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Chapter Thirty

Harriet

“Harriet?”
“Hey Mum.”
“I just wanted to say how proud of you I am, for getting into college.”
“Thanks Mum,”
“No one else in the family went to college.”
“I’m looking forward to it, I really want to get my A’ levels.”
“Will you be ok, living away from home? Oh I wish there was a college nearer by.”
“I know, Mum, but I’ll be fine, Rach and I will look out for each other. And we already have digs sorted.”
“Oh I know. But you’re teenagers now, and when Rachel gets herself a boyfriend…”
“Mum! We’ll be fine, Rach isn’t going to get a boyfriend.”
“Well, you say that now but…”
“Mum! Please! We’ll be fine, we’re going to study, not to, you know, with boys!”
“And what if you meet some young fella then?” Continue reading “Chapter Thirty”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Harriet

“Oh! What’s this crate?” Harriet said as she let Monty Dog out for his morning wee before breakfast. “Monty! Look, it is a recycling box, for all your paper food bags!” Harriet brought the black recycling box inside and read the leaflet that came with it. “Paper, card, glass, cans, plastic bottles. No food, plastic cartons, and other landfill rubbish. Same as Adam and Amanda’s recycling box, but for Thursday. You don’t know Adam and Amanda, do you, Monty. You’d like them, they are nice people.” Monty cocked his head and looked at Harriet. There were a lot of new words to learn and he wasn’t sure which were going to be important, but there was a new thing coming into the den to sniff at. Continue reading “Chapter Twenty-Nine”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Harriet

The pandemic was already getting very trying, for everyone. Harriet was going to her workshop as often as she could, there was stuff to do, some of it for her Landlord’s garden railway, some for the health and safety of her workshop. But at home Amanda was struggling. Adam carried on as usual with his work, maybe he was more focused on his work then he needed to be. Continue reading “Chapter Twenty-Seven”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Harriet

Harriet continued with her caretaking work every morning but with the spread of the Corona virus it was much more involved now and her main role had changed to sanitising all the major contact areas, doors, chairs, tables and other high traffic areas. But despite this there was concern at work about what might happen with the pandemic. Continue reading “Chapter Twenty-Six”

Chapter Twenty-Five

 

Harriet

Harriet was gradually getting her workshop together. As and when he had time Robbie was picking up Harriet’s tools, timber, and equipment from Sarah’s Stor-It box and bringing it over. With it all came Harriet’s first big purchase, an old bandsaw she had bought on Ebay. The seller had agreed to deliver it if Harriet didn’t mind waiting a while. Continue reading “Chapter Twenty-Five”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Harriet

Mr Chow arranged for the keys for the workshop to be couriered to Harriet with instructions to visit and take possession at her leisure. The courier arrived while Harriet was out and so it was left with Amanda. When Harriet returned, and Amanda gave her the small padded envelope, she felt a sense of excitement as she ripped it open and found a set of keys and a brief letter. Continue reading “Chapter Twenty-Four”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Harriet

The garage was a cold workshop. No insulation and a little draughty but at least it was dry. Harriet switched on a small oil radiator under the front of her workbench and waited for the waft of warmth to drift up and make itself known. I should get a plug in timer for it, she thought as she walked back up to the house. Continue reading “Chapter Twenty-Three”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Harriet

Harriet clapped her gloved hands together and huffed in the cold of the garage. She switched on the little radiator under the bench and then held her hands to it hoping the warmth would come through more quickly. Usually Harriet would have then headed off to her caretaking job at the Community Centre leaving the garage to warm up for a couple of hours but as new year’s day fell on a Wednesday the centre was closed until the following Monday. Continue reading “Chapter Twenty-Two”

Chapter Twenty-One

Harriet

Christmas with Adam and Amanda and their various visiting families was a very happy week for Harriet. And as much as she tried to help with the arrangements, the cooking, the washing up, there were always enough willing bodies that she didn’t need to do any more then pass around the cheese and crackers, and make a few rounds of tea. Continue reading “Chapter Twenty-One”