Peas, Carrots and Panic at the Plot (The Peas and Carrots Series Book 5) by Hannah Lynn

Author:Hannah Lynn [Lynn, Hannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

If Eric had thought his spirits would rise again at the weekend, he was very much mistaken. The grey drizzle that had clouded the sky since Friday night was a full-blown rainstorm by Saturday morning. Just in time for their second official protest. After the turnout for the first two events, his and Abi’s hopes were still high. Hopes that were immediately dashed the moment they arrived at the clock tower.

‘This can’t be it. Where is everybody?’

The usual gang was already there, dutifully decked out in Barbour jackets and wellies, last week’s supporters apparently nowhere to be seen.

‘I just checked the Group page,’ Cynthia informed him. ‘Everything’s fine online. I guess people just didn’t want to come out in this weather.

Eric continued to survey the scene. Four young people were sitting on a bench, soggy placards propped between their knees.

‘It’s not about what they want,’ he said, incensed by the futility of it all. ‘It’s not about what they feel like doing. It’s about doing the right thing. Why the hell would the council even consider saving the plots if we’re the only ones who turn up again and again? It can’t just be us fighting this.’

‘Well, technically, I don’t count,’ Janice interrupted, lifting her hands in much the same way as Eric’s children occasionally did when they remembered they were supposed to have manners. ‘I’m not actually allowed to protest anymore. Or be seen promoting protests. But Maggie didn’t say there was anything wrong with bringing you all cups of tea and scones while you’re out here, so that’s what I’m going to do.’

Even Janice couldn’t raise a smile.

‘Well, we can’t cancel,’ he said. ‘We’ve already posted all the documents to say we are going to be down here for the next month.’

‘Maybe we should keep at it for an hour?’ Cynthia suggested. ‘Hank? You’re the Chairman, you decide. Do you want to call it off, or go ahead?’

Leaning to one side, Hank scratched behind Scout’s ear, as he considered the question.

‘Your online group says we’re still going ahead, right?’

‘It does.’

‘Well, I guess we should wait it out and see if more people join when the rain dies down,’ he suggested, optimistically. ‘You never know, they might have just got delayed.’

‘I agree.’ Eric, at least, was glad that the party line was a match for his.

‘Well, in that case, I’ll go and get the first lot of teas,’ said Janice.

As it happened, the weather did not pick up. By midday, Eric was soaked to the skin. Given that many of the paths had turned to sludge since the previous week, they decided to gather everyone in front of the church hall, hugging their placards, underneath the limited shelter of the clock tower. However, on a positive note, Hank was right about people getting stuck due to the weather. Some of the fellow allottees had gone to their plots to check their trenches before joining them; two trains were delayed and finally brought them over a dozen other protesters;

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