Chapter
12
Ian
settled into life on the farm, helping
Martin and Louis out with animals, Ellie had found it a lot easier, she
was starting to feel a lot better and found life becoming easier by the minute.
Ellie was watching from the dining room window as Ian and Martin sorted out the
barn, they clean out the cows putting clean hay in the barn to keep them warm through the winter. Ellie grabbed her coat and headed outside,
"Right
you two, I'm off back to the shop now, I
will see you later" Ellie kissed Martin and headed up the road to the
village.
"She
seems a lot happier now" Ian said to Martin
"Yes
and it's all down to you Dad, since you got back and started to help out it's
been a lot easier on her, she feels a heavy weight has been lifted off her
shoulders" Martin told him
"I'm
glad to hear it and just because I've only one arm doesn't mean I can't help
out"
"I
know, you've been a great help" Martin and Ian walked back into the house.
Lindsey and Chrissie were in the Vegetable Garden planting things,
"Let's
put the Raspberry Canes over there and the rhubarb crowns next to them, no in
front of them, I think" Chrissie said
"Next
to them would be better, they are in their own beds then" Lindsey replied
"Would
that be better though"
"I
don't know I'm just a kid, but yes let's put them there it's cold and I want to
go inside" Lindsey shivered,
"Ok,
let's hurry up" Chrissie and Lindsey began to dig up the bed.
Down
at the shop Ellie had arrived to find Jennifer on the floor behind the counter
picking up buttons,
"Is
everything ok down there Jenny" Ellie asked
"Oh,
yes, I just dropped a lot of buttons that's all" Jennifer stood up and put
the buttons on the counter
"Don't
worry I do it all the time" Ellie hung her coat up "Oh and guess
what, I'm going to start getting fabric in" she told Jennifer
"Oh
my god, really, that's great, now no one will need to travel for miles to buy
fabric" Jennifer said with excitement.
"I
know, first delivery is on Monday, if nothing bad happens, so we need to start
sorting things out and making room for it, I'm just thinking where to put it, I
was thinking along the wall opposite the counter and then storing any over
stock in the back room upstairs, if we have any" Ellie told Jennifer
"I
think that would be perfect" Jennifer agreed
"Ok
first of all, where to move everything else" Ellie started to walk around
the shop wondering what she could do to fit everything in the shop, she looked at all the wool and thread and
pins and needles and sewing machines and numerous draws of buttons
"I
know we will cut down the draws of buttons to those two shelves here, put the
wool and thread next to them and the sewing machines above the fabric which
will be on those shelves opposite the counter with some of the machines in the
window over there, how does that sound" Ellie turned to Jennifer,
"I
think it could work" she smiled at Ellie
"Ok
let's get started" Ellie replied.
"Lunch"
Martin yelled from the kitchen, Lindsey and Chrissie came running through,
Louis followed,
"Cheese
again, haven't we got anything else" Louis said sitting at the table,
"Not
at the moment" Martin replied,
"But
where's all the meat"
"We
can't get anymore until next week, we've used up all our coupons for this week,
we have to make do until we get next week's ration books" Martin told him
"Can
we go get an orange after lunch" Chrissie asked,
"Of
course, we will go for a walk and pop in to see Ellie and Jenny too" Ian
relied.
"Sounds
like a good idea" Martin put in as he sipped his tea.
After lunch they put on their shoes and
coats and walked down the road. Lindsey and Chrissie held hands as not to lose
each other as they walked in front of Martin and Ian. Louis walked slowly
behind them,
"Keep
up Louis" Martin looked round and called to him
"Ok"
Louis ran up to them,
"Walk
in front of us Louis" Ian said to him
"Hello Miss Pickard, Miss Dinsdale,
how are you today" Mr Woodworth the Greengrocer greeted them as they
walked in "and hello Master Pickard and Mr Dinsdale, Mr Dinsdale"
Martin and the others walked into the shop, Mr Woodworth was a middle aged man
with a broad rounded body, who was never seen in anything else but a suit which
he always covered with a blue overall coat when at work,
"Hello
Mr. Woodworth, we're fine thank you, how are you" Chrissie replied
"Very
well thank you, how can I help you all today"
"Three
Oranges please Mr Woodworth" Martin asked
"Here
we go" Mr Woodworth handed Chrissie, Louis and Lindsey an Orange each.
Martin paid and they all headed to Ellie's shop,
"Thank
you Mr Woodworth" Chrissie shouted as she left the shop.
"Hello
Ellie" Chrissie said entering the shop,
"Hello"
Ellie gave her sister a hug,
"Hello
sweetheart" Martin gave Ellie a kiss
"Dad"
Jennifer came back into the shop from upstairs
"Hello
Jenny" Ian gave his daughter a hug "So what are you doing,
rearranging stuff" Ian asked
"Well
we are getting a fabric delivery on Monday and are making room for it"
Ellie replied putting things into boxes and moving them near the stairs,
"Sweetheart
that's great news" Martin gave her a hug.
The
door opened and Mr. Brook, The Butcher came through the door,
"Hello
Mr Brook, how can I help you" Ellie greeted the butcher,
"Hello
Miss Pickard, I was just wondered if you had anymore green wool"
"Of
course we do, do you have your coupon" Ellie took some wool of the shelf,
"Yes,
yes here...it is" Mr Brook stopped
"Is
everything ok" Ellie asked
"Em
well I have ran out of coupons for wool, I'm sorry I will have to come next
week, goodbye Miss Pickard"
"Mr
Brook wait, how about we make a trade. Some wool for some meat" Ellie
suggested, Mr Brook thought about it for a minute,
"Ok,
come by after work, you can have whatever is left"
"Great,
here you go and see you latter" Ellie handed the wool over.
Later after work Ellie and Jennifer
stopped at the butchers. She knocked on the door,
"Hello
Miss Pickard, come in" Mr Brook opened the door and let Ellie and Jennifer
in "All I have left is a bit of ham and a bit of beef it's not much but it's
all I have"
"Its
fine Mr Brook, it will keep us going until Monday, thank you"
Ellie
and Jennifer walked home down the dark lane, it was cold and windy, they
couldn't see much in front of them and were glad to walk through the front
door,
"We're
home" Ellie shouted
"Hi
sweetie" Martin come from the dining room and Ellie handed him the meat,
"Ham
and beef" Ellie smiled at him
"Great
I'll get the beef on" Martin gave Ellie a kiss.
Later
after dinner Ellie sat in bed, she opened a letter that had been sent to her,
"Who's
the letter from" Martin asked as he entered the room ,
"My
Auntie Maria, Mum doing a lot better and they are both coming to the wedding in
June" she looked up as he sat on the bed,
"That's
great, is your Mother giving you away" Martin asked
"I
know it's not traditional but I have no one else so yes she is and she is
really looking forward to it" Ellie cuddled up to Martin as he slipped
under the covers
"I'm
glad she's giving you away"
"Me
too" she looked at him and smiled "I'm going to get some sleep"
she kissed Martin and turned out the light.
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