Riotous Retirement by Brian Robertson & Ron Smallwood

Author:Brian Robertson & Ron Smallwood [Robertson, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Agneau Press
Published: 2014-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Locum

Helga was determined to take two weeks leave. She just had to get a break very soon. In addition to the normal management of the village, the rain had been so intense lately that trees had been coming down. What with that, and managing Gabriel’s natural exuberance—that had now returned in full since the Environment, Health and Safety audit, Helga was desperate to get away. But no matter how much she hoped, she was no nearer to getting a locum who was suitable.

“I could certainly do this job for you while you’re away,” Gabriel had volunteered.

“Well yes of course you could,” Helga responded “but that is against company rules.”

There certainly ought to be such a rule, she thought, even though she had never come across it. Anyhow she was not having Gabriel creating bloody chaos while she was away, as he most certainly would.

Eventually management took the problem out of Helga’s hands and announced that they had a locum who would take over from her for the time that she was on leave. They informed her that they would send him to work with her for three or four days before she went on leave—which scuppered Helga’s plans to take an extra day off prior to her leave period without telling anyone, unless she was skilled enough to get this bloke’s friendship and co-operation.

Terrence Mulligan arrived on a Tuesday before Helga was due to go on leave on the Friday.

“I’m very pleased to meet you Ms. Marchmont,” said Terrence as he stepped into Helga’s office and held out his hand toward her.

“Just call me Helga, everyone is on first name terms around here, Terry,” she said as she shook the offered hand, observing that, despite Terry’s youth he certainly was full of confidence.

And Helga led the way outside where she introduced him to Alex. “Take the buggy and give Terry here a tour of the village would you, Alex? Let him see what he is to be managing for the next couple of weeks.”

“So, you been managing villages for the company for a while then, Terry?” Alex asked by way of introduction as they climbed into the buggy.

“Oh no, not me. This is a completely new experience for me, Alex, I just completed my RPI course with the company.”

“RPI course?”

“Rapid Promotion Induction course,” replied Terry. “I finished uni only three months ago but you’ll be able to keep me right won’t you, Alex? ” and Terry gave Alex the broadest most self-assured smile Alex had seen in a long time. Alex’s mouth moved in what could have been construed as a confirming gesture. He said nothing.

For the next two days Terry learned the routine of the office and observed Helga interact with various villagers including Gabriel—who managed to bail him up for at least 20 minutes for a lecture on the recent evolution of the Bovary clan. This was followed up immediately by another lecture from Helga about how on no account was he to take any advice from Gabriel or indeed let Gabriel influence him in any way whatsoever.

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