Trouble at the Little Village School by Gervase Phinn Read Free Book Online Page B

house.’
    ‘He’s such a nice man, isn’t he?’ said Elisabeth.
    ‘He is, yes,’ replied the deputy head teacher coyly.
    Elisabeth was aware that her deputy head teacher had been seeing quite a bit of the chapel organist of late and thought that this might very well have contributed to Miss Brakespeare’s constant, cheerful good humour and to the fact that she was making a real effort with her appearance. She smiled but resisted making a comment. ‘Did Chardonnay sing?’ she asked.
    ‘She did, and beautifully too,’ replied Miss Brakespeare. ‘The minister looked quite overcome. George – Mr Tomlinson that is – said it was like listening to an angel. He said it was amazing that she has such a clear and powerful voice and she’s never had any voice coaching.’
    Elisabeth had discovered quite a deal of hidden talent when she arrived at Barton-in-the-Dale. In an effort to widen the children’s experience and offer them greater opportunities, she had invited a number of people into the school to work with the children. As well as Mrs Atticus, the lunchtime art teacher, there was the Reverend Atticus, who frequently called in to take the morning assembly. Mr Parkinson, the scout leader, came in to run a football team, in which Malcolm Stubbins had proved to be such a skilful player, and Mr Tomlinson had started a school choir, in which Chardonnay amazed everyone with her singing.
    ‘So to be honest,’ Miss Brakespeare confided, ‘I’m glad to be back at school. Oh, here I am nattering on about myself. Did you have a nice Christmas?’
    ‘Very pleasant,’ replied Elisabeth. ‘I had Christmas morning at Forest View with the staff and children.’ She failed to mention to her colleague that the afternoon and evening had been spent with Dr Stirling and the two boys at her cottage.
    It had been quite a mystery to the governors at her interview why Elisabeth should want to leave her last position as head teacher of a large and very successful primary school in the city to take on the small village school, which had received such a poor report from the school inspectors. Apart from her deputy and the staff she had never divulged the reason for wanting to leave her last post, this being so that she could be nearer to her son. John was a pupil at Forest View, a special school for autistic children and a stone’s throw from Barton-in-the-Dale.
    ‘How is your son?’ asked Miss Brakespeare now.
    ‘He’s very much the same,’ Elisabeth told her. ‘Improvement tends to be slow. John’s very settled and likes his teacher, and the routine suits him well, which is the main thing. It’s a very good school and I’m so pleased he managed to get a place there. I go to see him every Saturday and, touch wood, I’ve not missed a visit yet.’
    ‘Well, I’m glad you decided to come. You’ve been a real tonic and made such a difference.’
    ‘That’s kind of you to say, Miriam,’ said Elisabeth. ‘Anyway, come along, you shouldn’t be here at this time. You should be getting off home.’
    ‘I think I’ll stay another half-hour,’ the deputy head teacher told her. ‘It’s Mother’s weekly visit from Dr Stirling today – he calls in on her every other Thursday – so I need to brace myself to prepare for the blow-by-blow account of her many ailments.’
     
    Elisabeth left the school to find Miss Sowerbutts at the gate. The former head teacher must have been waiting quite some time, for it was getting on for five o’clock.
    ‘May I have a word with you, Mrs Devine?’ said Miss Sowerbutts. Her face was pinched with cold and irritation.
    ‘Yes, of course, Miss Sowerbutts,’ replied Elisabeth, meeting her eyes. ‘Would you care to come into the school?’
    ‘No, thank you,’ Miss Sowerbutts said in the petulant tone of the aggrieved. ‘What I have to say can be said here. I wanted to tell you that I am most displeased.’
    ‘About what?’ Elisabeth asked calmly.
    ‘About your blatant