Talk of the Village

by Rebecca Shaw

  'As a director of Charter-Plackett Enterprises I agree. But what the blazes do we do with the building?'

  'I very much doubt we could sell it as a going concern. I propose we sell the kitchen equipment and the tables and chairs and, hold your breath here, re-vamp it into a house again and move in. That would give us more living space there and more room for the catering side and the mail order business here. You would be the first to admit we are very cramped in here anyway, we've always said that.'

  'You mean use the whole of this building for the business and live separately over in Henderson's?'

  'Yes, what do you think?'

  'I think that's brilliant. In fact it fits in very nicely with

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  some news I have for you.'

  'News for me? What news?'

  'I feel like one of those blushingly coy wives in a Victorian melodrama. We shall need that larger house fairly soon.'

  'Blushingly coy? What do you mean?'

  'I don't mean I'm really blushing, I thought it might do your ego good in these difficult times to know you are good at something. I think I must be expecting again.'

  'Harriet!'

  'Well, I'm a week late so it's early days, but I'm sure I'm right.'

  Jimbo leapt out of his chair. 'Darling I'm so thrilled. That's wonderful. Are you sure it's all right with you?'

  'Absolutely. I'm completely delighted, you've no idea how thrilled I am. It will be such fun, we had the other three so close together there was hardly time to enjoy them being babies. With this one we shall all be able to enjoy it. Having a house completely for our own will be marvellous.'

  'Does your mother know?'

  'No, she doesn't and I'm not telling anyone till we're sure and it's been confirmed. It can be our secret.'

  'Come and sit on my knee. I don't mind nearly so much about the restaurant now. We'll expand on the catering side, which I'm sure I can do when I haven't the worry of Henderson's and we shall do fine. Well I never, I can't believe it. It's all come right hasn't it?'

  'Yes, Jimbo, I knew you'd be pleased.'

  'I couldn't be more pleased. I found out what the children meant to me when we thought we'd lost Flick. Another one is wonderful.'

  'Early days Jimbo, we'll keep our fingers crossed.'

  'It'll be all right you'll see, it was meant to be. There's life in the old dog yet. I feel positively frisky.'

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  In the middle of the night Jimbo, planning where he could sell the kitchen equipment, had the inspiration that Bryn and Georgie Fields might like some of the stuff in The Royal Oak. This could be their chance to open up their food side. With this in mind he drifted over there the following day and when there was a quiet moment he broached the idea to Bryn.

  'Settled in now are you Bryn?'

  'Yes, thank you, we could do to be making more money but I expect that will come slowly as we get known. I don't think the previous licencee encouraged new customers. Trade was very low when we took over.'

  'Well, they did have problems you know. They made a lot of enemies and then their daughter was killed and it about finished them. You've improved the bar no end. It's much brighter and more inviting now. What's the food side like?'

  'I get too much competition from a certain person sitting not too far from me. But it's picking up.'

  'What if the certain person told you he was giving up with the restaurant and tea room? What would you say?'

  Bryn stroked his moustache into order while he thought of the implications ofjimbo's question. 'Do you mean that? Really?'

  'Yes, I do.'

  'Well, of course that would make a tremendous difference to us. All the tourists and the locals would have to come here wouldn't they?'

  'You know the barn down the side at the back? Wouldn't that make a good food area if you knocked through into it from that wall at the end of the bar?'

  'We thought about that but with you open it wouldn't have been worthwhile. Now it would be. Georgie, have you a minute? Come and listen to this.' Georgie listened and her eyes lit up at the prospect.

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  'Wonderful, that's good news Jimbo. Well, sorry, not for you, but it is for us! It would be a big investment though, they're such sticklers for everything being absolutely hygienic nowadays with all these new regulations.'

  'Not many miles from where you are now, is someone with nearly new equipment for sale.'

  'Of course,' Georgie grinned. 'That's the answer. We could go in for meals in a big way then couldn't we? Would the chairs and tables be for sale too, Jimbo?'

  'They wouldn't come cheap, but, yes, I'm sure we could come to some arrangement beneficial to both sides.'

