Bicycles and Blackberries by Sheila Everett

Author:Sheila Everett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

SIXTEEN

The old routine was slowly being re-established. Georgia kept her chin resolutely high after her mother left to join Martin.

The two dogs eyed each other warily through spyholes in the dividing hedge, when they were out in their respective gardens, but Jube soon decided to take Dusty with him to work. ‘Plenty of space there for him to run around, but nowhere to go, eh?’ This meant Jube’s chickens could scratch around undisturbed all day, too.

He tied Dusty to the post outside the gatehouse one evening. He waited for a good five minutes before his rap on the door was acknowledged.

‘Yes?’ Lawrence asked. He had lost weight: his clothes hung loosely; his face was haggard. Jube would tell Phoebe later on, ‘He’s not looking after himself.’

‘Can I come in a minute?’

‘What about the dog?’

‘He won’t mind. He’s used to being tethered now and again, for his own good.’

‘I’ll come straight to the point,’ Jube stated, when they stood in the hall. ‘The Home Guard needs you. You can shoot, can’t you? I recall you going out as a lad with your grandfather.’

‘It wasn’t something I liked doing.’

‘Maybe not, but it’s a skill you don’t forget. You’d be helping your country.’

‘Invasion seems more remote as time goes on.’

‘Bloke in charge – Bob Button – says we mustn’t become complacent. And there’s the hidden enemy – we can’t trust folk like we did.’ He decided to be frank. ‘You’d have to pull yourself together, Mr Bliss, smarten up. You can’t let her win.’

‘My wife, you mean? You’ve got a cheek, you know.’

‘I got through to you, didn’t I? I’ll call for you at seven, take you to the meeting.’

‘What does my sister say about this?’

‘She doesn’t know I’m here. But I know she’s been worrying about you since your wife moved back next door . . . So has the young teacher,’ he added slyly.

‘Ah, Eva. Nothing can come of that, I’m afraid.’

‘At least you can prove to them you’re a real man, eh?’

‘That’s enough, thank you.’ Lawrence opened the door. ‘You’d better go.’

‘You’ll come?’ Jube said, as he untied the dog.

‘All right!’ Lawrence almost shouted, shutting the door.

*

Georgia and May were hanging about outside the schoolhouse, waiting for Helga to join them after she finished work. They’d observed Eva hurrying home to her baby, so it shouldn’t be a long wait. Miss Worley knew they were there too, but she wouldn’t ask them in, despite the cold wind whipping round their ears on a typical December afternoon. As Georgia said, ‘She’s had enough of us lot, I reckon, after a day of it.’

It was Friday. She was disappointed that the music lessons in the hut had been discontinued in her absence. She had something important to ask Mr Bliss. That was another thing: he didn’t come round to Phoebe’s any more. It was a shame, she thought, just when they seemed to be reconciled at last.

The door opened and Eva beckoned to them. ‘Don’t stand out there in the cold, girls. Helga wants to finish off some ironing.

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