Whispers in the Village by Rebecca Shaw Read Free Book Online Page B

mean gamble, like in real gambling?’
    Harriet nodded. ‘I haven’t thought out how it would work but something could be organized, couldn’t it? Just think, we might win thousands.’
    Angie said, ‘My Colin’s good at betting on horses. He studies form by the hour. The bookmakers always come off worst; we’d never manage on his wages if he didn’t.’
    ‘We don’t need to settle on just one thing. We could do several.’
    ‘Penny Fawcett and Little Derehams will be so jealous. I’d love that. They’re so dull and boring, they never do anything out of the ordinary.’
    General conversation started in which they recalled times when Turnham Malpas had scandalized the other two villages with one incident after another. Most of the stories began with ‘remember that time when …’
    Sheila had to call them to order. ‘Thank you, ladies. Thank you. We must press on. I suggest Harriet looks into the possibility of a naked swim, Angie is in charge of the gambling, and we’ll ask Rhett Wright and Dean Jones to organize the pyjama party, because that sounds like a youth thing and they’d be better at attracting young people. Greta, would you investigate the possibility of a hair-dyeing competition? Two pounds to enter and a cash prize for the most weird colour, or most flattering, or most outrageous, whatever. We mustn’t undercharge. One pound is nothing nowadays. Then they’ve to get sponsorship. Anyone who wants to hold a coffee morning or something, please do, but report to me what you’ve planned. All agreed?’
    Everyone agreed. They hadn’t had a unanimous vote since anyone could remember. This surely must be a milestone in the annals of the Turnham Malpas W.I.
    ‘Well, I never.’
    ‘Would you believe it! Unanimous.’
    It took a while for the enormity of what they had decided to sink in.
    Harriet suggested they needed a name for the fund. ‘What’s the name of the village Peter’s at?’
    ‘It’s unpronounceable, lots of m’s and n’s next to each other,’ said Sheila, ‘but the church is called the New Hope Mission. We could call it the New Hope Mission Fund. Or the New Hope Fund.’
    ‘I think the New Hope Fund is more slick. And we are hoping to give them new hope, aren’t we?’ This from Harriet who specialized in smart, easily remembered slogans for the Store.
    The vote for New Hope Fund was also unanimous.
    Then Sheila asked for a volunteer to do the publicity.
    Not a single hand went up.
    ‘Very well. I’ll think about that. I suggest posters and flyers with the same artwork but advertising the different events. We’ll reconvene next week, same place, same time. OK? Thanks and goodnight.’
    Sheila arrived home shattered. Firstly because Louise and Gilbert had been mocked just as she knew they would be, given time, and she’d died a thousand deaths with a flushed face and a fast, beating heart. Thankfully no one had taken up the idea. Secondly she’d presided over a meeting that had never been equalled for the dozens of ideas they’d come up with and for sheer audacity.
    ‘Ron! I need a gin and tonic. Don’t ask why, just get it.’ She flung her bag on the floor and fell in a heap on the sofa. The gin and tonic went down in one gulp, and she held out the glass for a refill.
    ‘What the blazes has happened at the meeting? Have you resigned?’
    Sheila sat up. ‘Resigned? Of course not. Anybody would think I’m always resigning. I’ve just attended the most … the most … most …’
    ‘Yes? Go on.’
    ‘The most audacious W.I. meeting ever.’
    ‘Audacious? What d’yer mean?’
    ‘We’ve decided to raise money for Peter’s church in Africa.’
    Feeling thoroughly let down, Ron said, ‘Oh! Is that all?’
    ‘All? You should have been there.’ The second gin went down a treat, and she asked for a third.
    ‘No. That’s enough. You’ll be giggling soon, and you know I don’t like that.’
    Sheila began to laugh and couldn’t stop. Tears of laughter ran down