  'We'll keep quiet about our plans till we've reached a proper financial agreement, then the sky's the limit. Thank you Jimbo for letting us know.'

  'OK then, I'll be in touch when I've worked something out.' Alan Crimble, under the pretence of needing more clean glasses, had been listening to their conversation. He grinned at Jimbo and tapped the side of his nose knowingly. Jimbo didn't acknowledge the gesture, thinking it was none of a barman's business listening in on his employer's private conversations, but Bryn and Georgie didn't seem to mind.

  Harriet had misgivings about Jimbo's arrangement.

  'If we can't make a go of it why should they? I'd feel awfully guilty if they failed.'

  'The business decision to start proper meals is theirs Harriet, not ours. They have been wanting to do meals but realised our enterprise prevented them. I simply suggested they purchased our equipment, they didn't have to go for it. Anyway they'll do much better. They won't be making it into a top class restaurant as I tried to do. It'll have wider appeal.'

  'We'll close this Saturday shall we?'

  'Yes, I've written the notice out for the doors and we'll

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  put a message on the answer machine in the restaurant for when clients ring up to book. Good riddance is all I can say/

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  Chapter 18

  The villagers saw the notices and many of them made a point of needing to buy something in the Store in order to find out more.

  'Sorry you're having to close the tea room and the restaurant Mrs Charter-Plackett, too much for yer was it?'

  'Not making money Vera, that's the top and bottom of it. Glad to be rid of it.'

  'I see, well it was a bit ambitious wasn't it? Don't know where they'll all go for their cups of tea and that when they've looked round the church and had their photo taken in the stocks. Do you?'

  'No, I don't. Is there anything else?'

  'No thanks, that's all for now.'

  Vera complained in The Royal Oak that night.

  'She told me nothing, shut up like a clam she did. 'Ave you heard anything Jimmy?'

  'Can't say as I have. Been out all day with Sykes. Walked to Penny Fawcett and then over by Turnham Rocks and then home. Best part o' fifteen miles I reckon.'

  'Have you got that smelly dog in here with yer?'

  'Keep yer voice down. He's under the table. Bryn'll turn him out if he knows.'

  'Well, take 'im home then, you haven't far to go.'

  'I will in a minute. He's me friend yer know Vera, I

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  don't like to leave him on his own too much.'

  'Been setting yer snares then?'

  'Not yet, thought I'd have a drink first and then pop into Sykes Wood before I go to bed. What's it to you?'

  'Nothing, I don't mind, but plenty do.'

  'Well, that's up to them. I mind mi own business and they should mind theirs.'Jimmy took a long drink of his beer, and then glancing round to make sure he wasn't being watched he placed the glass under the table. Sharp ears could have heard Sykes quietly lapping the remains of the drink.

  Vera launched into a story about a woman from Penny Fawcett who'd been seen with a man other than her husband in the cinema in Culworth. 'Back row in them double seats they were, he was nearly eating 'er. Her cousin Lily
told his Aunt Polly and there's been a right row. Are you listening?'

  'No. I'm off now. Set mi snares before it gets dark. If I get one do you want it or have you gone all soft as well as everyone else?'

  'Yes, I'll 'ave one thanks.'

  Til skin it for yer.'

  'Right, thanks.'

  Sykes, having business of his own in Little Derehams with a Westie bitch on heat, left Jimmy to set the snares. When Jimmy was ready to leave, no amount of calling brought Sykes to heel, so he reluctantly set off for home. He made himself a cocoa, took the last of the 'Mr Kipling' almond slices out of his cake tin, switched on his ancient black and white TV and watched till nearly midnight. Before he went to bed he opened the back door and called again but his little white and black shadow, the best friend he had in the world, wasn't home yet. 'Damn 'im for being so randy, it'll be that Westie bitch again. I-don't know where 'e gets it from, the little beggar. If all 'is wives meet up one day there'll be a right

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  show down. Well, 'e might as well enjoy 'imself, life's short enough.'

