investigate it. They need a plumber but I bet they won't bother with one.'
'Have you had to turn off the water?'
83
'Had to else that house of theirs would be flooded. Mind you, not a bad thing. It's foul, like their minds, begging your pardon Rector.'
Td better go across and see if I can help. They can't manage without running water.'
'I wouldn't if I were you. They'll only be abusive, sir. Not fit for your ears.'
'Willie, I have not lived in an ivory tower all my life, I have been around a bit.'
'Very well sir, as you please.'
Peter tried knocking on the front door and, getting no reply, went round to the back. He knocked loudly and then did as he did at most of the village houses, he opened the door and said, 'It's Peter here from the Rectory, can I come in?'
He pushed open the door as far as it would go and stepped in.
'Hello, Miss Baxter, are you there?' He stepped further into the kitchen. 'Hello?'
There was a sudden rush of feet and Beryl entered the kitchen with a carving knife held threateningly in her hand.
'It's only me, Miss Baxter - Peter from the Rectory. It's all right.'
'Yes?'
'I've come to see if I can help about the leak you have. Have you rung the plumber?'
'That's for Gwen to decide.'
'Is she here?'
'Yes.'
He heard more footsteps and then Gwen burst in through the kitchen door.
'What do you think you are doing entering our house without asking?'
Tm sorry but I usually knock and then walk in when I
84
go visiting. In future I'll knock and wait for you to answer. I've come about you having to get Willie to turn the water off.'
'Well, he's done it.'
'How are you going to manage without running water?'
'Quite well thank you.'
'We could let you have some water from the Rectory if that would help until the plumber gets here.'
'We don't want any favours.'
'If you like I'll phone the plumber on your behalf and in the meantime Willie and I will bring you some water across.'
'We do not require help from someone who professes to be a goody goody and then fornicates with his neighbour. I don't think Jesus had that in mind when he said love thy neighbour.'
Peter had no answer to that.
'Don't think that because we don't socialise we don't know what goes on. We have a complete view of the comings and goings of this place from our windows. Nothing goes on that we don't know about. I saw you go round to see that slut and saw how long it took you to leave. Then when we saw her getting bigger, we knew. Oh, yes we knew. Then your wife tries to cover your tracks by wanting to adopt them. What a joke. Standing by her man. Ha. No man living deserves loyalty like that. Not one of you. You're all scum. Scum, do you hear?'
'I think it would be better if I take my leave. No person is totally perfect and I above all am aware of the fragility of both man and woman, but we can ask for forgiveness. Perhaps you need forgiveness for thinking the way you do. May God bless you both.' Peter forced open the door and left.
'Get out, get out and don't ever come back. Fornic-ator.'
85
When he got home he went straight upstairs, undressed, showered, put fresh clothes on and went into his study and got out what Caroline called the 'parish whisky'. He poured some into a glass and sat at his desk trying to erase from his mind the evil he had just encountered. Caroline came in carrying Beth who was in her permanently happy mood. Nothing ruffled her calm.
'They actually live in this village day in day out and their lives are so foul, Caroline, I can't believe it. How on earth can it have happened, that they turn out like that?'
'Here, nurse your daughter for a while, she'll restore your faith in human nature. I would have thought that by now you could no longer be surprised by the infinite variety of the human condition.' Peter took Beth in his arms propped her carefully against his shoulder and rubbed his cheek on hers to remind himself that there was still something beautiful left in the world.
'This is something
'Have you had to turn off the water?'
83
'Had to else that house of theirs would be flooded. Mind you, not a bad thing. It's foul, like their minds, begging your pardon Rector.'
Td better go across and see if I can help. They can't manage without running water.'
'I wouldn't if I were you. They'll only be abusive, sir. Not fit for your ears.'
'Willie, I have not lived in an ivory tower all my life, I have been around a bit.'
'Very well sir, as you please.'
Peter tried knocking on the front door and, getting no reply, went round to the back. He knocked loudly and then did as he did at most of the village houses, he opened the door and said, 'It's Peter here from the Rectory, can I come in?'
He pushed open the door as far as it would go and stepped in.
'Hello, Miss Baxter, are you there?' He stepped further into the kitchen. 'Hello?'
There was a sudden rush of feet and Beryl entered the kitchen with a carving knife held threateningly in her hand.
'It's only me, Miss Baxter - Peter from the Rectory. It's all right.'
'Yes?'
'I've come to see if I can help about the leak you have. Have you rung the plumber?'
'That's for Gwen to decide.'
'Is she here?'
'Yes.'
He heard more footsteps and then Gwen burst in through the kitchen door.
'What do you think you are doing entering our house without asking?'
Tm sorry but I usually knock and then walk in when I
84
go visiting. In future I'll knock and wait for you to answer. I've come about you having to get Willie to turn the water off.'
'Well, he's done it.'
'How are you going to manage without running water?'
'Quite well thank you.'
'We could let you have some water from the Rectory if that would help until the plumber gets here.'
'We don't want any favours.'
'If you like I'll phone the plumber on your behalf and in the meantime Willie and I will bring you some water across.'
'We do not require help from someone who professes to be a goody goody and then fornicates with his neighbour. I don't think Jesus had that in mind when he said love thy neighbour.'
Peter had no answer to that.
'Don't think that because we don't socialise we don't know what goes on. We have a complete view of the comings and goings of this place from our windows. Nothing goes on that we don't know about. I saw you go round to see that slut and saw how long it took you to leave. Then when we saw her getting bigger, we knew. Oh, yes we knew. Then your wife tries to cover your tracks by wanting to adopt them. What a joke. Standing by her man. Ha. No man living deserves loyalty like that. Not one of you. You're all scum. Scum, do you hear?'
'I think it would be better if I take my leave. No person is totally perfect and I above all am aware of the fragility of both man and woman, but we can ask for forgiveness. Perhaps you need forgiveness for thinking the way you do. May God bless you both.' Peter forced open the door and left.
'Get out, get out and don't ever come back. Fornic-ator.'
85
When he got home he went straight upstairs, undressed, showered, put fresh clothes on and went into his study and got out what Caroline called the 'parish whisky'. He poured some into a glass and sat at his desk trying to erase from his mind the evil he had just encountered. Caroline came in carrying Beth who was in her permanently happy mood. Nothing ruffled her calm.
'They actually live in this village day in day out and their lives are so foul, Caroline, I can't believe it. How on earth can it have happened, that they turn out like that?'
'Here, nurse your daughter for a while, she'll restore your faith in human nature. I would have thought that by now you could no longer be surprised by the infinite variety of the human condition.' Peter took Beth in his arms propped her carefully against his shoulder and rubbed his cheek on hers to remind himself that there was still something beautiful left in the world.
'This is something
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