Time to Say Goodbye

Time to Say Goodbye by Katie Flynn Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Time to Say Goodbye by Katie Flynn Read Free Book Online
Authors: Katie Flynn
the initial in them.’
    ‘I tell you, you’ve got my boots,’ Imogen said. She was beginning to be really angry. ‘These are much too small. They couldn’t possibly be . . .’ Her voice faded as she bent the top of the boot back to reveal the initial I. She stared at it unbelievingly even as Rita gave a crow of triumph.
    ‘You idiot! I know what’s happened. Oh, Imogen, you really are stupid. When we came in this morning from clearing the yard, Auntie put scrumpled-up newspapers into the toes of our boots to dry them out. Don’t you remember? I suppose you didn’t think to take out the paper before you put them on and you’ve been blaming me all this time when it was your own silly fault.’
    Imogen stood on her right foot and pulled the left boot off. She was tempted for a moment to pretend that there was nothing in the toe, but innate honesty prevented her. Grim-faced and without a word she pulled out the newspaper and followed the same procedure with the other boot.
    Rita grinned widely. ‘Told you so,’ she said tauntingly. ‘Wait till I tell Jill why you were hobbling along in the rear; how she’ll laugh!’
    Imogen scowled. ‘I don’t think it’s particularly funny,’ she said, and then, despite herself, she gave a little giggle. ‘Well, I suppose it is funny, though I can’t tell you how dreadfully painful it was. But let’s not argue; I’m going to start making a snowman, just a little one, while I wait for Jill to finish milking. Have you ever made a snowball and then rolled it around in the loose snow until it’s absolutely huge? We could do that, and clear a lot of snow at the same time.’
    But it seemed that Rita was in a difficult mood. ‘Make a snowman? How childish,’ she said, her very tone a sneer. ‘We’re meant to be watching Jill, not messing around like a couple of kids.’
    Imogen was about to say that they were a couple of kids when Jill looked over her shoulder and smiled at Rita. ‘Come along, Miss Know-it-all,’ she said cheerfully. Her bright gaze flickered to Imogen. ‘You missed my demonstration, but I’ll go over it again tomorrow . . .’ she was beginning, but Rita interrupted.
    ‘Oh, Jill, you’ll never guess why she took such ages to get here . . .’ she started, but Imogen had had enough. With Jill’s laughter in her ears she marched angrily out of the parlour and was crossing the yard, intending to start making a snowman regardless of Rita’s remarks, when it occurred to her that if she stuck to the fields she should be able to walk to the village; had not Jacky done so, and even old Herbert, before his rheumatism claimed him? To be sure, she had no money on her, but she guessed that Mrs Bailey would be happy to sell her some aniseed balls or peppermints and accept delayed payment. She saw no reason why she should not attempt the journey. After all, if it proved too difficult she could simply turn round and come back and no harm done. Besides, Rita was in a funny mood and she, Imogen, did not fancy becoming a laughing stock. If she managed to get to the village and buy the sweets, far from being thought foolish she would be the heroine of the hour.
    Of course she realised she should go back to the parlour to get Jill’s permission for the expedition, but she was pretty sure that Jill would say she was not to attempt it so late in the afternoon. However, it would be an adventure, something to write about in her Mass Observation diary. At the thought she felt a little smile begin. She could buy a notebook from Mrs Bailey – the post office would keep such things – and start her diary properly at last. Jacky had been a brick and so had Jill, for both had visited the village in order to buy supplies, but when the girls had mentioned sweets Auntie had said regretfully that she had not ordered any. ‘I ask for necessities, not luxuries,’ she had explained, looking at the girls over the top of her little gold-rimmed spectacles. ‘But I put sugar and

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