have been busy making plans for me, my own mind has been working overtime planning what I’d like to do with my life. I’ve still got over ten years to go before I should retire officially, and I can’t say I relish the thought of another ten years of getting out of bed at half six every morning. Then again, I don’t relish the idea of ten years not working. So what I’ve come up with is a compromise that would suit me down to the ground.’
With the eyes of her son and daughter alive with interest, Eva continued, ‘I would like to work part time. Say four mornings a week, if the boss would let me. I am practically certain he would, ’cos I’m the most experienced machinist he’s got. That way I would have the best of both worlds. I’d have some free time to meself, and I’d have money of my own.’
‘Oh, Mam, that’s the perfect solution, if your boss will let you do that. Oh, I feel a darn sight better than I did earlier on. It all rests on me getting meself a good job, but I’m very determined.’
‘It sounds good to me, Mam,’ David said. ‘I wouldn’t have to worry about you going out at some unearthly hour everymorning in the winter. It’s a way to go yet, although my money will improve in a few weeks. Then you and Poppy will get your coats, which will be two things we can cross off our list. The future looks rosy, Mam, and if we had any drink in, I’d suggest we lifted our glasses to toast the future prosperity of the Meadows family.’
‘Oh, I’ve got a little surprise for yer, son, ’cos there’s still half a bottle of sherry left from Christmas. It’s in the larder on the bottom shelf, but I don’t know whether it will still be fit to drink.’
David was off his chair like a shot. ‘Alcohol doesn’t go off, Mam, it improves with age. I’ll get the bottle, and Poppy can get the glasses. We’ll have a little family celebration.’
As Poppy walked towards the sideboard where the few glasses they possessed were kept, Eva said, ‘At least you’ll look respectable when yer do go after another job, sweetheart, ’cos we’ll have our new coats by then, please God.’
Poppy stood with her hand on the door of the sideboard, a smile on her face as something came to mind. ‘Ay, every time we’ve mentioned those ruddy coats, I’ve been going to tell yer about something that happened today. But there’s never been a real break in the conversation.’ She turned to the kitchen. ‘Come in, David, save me going over it again.’
Her brother came in carrying a bottle aloft. ‘It’s half full, ladies, we’re in luck.’ He put the bottle on the table and took hold of the three glasses his sister was handing over. ‘Sit down, sis, and I’ll pour.’
‘Only half a glass for me, son,’ Eva said. ‘Drink always gives me a headache.’
‘Half a glass it is then, Mam. And now we’re settled, my dear sister can tell us about the other brainwave she’s had.’
Poppy stuck out her tongue. ‘It was no brainwave, cleverclogs, because me brain stopped working when I bumped into the bloke who knocked me over yesterday.’
Surprised, Eva said, ‘Go ’way!’ while David swallowed a mouthful of sherry before saying, ‘You didn’t, did you?’
‘Well, strictly speaking, I didn’t actually bump into him, but he was standing in front of me and I couldn’t walk through him. If I’d seen him coming I would have crossed the road, but my head was in the clouds and I didn’t see him until he was standing in front of me. He’s very well spoken, very posh, and really good-looking into the bargain.’
‘What did he have to say for himself?’ David asked. ‘I hope you told him about the state of your raincoat.’
Poppy shook her head. ‘He was so nice I couldn’t bring meself to argue with him. He couldn’t apologize enough for being so clumsy, and he wanted to compensate me for any damage to my clothing. I was glad I was facing him and he couldn’t see the tear in the raincoat. I
With the eyes of her son and daughter alive with interest, Eva continued, ‘I would like to work part time. Say four mornings a week, if the boss would let me. I am practically certain he would, ’cos I’m the most experienced machinist he’s got. That way I would have the best of both worlds. I’d have some free time to meself, and I’d have money of my own.’
‘Oh, Mam, that’s the perfect solution, if your boss will let you do that. Oh, I feel a darn sight better than I did earlier on. It all rests on me getting meself a good job, but I’m very determined.’
‘It sounds good to me, Mam,’ David said. ‘I wouldn’t have to worry about you going out at some unearthly hour everymorning in the winter. It’s a way to go yet, although my money will improve in a few weeks. Then you and Poppy will get your coats, which will be two things we can cross off our list. The future looks rosy, Mam, and if we had any drink in, I’d suggest we lifted our glasses to toast the future prosperity of the Meadows family.’
‘Oh, I’ve got a little surprise for yer, son, ’cos there’s still half a bottle of sherry left from Christmas. It’s in the larder on the bottom shelf, but I don’t know whether it will still be fit to drink.’
David was off his chair like a shot. ‘Alcohol doesn’t go off, Mam, it improves with age. I’ll get the bottle, and Poppy can get the glasses. We’ll have a little family celebration.’
As Poppy walked towards the sideboard where the few glasses they possessed were kept, Eva said, ‘At least you’ll look respectable when yer do go after another job, sweetheart, ’cos we’ll have our new coats by then, please God.’
Poppy stood with her hand on the door of the sideboard, a smile on her face as something came to mind. ‘Ay, every time we’ve mentioned those ruddy coats, I’ve been going to tell yer about something that happened today. But there’s never been a real break in the conversation.’ She turned to the kitchen. ‘Come in, David, save me going over it again.’
Her brother came in carrying a bottle aloft. ‘It’s half full, ladies, we’re in luck.’ He put the bottle on the table and took hold of the three glasses his sister was handing over. ‘Sit down, sis, and I’ll pour.’
‘Only half a glass for me, son,’ Eva said. ‘Drink always gives me a headache.’
‘Half a glass it is then, Mam. And now we’re settled, my dear sister can tell us about the other brainwave she’s had.’
Poppy stuck out her tongue. ‘It was no brainwave, cleverclogs, because me brain stopped working when I bumped into the bloke who knocked me over yesterday.’
Surprised, Eva said, ‘Go ’way!’ while David swallowed a mouthful of sherry before saying, ‘You didn’t, did you?’
‘Well, strictly speaking, I didn’t actually bump into him, but he was standing in front of me and I couldn’t walk through him. If I’d seen him coming I would have crossed the road, but my head was in the clouds and I didn’t see him until he was standing in front of me. He’s very well spoken, very posh, and really good-looking into the bargain.’
‘What did he have to say for himself?’ David asked. ‘I hope you told him about the state of your raincoat.’
Poppy shook her head. ‘He was so nice I couldn’t bring meself to argue with him. He couldn’t apologize enough for being so clumsy, and he wanted to compensate me for any damage to my clothing. I was glad I was facing him and he couldn’t see the tear in the raincoat. I
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