  Early the following morningjimmy rolled out of bed, dressed, drank a pint pot of extremely strong tea and went off to inspect his snares. He missed Sykes running along in front of him. If he didn't come home by lunchtime he'd walk along to Little Derehams and see if he could find him. There were times when he wished he'd had him 'done' but his scruples wouldn't allow it, after all he couldn't ask Sykes' permission could he?

  As Jimmy climbed the stile in the fence which divided the field in front of the Big House from Sykes Wood, he thought he could hear crying. His astute countryman's ears picked up that it was the crying of a dog or a fox in pain. His heart, with a tremendous lurch, somehow found its way into his throat. He began running. There was nothing in the first snare and it wasn't until he reached the third one that his worst fears were realised. Sykes was caught round the neck in the wire. He tried to greet Jimmy and his little white tail wagged faintly but then he began yelping again. Very gently, trying not to hurt him more than necessary, Jimmy slowly loosened the wire, and slipped Sykes head out of the noose. The dog slid slowly to the ground and lay panting with relief. He tried to lick Jimmy's hand as though thanking him for his rescue. All round his neck, where the wire had been pulling tighter, as he struggled to free himself, the flesh was gouged open and hung around his throat almost like a necklace. There was plenty of congealed blood around the wound but releasing the wire had caused more bleeding and it was dripping onto the grass. For one dreadful moment Jimmy thought he could see his neck bones.

  Off came Jimmy's old poaching jacket. He laid it on the ground and, picking up Sykes as gently as he could, he laid him on it. Sykes appeared to have fainted, if dogs

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  did such a thing. The journey home almost broke Jimmy's heart, Sykes lay so still. How he could get into Culworth to that vet he'd used once, he didn't know.

  When they got home Jimmy warmed some water in the kettle, poured it into a saucer and added some honey and a teaspoon of brandy. Sykes obliged by trying to drink but he was too weak to make the effort. Jimmy sat down trying to think of a plan of campaign. Ralph, that was it, Ralph. He'd ask him to drive him in. He'd do it. He understood about country ways.

  But Ralph wasn't in. 'I'm sorry, Jimmy,' Muriel said, 'Ralph's gone to London on business. He left about half past six to miss the worst of the traffic. Why not ask Peter, he'll just be finishing prayers, it's almost seven.'

  'No, no I can't ask him.'

  'Yes you can, if I was dressed I'd ask him myself. He's always willing to help anyone in trouble. I'm so sorry about Sykes, he's such a nice little dog.'

  Til go ask then. There's no one else up and I can't delay he's that poorly.' Jimmy left Muriel and went up the church path. As luck would have it Peter was just locking the church door.

  'Why, good morning Jimmy, you're up and about early.'

  Jimmy took off his old cap and stood twisting it in his hands. Being of an independent mind, asking favours didn't come easily. 'Rector, I know you and I are not best friends at the moment ..."

  'Don't say that Jimmy, please. We are always friends.'

  'Well, we've 'ad our differences, but it's Sykes, he's injured and he needs the vet real urgent like. It's all the way to Culworth sir, I don't really like to ask. Ralph's already gone to London or I'd 'ave asked 'im, so Muriel said why not ask you, sir.'

  Til get the car out straight away. Let's ring the vet first and let him know we're coming in.'

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  'Will you do that sir? I 'aven't a phone.'

  'Of course, come in the Rectory.'

  'No, I'll get back to Sykes. The one I went to years ago was Forsythe and Blair, the one at the bottom of Abbots Row.'

  'See you in a couple of minutes then.' Peter returned to the Rectory to find Carolinejust going into the kitchen to start the breakfast.

  'Jimmy's Sykes has been involved in an accident and he needs to get to the vet's so I'm going to take him.'

  'Oh poor thing, what's he done?'

  'I don't know, but Jimmy's very upset. It sounds serious. I'll ring the vet and go straight away. Don't know how long I'll be.'

  Around lunchtime Caroline heard knocking at the door. Peter had returned from Culworth hours ago, leaving Jimmy to return on the lunchtime bus. It was he standing on the doorstep. His normally ruddy brown complexion was pale with anxiety, his thin cheeks were more hollow, and his stoop more pronounced; all told he was a sorry figure. They hadn't spoken since the night of the rabbit incident, but when she saw how strained his face was, she could feel nothing but compassion.

