Sense and French Ability by Rendle Ros

Author:Rendle, Ros [Rendle, Ros]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2015-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Jo stayed for two weeks. During that time Fliss could see a growing friendship between her friend and Harriet. She had been there for dinner and witnessed Jo’s ease at the house, almost as if it were her own. She fetched things from the kitchen, helped with the dishes and seemed comfortable.

There had been exchanges of looks that Fliss had interpreted during various conversations between Jo and Harriet; looks that suggested more than just a platonic friendship. If this was the case then Fliss would be very happy for her friend, and for Harriet too.

The announcement for the village brocante and barbecue arrived in the post box, at the bottom of the steps, about two weeks after Jo departed. Fliss skipped down the steps that morning when the post van stopped at their box and fetched it up with the rest of the post. All of the letters had Madame Marie’s name on and not hers. Fliss received all communications by email, and Madame Marie still opened all the bills. She showed them to Fliss who needed to see them to get a handle on the expenses of the business.

Fliss read the paper, with the village sign in the top corner. She realised that it explained that for the brocante the road would be closed off for the stalls. It commenced at 7am.

“I’m amazed it starts so early,” Fliss voiced her surprise. “I know all the other villages have a brocante at this time of year. Do they all start so early?”

“This is the normal course of events,” Madame Marie explained. “Anyone can man a stall and many of the villagers will use it as a good excuse to get money for unwanted items.

The family Charpentier, you know, the lady with the little twin boys? Well, she washes, irons and folds all their clothes when they’ve grown out of them. She keeps all the boxes their shoes come in and has a stall to sell them each year. She makes quite a tidy little sum. The next sets of clothes are funded that way.”

“That takes organisation,” Fliss commented

“If you have twins then to be organised is key, I imagine. Experienced dealers from further afield come, too. They are here early to buy and sometimes they sell interesting things.”

“Do you go and buy, or sell?” Fliss asked.

“Sometimes I’ve had a stall and sold things, but I don’t buy. I’ve enough rubbish of my own without buying someone else’s,” Madame said.

“I see there’s a barbecue, and a drinks tent too?” Fliss said having read the rest of the pamphlet.

“Sometimes it’s pleasant to sit in the shade and take a beer or a glass of wine.”

“This sounds like fun.” Fliss turned to Madame Marie.

“It’s relaxed and a time to meet up with friends and exchange news.” Madame Marie smiled at Fliss’s excitement benevolently.

“Do you know if we have guests that day, or shall I check the diary?” Fliss asked.

“We don’t at the moment,” Madame responded.

At six o’clock on the morning of the brocante, Fliss slowly became aware of a clattering in the street outside the house.

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