholas McGee and Architect James Tims.

On top of that there was a two-day shopping trip to Abbottsford for Toddy and Chloe to buy a Wedding Dress and the other important intimate wedding day accessories.

While she was away Charlie spent most of his time catching up on his philanthropic projects spending some of the obscene amount of money he earned when he sold his Aerospace Engineering Company, and he was thankful for the distraction because he really missed Toddy.

Ever since she entered his life, he dreaded the time they were apart, and the time hung heavily for him. 

The time Toddy was away with Chloe was the longest period they had spent apart since they were a couple, apart from when Sister Margaret had her heart problems.

But they spoke at least three times each day while she was away, which was some consolation.

He hadn’t seen her from Sunday night until Wednesday morning, but those two days felt like a month to him so when she knocked on his door just after nine o’clock his heart soared, and the feeling was mutual, so after a fond embrace they went upstairs and made love.

He was the first to wake up, a couple of hours later, and got up to use the bathroom and took his clothes with him and redressed before he returned.

Then he sat on the edge of the bed and looked at his sleeping angel and silently thanked God for delivering her into his life.

Charlie sat there for about twenty minutes watching her sleep, staring at her peaceful countenance, and asked himself what he had done to deserve such good fortune in his life.

He had 22 wonderful years, with his wife Julie before cancer took her away from him and he never thought he would ever find love again, but he did, and she was sleeping in his bed.

Charlie left her sleeping and went downstairs to make coffee and while he was in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil, he heard the front door open and as he listened, he realized it was Mrs. Horne.

Catherine Horne was his cleaner, and she was a very good cleaner but quite straight laced.

“Morning Mr. Phelps” she called

He had forgotten it was cleaning day, so he carried on making the drinks as he heard her head up the stairs and then the penny dropped so he rushed out into the hall to head her off.

“Ah Catherine” he called as he ascended the stairs two at a time, but he was too late, she was just closing his bedroom door and then turned to face him and judging by the look on her face she had seen Toddy naked in his bed.

“I thought better of you,” she said in a disappointing tone as she walked towards him wearing a scowl

“I’ll do downstairs, I’m very disappointed” she added, and he followed her downstairs

“We are engaged you know” he said in his defense

“Really? it’s not that long since she was still a Nun” she retorted “and you’ve corrupted her”

“But…”

“It’s alright, her reputation won’t suffer by my actions” she said and started hoovering so he returned to the kitchen as Mrs. Horne went about her chores.

 

When Toddy made her way downstairs, she met Catherine Horne at the bottom of the stairs

“Hello Catherine” she said brightly

“I don’t blame you dear” she said sympathetically

“It’s always the bloody men”

“Ok… thanks” she responded, and Catherine made her way upstairs

 

“What have you done to Catherine?” Toddy asked accusingly as she walked into the kitchen

“Nothing” he replied defensively

“Well, something has upset her” she said

“That’s because she went upstairs to clean the ensuite and discovered you in my bed” he said

“Ah that would do it” Toddy said

“Well, if you must know she’s got the hump with me because I’ve deflowered a Nun” he said, and she laughed

“Well firstly I’m not a Nun anymore, and secondly, horticulturally speaking, as I’m 55 years old and therefore in my autumn years, I wouldn’t refer to it as deflowering” she said

“Really?” he retorted “What would you call it?”

“I think dead heading would be more appropriate” she replied, and they dissolved into laughter.      

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (032) – Saving a Reputation

November

 

At the beginning of November, it was a month since Charlie Phelps had proposed to Toddy and she had acquiesced, so they went to their favourite restaurant, the Kissing Angel, in Pipershaven, and when they returned to his house they went straight to bed. 

Samuel and Chloe Virtue were in Abbottsford for a short break that weekend to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and as Verity was staying at her boyfriend Stephen’s house while they were away there was no one at the Vicarage to know what time Toddy returned home, so she was able to stay in Charlie’s bed longer than normal and they fell properly asleep.

Charlie woke up first the next morning to find Toddy curled up beside him beneath the duvet fast asleep.

He kissed her forehead and shook her gently

“It’s time to wake up darling” he said, and she murmured

“Wake up darling, its morning”

Her eyes suddenly were wide open, and saucer sized

“It’s what?”

“It’s morning, we fell asleep”

“What time is it?”

