Changing Times by Jack Sheffield

Author:Jack Sheffield
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473543102
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2019-07-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Sweet Valentine

It was Friday, 14 February and the morning was bright and bitterly cold, the dormant trees shivering in the breeze. The land was frozen and the distant fields were empty of life. A monochrome snowscape stretched out to the far horizon and a golden thread of light crested the ridge of the distant hills. The plain of York was still in the grip of winter. As Vera walked past the brittle hedgerows and across the village green, wisps of wood smoke hovered above the pantile roofs. A few snowflakes sprinkled the pavement like north wind confetti and a thin light bathed Ragley School.

Ruby Smith was putting a handful of bacon rind on the school bird table, a residue of Ronnie’s fry-up breakfast in bed. Her unemployed, pigeon-fancier husband had complained he had a cold. ‘Mornin’, Miss Evans,’ called Ruby. Her headscarf was knotted tightly under her chin.

‘Good morning, Ruby,’ replied Vera. ‘Are you working with Mrs Trott this morning?’

Ruby shook her head. ‘Edna’s badly. She asked me t’get y’boiler up an’ runnin’.’

‘Well, we’re all very grateful to you. And how’s little Natasha?’

‘Eatin’ for England, Miss Evans. Ah left ’er with m’mother.’

‘How is Agnes?’

‘Like spirit o’ spring. Ah don’t know what ah’d do wi’out ’er.’

Vera pursed her lips. ‘And Ronnie?’

Ruby sighed and shook her head. ‘M’mother sez ’e’s ’ibernatin’.’

‘Oh dear,’ said Vera.

‘’E’s a lazy so an’ so, but when ’e puts ’is mind to it ’e’s faster than a bookie’s runner.’

Vera seemed perplexed for a moment, but assumed this was a neat summary of Ruby’s husband. ‘Well, do send my best wishes to Mrs Trott for a speedy recovery.’

‘Ah’ll do that.’ As she turned to walk home Ruby suddenly remembered an interesting piece of news. ‘An’ guess what, Miss Evans. My Racquel got ’er first Valentine’s card this mornin’.’

‘Really? Isn’t she rather young for that sort of thing?’

‘Mebbe so, but they grow up quick these days. Anyway, it were from that Scott Walmsley an’ she don’t like ’im.’

‘Oh, did he sign the card? I thought they were supposed to be anonymous.’

‘No, it’s ’cause she recognized t’writin’ an’ ’e can’t spell ’er name.’

As Vera walked into school she thought she ought to mention to John Pruett that Scott’s spelling was not as it should be.

Lily parked her car and walked to the school entrance hall, where the neat and tidy Jane Grantham was clutching a handful of birthday cards.

‘It’s my birthday, Miss,’ said Jane, her eyes bright with excitement.

‘That’s right,’ said Lily, who knew the birthdays of all the children. ‘You’re six today. Happy birthday, Jane.’

‘I brought my cards to show you.’

‘Well, let’s go into the warm and we’ll have a look at them in the classroom.’

‘I love my birthday, Miss.’

‘And why is that?’ asked Lily, keen to give the little girl a chance to express herself.

Jane looked up, her rosy cheeks glowing and neat ribboned pigtails sticking out under her bobble hat. ‘Because for one day I’m famous.’

Lily smiled. ‘Yes, Jane, you are,’ and she took the child’s hand as they walked into school.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.