  'Oh, sorry. Thought it would be the rector. It's 'im I need to speak to.'

  'The Rector isn't in Jimmy, he's sick visiting today. But tell me how Sykes is. Look, please come in.' She opened the door wider and waited for him to enter.

  'No, no, it wouldn't be right.'

  'Yes it would, come in and tell me all about it.'

  Jimmy stood on the doormat, cap in hand. 'I don't know how to tell yer. It's the judgement of the Almighty, that's what it is. The Almighty, yes, that's right.'

  'What is?'

  'Well yer see Dr Harris, I'm afraid . . . '

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  'He hasn't died has he?'

  'No, but it wasn't an accident, well, it was I suppose, but it was my fault. All my fault, 'e got caught round 'is neck in one of mi own snares. 'E ran off last night yer see when we went to set the snares, 'e right fancies a b . . .a lady dog down Little Derehams way and I expect he came back to find me after I'd gone and that was when he got caught.'

  Caroline put her hand on his arm. 'Oh Jimmy! I'm so sorry, so very sorry. Look, the twins are having a nap, I'm about to have lunch, come in the kitchen and at least have a drink of tea or something.'

  He followed her in and sat in her rocking chair by the Aga. She busied herself boiling the kettle and making sandwiches, leavingjimmy to pull himself together.

  'Yer see Dr Harris, it's a punishment isn't it? You wanted me to stop, I didn't stop and now look what's happened.'

  'Vets can perform miracles nowadays, you know, with all these new drugs they have. He'll probably be up and about in no time, you'll see. Peter said you went to the Abbots Row Clinic. I use them for the cats, they're very good.'

  'Septicaemia is the ·worry. The wire wasn't clean yer see.'

  'Ah right. Yes, I see. Here's a sandwich and your tea, it's turned out rather strong. Is that all right?'

  He left after lunch with Caroline's words of reassurance ringing in his ears. 'While there's life there's hope.'

  But by the weekend the vet held out little hope. Jimmy had had Sykes eleven years and he was already fully grown when he got him, so his age was against recovery. Septicaemia set in and by Saturday evening Jimmy was begging a lift from Peter to get to the surgery before Sykes died.

  Jimmy stood stroking Sykes as his life slowly ebbed

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  away. All Jimmy could do was wait for
the end and comfort him as he lay motionless on his sheepskin bed. Suddenly Sykes shuddered and let out a long sigh. "As he gone, vetnary?'

  Mr Forsythe listened with his stethoscope and gently nodded his agreement. Jimmy bent down to place a kiss on Sykes' head and then turned away to look out of the window. He surreptitiously took out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes. In a moment he said in a curiously thickened voice, 'Do yer reckon dogs go to 'eaven?' Mr Forsythe said he was sure there was a heaven for dogs where the sun always shines and the rabbits all run slowly.

  Jirnmy turned from the window and gave a slight smile. 'That's a grand idea, what a grand idea, that's very comforting. Well 'e was always randy, lets 'ope there's plenty of bitches there too, then 'e'll be well content.' Jimmy nodded his head, 'Yes, well content.' No one saw Jimmy for a few days, then he came out of his cottage door, with a huge bunch of flowers he'd picked from his garden, and was seen -walking across to the rectory. Caroline answered his knock.

  'Morning Dr Harris.'

  'Good morning, Jimmy, do come in.'Jimmy stepped inside and said, 'You'll know, of course, about poor Sykes. I've come with these flowers to thank you for being so kind to me, you and the rector, when you'd every right to be annoyed and say "Serves you right."'

  'I wouldn't ever say that, Jimmy, of course not.'

  'Well, thank you for everything, and these are for you and I'd like yer to know I shan't be setting mi snares again. Ever. I've given it up. When I saw 'ow frightened my Sykes was, and 'ow much pain 'e suffered it made me think. I've bundled 'em all up and buried 'em in the wood near where I used to set 'em, deep down where they'll never be found.'

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