“Nearly seven”

“Oh God!” she exclaimed “Sorry God, what am I going to do?”

“We need a plan to get you out the house in broad daylight without being seen.” he said

“Everyone is going to know I’ve been out all night” she said “And they’ll guess I’ve been with you all night, doing you not what”

“Don’t worry darling” he said and kissed her “Get yourself dressed and I’ll see you downstairs”

When she arrived in the kitchen, she was panic stricken

“What am I going to do?”

“Well don’t panic for a start” he said

“It’s alright for you” she shouted “No one will judge you, but I was a Nun”

Then she started pacing, and ranted

“What was I thinking, how can I go home in this, everyone will know I’ve been out all night”

He made them a coffee which they drank while they made a plan, and after half a mug, as if in answer to a prayer it started to rain, but not just rain, it was an absolute deluge.

“Oh, that’s just what I need” Toddy snapped

“That’s precisely what we need” he said

“What?” she asked, “but it’s horrible”

“It’s perfect, is what it is” he said and went into the utility and came out with a pair of waterproof trousers and a cagoule.

“No one will recognize you in these, and at this time of day there won’t be many folk about” he said

“Perfect” she said, “but what if I’m seen going into the Vicarage?”

“Go round the back, the kitchen door is always unlocked” he said

“You’re a very devious man,” Toddy said

“I know but the rewards are well worth it” he stated, and she blushed crimson red.

But having provided her with the appropriate clothing they immediately hit upon a snag, the trousers didn’t fit over her skirt, it bunched up under them and made it look like she had a bustle.

So, she removed the trousers and then had to take her dress off.

“Don’t get any ideas,” she said when she noticed him looking at her in her knickers, vest and tights.

“Well, you could stay a bit longer,” he suggested lustily

“Don’t temp me,” she said quickly pulling on the waterproof trousers which were a little on the large side and the waistband sat just above her bust line.

Then she pulled on the cagoule over her head before slipping on her shoes.

“That’s not going to work,” he said

“Why?” she asked with concern

“No one would wear footwear like that with waterproofs,” he told her

“They are a bit of a giveaway, aren’t they?” she admitted

“Indeed” he agreed

“What can I wear then?” she asked

“Your gardening shoes” he said, and she slipped her stockinged feet into her muddy gardening shoes

“That looks better” he said and pulled a woolly hat onto her head, and she tucked her hair up under it. 

“I still can’t go out the front door even disguised like this” she said forlornly

“That’s why you’re going out the back gate and along the lane” he said

“What about all my stuff?” she queried

“I’ll bring it to the Vicarage before Church” he said

“You’re good at this stuff,” Toddy said, and she kissed him

After he had kissed her goodbye, he let her out into the rain.

“Text me when you’re home” he said

“Will do” she responded and off she went

“I love you” he called after her

 

Charlie gathered her stuff together and put it in a black sack along with her overcoat, no one would question someone taking a bag of donated clothes to the Vicarage.

Then he had another coffee and sat at the kitchen table until he received a text from Toddy

“Made it,” it read “I love you too”

He smiled before draining his coffee mug and went upstairs to have a shower.

 

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (031) – Cat and Mouse

 

October

 

In just a few short months Funeral Director Max Dickinson’s cozy little life had been turned upside down, not that he was complaining, his comfortable middle-aged existence needed shaking up.

Which was precisely what Geri Phillips did from the moment she breezed into his life on a misty January day when she crashed into his car, and it turned out to be the most wonderful thing that ever happened to him, and that changed everything in his life in a heartbeat.

But there was a problem, he was an average looking thirty-four-year-old stick in the mud and she hadn’t even turned thirty and she was a cute little brunette.

In addition, he was a funeral director, and she was a wax technician or what he would refer to as an esthetician, however the bubbly brunette preferred the term waxologist. 

It took all of his courage to ask her out and he couldn’t believe it when she said yes, but she did and before he knew it, he had fallen in love with her.

Then he needed to summon up every ounce of courage to propose, which he did, and again she said yes which amazed him and shocked his friends and family in the process.

So far so good, January, meet pretty, young brunette, February, woo pretty, young brunette, March, fall in love with pretty, young brunette, May, propose to pretty, young brunette, June move in with pretty, young brunette, August, marry said pretty, young brunette, and finally in September buy house with pretty, young brunette wife.

