A Family Christmas by Glenice Crossland Read Free Book Online Page B

going to me bed if yer don’t mind.’ Annie had never been known to retire for the night until everybody was in and the house locked up.
    Jane and Lucy exchanged glances. ‘Let me have a look at your ankle, Mam.’
    Annie ignored her daughter and set off towards the stairs but Jane blocked her way. ‘Come on, Mam. Let me look at your ankle.’
    Annie sighed and hobbled back to her chair. ‘It’s just a bit inflamed.’
    She lifted her skirt and pulled down her stocking, then she began to unwind the bandage, releasing a stench more vile than anything the girls had ever experienced.
    ‘Oh my God.’ Jane couldn’t believe the sight of her mother’s ankle. It was double its normal size, an open sore was festering, and surrounding it the ankle had already turned purple as if it was already dead. ‘I’m going for the doctor.’ Jane had already reached for her coat.
    ‘No, not tonight. I’ll go see ’im tomorrow.’
    ‘But he’ll give you something for the pain.’
    ‘Doctors! What do they know?’
    ‘I’ll go and ask Mrs Greenwood; she’ll know what to do,’ Lucy said.
    ‘Aye, that might be best,’ Annie agreed. ‘Boady’ll give me summat to take the pain away.’
    ‘But it’s all septic, Mam. Why didn’t you do something sooner?’ Jane spooned tea into the teapot and placed the kettle over the fire. ‘I’ll make some tea and then when our Lucy comes back we’ll get you to bed.’
    ‘Nay, I’ll wait till everybody’s in. I were only going out of’t way so yer wouldn’t see ’ow bad me leg were.’
    ‘Well, now we’ve seen it and we’re going to get it better.’
    Mrs Greenwood was just on her way to bed. She was wearing a white winceyette nightgown which resembled a tent. They were an early-to-bed, early-to-rise family. She couldn’t imagine who would be knocking at this time of night. ‘Who the hangment can that be?’ she asked Little Arthur, as if he was a mindreader.
    Lucy was nearly knocked down by Bob the dog, who slobbered all over her face the moment the door opened. ‘Hello, Mrs Greenwood. I’m sorry to come at this time of night but it’s me mam; she’s in agony with a bad ankle.’
    ‘Well, I’d better come then.’ Boadacea set off to get dressed.
    ‘Oh no, I don’t want you trailing out at this time of night. We just thought you’d give her something to take the pain away. She’ll have to see a doctor tomorrow, it’s really bad.’
    ‘What’s it look like?’
    ‘Well, her ankle and foot are both swollen and purple and the sore’s all running with pus and it smells horrible.’
    ‘Oh I don’t like the sound of that at all. She will have to see a doctor. I can make ’er a poultice of slippery elm powder. It might ’elp for tonight but yer must get ’er to a doctor tomorrer.’
    ‘What do you think it is, Mrs Greenwood?’
    ‘Well, it’s hard to say without seeing it. Might be an ulcer but I don’t like the sound of the purple foot, or the stink. ’Ang on love, I won’t be long.’
    Lucy was scared. Mrs Greenwood didn’t usually recommend doctors.
    ‘’Ere you are me love. Warm the poultice and apply the slippery elm powder on the poultice. This ’ere is some camomile. Make yer mam some good strong camomile tea; it’ll ease the pain and calm ’er down a bit. Help ’er to sleep.’
    ‘Thanks, Mrs Greenwood. How much is it?’
    ‘Don’t be daft, you’re our Dot’s friend. Besides, I’ve known yer mam for as long as I can remember.’
    ‘I’d rather pay.’
    ‘And I’d rather yer didn’t. Now get on yer way. The sooner yer get ’ome the sooner yer mam’ll get a bit of relief, but think on, yer must get a doctor, I mean it.’
    ‘I will.’ Lucy ran all the way down the hill. It was a bit scary up here with no houses or anything and the sound of clanging metal from the works echoing along the valley. She was relieved when she reached the main road.
    Annie didn’t need much persuasion to go off to her bed and when she was made