Well, it’s not actually finally, because it was really more accurate to say, so far, because there were to be many more chapters obviously.

 

They moved into the new house at the beginning of October and after two weeks of them living together in their new home, all was going well, and they had settled into a comfortable routine, and it felt as if they had been together forever.

One Sunday morning as they were sitting in the kitchen eating crumpets, Geri suddenly said

“Can we get a cat?”

“What for?” he retorted

“Because I’d like one” she said sweetly

“Do we have to?” he sighed

“Don’t you like cats?” Geri enquired

“I have no strong opinion either way” he informed her

“So, you don’t dislike them?” she asked

“No not at all” he replied

“Are you allergic?” she queried

“Nope” he replied

“So can we?” she asked cutely

“I take it that you have a strong opinion about cats?” he asked

“Oh yes” she replied “I love them”

“They’re very lovely, they’re good company, they’re clean, they’re not demanding” she continued but he remained unconvinced.

“And they keep mice away” she added as if that one reason underlined all the others

“We don’t have mice” he stated

He had never had mice in his old house in all the years he had lived there and was not at all unhappy with that fact and he didn’t need a cat to achieve that.

All through his childhood at his parents’ house they didn’t have a cat, and they were mice free, so the point seemed moot.

“Please, please, pretty please” she begged, and he was helpless to resist

“Ok, ok” he conceded

“Yey” she screamed and jumped up and down before planting a kiss on his mouth.

“But” he interjected

“But?” she repeated

“There are certain conditions” he stated

“Which are?” she asked

“No Toms” he said “I don’t want spraying in the house”

“Check” she responded

“I’m the only alpha male in this house” he said pompously

“Ok Tiger” she mocked

“No rescue cats, I don’t want to take any chances on getting a psychologically disturbed one” he continued

“Check” she responded

“And no kittens” he added

“Ok” she agreed “Anything else?”

“No that’s the lot” he confirmed

“Good get your coat on” she instructed

“What for?” he asked

“I said we’d pick the cat up before 11 o’clock” Geri said cheekily

“And how did you know I’d say yes?” he asked

“Because you’re lovely” she replied “and you love me”

“Yes, well just remember that cutesy stuff won’t work once you lose your looks” he told her as we were going out the door

“It’ll still work even when I’m old and wrinkled” she said cockily

 

They were going to Mrs. Cooper’s house, just a few doors down from them.

She was a lovely lady, who sadly was having to give up her cottage and the Village and move into a sheltered housing scheme Sunny Pines in Pipershaven where pets of any kind were not permitted.

Elizabeth had a sweet little two-year-old black female cat called Blackberry for whom she was looking for a good home and they were it.

 

Well, all went swimmingly with Blackberry’s arrival, she quickly took to them and made herself at home and although Max had misgivings about getting a cat, he was happy that he had agreed, but then the presents started to arrive.

He would wake up in the morning and make his way downstairs to make coffee and there it would be, a mouse, a vole, a bird and, on one occasion, a coy carp.

All either dead or very near death and all of them gifts, for Max the alpha male, from the huntress, and sometimes Blackberry would be in attendance smugly guarding her latest trophy.

On one particular morning in early November, he came downstairs to find a squirrel.

“My God Blackberry what on earth have you brought me this time?”

As soon as his foot landed on the hall floor, she started rubbing herself around his ankles making a series of chirruping noises as she did so.

Then she would go and circle the stricken Squirrel, look up at him then at her prey and then back at him as if to say

“Look what I did”

“Yes, very good, well done” he said without enthusiasm although he had to admit he was impressed.

Then she returned to his ankles and repeated the whole process again.

Blackberry had just got to the point where she was saying to me

“I did that, that was me”

Then Geri came halfway down the stairs and hung over the banister to enquire

“What’s going on?”

“Blackberry brought in a Squirrel” he told her

“A Squirrel?” she exclaimed “wow who’s a clever girl then?”

The cat responded to that by repeating the whole rubbing, chirruping and gloating sequence.

“Who’s a clever girl?” he said to himself as he slipped his unstockinged feet into a pair of wellies.

That was all well and good, but she wasn’t the one who had to take the poor suffering twitching creature up the garden to finally dispatch it with a spade.

 

Of course, finding dead offerings in the hall was far better than the alternative.

You see Blackberry didn’t catch mice and such to display them as trophies or to supplement her diet.

She brought them into the house primarily as toys and she would play with them for hours, but sometimes they got away which is why he recalled what Geri had said about cats

“They’re very lovely, they’re good company, they’re clean, they’re not demanding” she continued

“And they keep mice away”

Well, there were never any mice to keep away, until they got a cat.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (030) – The Games Night

 

October

 

Archie Paddick thought, as his girlfriend Josephine Bell was nervous about meeting all of his old friends at the Games Night, that rather than arriving at a houseful and totally overwhelming her he would take her over to Barry’s early so he could introduce her to the hosts before anyone else arrived and that way she would just have to meet one couple at a time.

 

So, when they got there, they stood on the porch, and he gave her a kiss for good luck before he rang the doorbell.

Barry opened the door.

“Blimey” he said

“You’ll never believe it Eve” he called over his shoulder “it’s Archie and…”

“Josephine” he said

“… Josephine” Barry continued

“Are we too early” he asked

“No not at all” he replied “Lovely to meet you Josephine, come in, come in”

“Thanks Barry, likewise” she said and squeezed Archie’s hand.

As they walked into the lounge Barry said to Jo

“You’re obviously a good influence on him, Archie’s never the first to arrive”

Then he introduced her to his sour-faced wife Eve.

“Josephine?” she said

“Call me Jo” she answered

“Hmmm” was her only response

He gave her hand another gentle squeeze and Jo said

“I love your dress, I wish I could afford designer labels”

Eve’s expression softened immediately, and a hint of a smile could be detected when she continued

“And your hair’s a fabulous shade of red”

“Two down, six to go” Archie thought to himself

 

Stevie and Carol were the first to arrive after them and with Jo being gorgeous and Stevie being a letch he took to her straight away.

There was a moment’s frostiness from Carol but as soon as Jo gave her a wink and she realized Stevie was being played she quickly warmed.

 

By the time Kevin and Cindi arrived the gregarious confident Josephine was there to greet them and within five minutes they were deep in conversation about a new Mongolian restaurant in Abbottsford, so much so that she almost missed Archie’s introducing her to Neville and Terri.

Jo continued discussing cuisine with Kevin and Cindi while they devoured a rather mediocre Indian.

 

The games element of the evening began with cards and due to some creative cheating by Josephine, a skill he hadn’t previously experienced from her, Neville and Terri were the resounding victors, deftly played by the woman he loved.  

 

They went on to play Trial Pursuit next which was when Barry chose to reveal his latest fad.

As he fancied himself as a bit of an engineer and with the help of the Internet and RS Component’s he managed to fashion his latest pride and joy.

“It’s an electronic Dice” Barry said proudly

It was brown in colour, made of plastic, about three inches long and two inches wide and the same in depth, with two buttons and an LED display on the upper side.

“Wow” everyone said with varying degrees of sarcasm except for Josephine who said.

“That’s really interesting, how does it work”

“Well,” said Barry, thrilled that someone appreciated his efforts

“You press this first button, and the numbers start randomizing”

“Oh yes, I see,” said Jo

“Then you press the second button, and it displays your throw” he continued

“Wow that’s so clever” she said still enthusing

“And you made that?”

“Yes” he replied proudly “I did”

“Can I have a go?” she asked

“Absolutely” Barry said and handed it to her

“So, I press this button first” Jo said

“Yes” Barry replied

“Then this one?” She said

“Yes” he said again

“And that’s my throw” she said just before she shook it in her hands and rolled it across the table.

Barry’s jaw dropped and the room erupted with laughter and Jo said to Barry.

“Got you,” and he roared with laughter, in truth at that moment she had them all in the palm of her hand.

She held his hand under the table and squeezed it firmly and as she turned and gave him a smile he fell in love with her all over again.

 

They spent most of the day after the Games Night slobbing around the house in their night clothes and watching old films on TV.

After all the recent exertions associated with clearing out Jo’s house prior to her moving in with him, it was really nice to have such a lazy day.

However, they paid for it over the coming week as the deadline for Jo to vacate her house loomed large and they spent every spare moment moving her and her possessions from Pipershaven to Pepperstock Green.

And so began a new chapter in their lives when they would no longer be two lonely single dwellers living half-lives but one loving couple sharing a house and home.