Page 13 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
It was true, I’d become quite attached to this little dog in the short while we’d been together. Whether he knew it or not, he was providing me with so much more than just companionship: he was giving me the strength to go places and do things that I knew alone I’d have hidden away from.
‘Shall we go for a walk?’ I ask him as recompense for my shortcomings as a dog owner. ‘Would you like that?’
Merlin, like many dogs, clearly recognises the word ‘walk’ and immediately starts wagging his tail.
‘I’ll take it that’s a yes! I’ll just wash my hands then and we’ll go,’ I say, turning back to the sink. To my surprise I see the water that I’d rinsed Merlin’s bowl out with hasn’t drained away and is still sitting at the bottom. ‘That’s odd?’ I say. I try to flush some more water down there by turning the tap on again, but that just makes things worse.
‘Oh Lord, Merlin, I think it’s blocked.’
How the devil do I unblock a sink?The benefit of living in a building of expensive apartments was there had always been a caretaker around to help with these sorts of issues, and before that my husband and subsequently Matt or Hannah had dealt with anything like this. I suddenly feel completely helpless and alone.
Stop it, Ava!I tell myself promptly, before I begin to wallow.You’re a grown woman, you can deal with a blocked sink – you’ve dealt with much worse. Now, you probably need one of those plunger things that people always use on TV . . .
I take a look under the sink and in a few cupboards, sure that Evelyn would have such a thing. But my search appears in vain. Then I remember a cork noticeboard that hangs on the wall in the small laundry room. There are a lot of business cards and handy numbers pinned up there; in fact, the correspondence from the rental company had said, in the event of an emergency or any maintenance that I might need doing, to contact the cottage’s caretaker, whose details would be listed on the board.
‘One moment!’ I say to Merlin, who is looking very put out that my preparations for his walk are taking so long, and I hurry through to look at the board.
After I’ve waded through take-away menus, refuse collection dates and numbers for the local shops, I spy what I need.
In the event of an emergency or
any routine maintenance
please contact the vicarage
on 0456799827
Ah, that’s right, the rental company had said that the local church was looking after the cottage, and they should be my first call if I had any problems.
But I really don’t want to bother them – and I especially don’t want to speak to the local vicar. Knowing my luck, he’ll probably only preach at me for being so inadequate at life . . .
I take my phone from my pocket, not to phone the number on the card, but to Google blocked sinks. However, after a couple of minutes I realise that most of the solutions involve either a plunger or some other tool Evelyn didn’t seem to have anywhere. I really had no choice but to call the number on the card.
So with a feeling of impending doom, I do just that, hoping that perhaps the vicar’s wife or somebody else will answer the phone and I can talk to them.
‘Good morning, vicarage!’ a cheery voice replies at the other end of the line after a few rings. ‘Oh, I do beg your pardon, it’s already afternoon. Where has today gone? Good afternoon then, Deacon Finch speaking, how may I help you?’
I’m a bit taken aback.A deacon? Wasn’t that someone quite high up in the Church, like an archbishop or something? Why would they be answering the local vicarage’s telephone?
‘Hello?’ the voice says again. ‘Is anyone there?’
‘Yes . . . ’ I reply hurriedly. ‘I’m here. Sorry, my name is Ava and I’m staying at Bluebird Cottage. It said on the noticeboard I should ring the vicarage if I have any problems while I’m here.’
‘That’s absolutely correct. Hello, Ava, and welcome to Bluebell Wood. What can I help you with today?’
I feel a bit silly again. ‘Er . . . well, it’s my kitchen sink. It appears to be blocked.’
‘Gosh, I see; well, I am sorry to hear that, Ava. Should I get someone to pop round and try to unblock it for you?’
‘If it’s not too much trouble that would be wonderful, thank you.’ I’m relieved: this guy was friendly and being more than helpful.
‘I’ll try to get someone to come and look at it today.’
‘Great.’ I look down at Merlin, waiting patiently for his walk. ‘Sorry to be awkward, but I was about to walk my dog. Do you know what sort of time the person might come? It’s unlikely to be in the next hour, is it?’
‘Oh no. I’m sure it will be either later today or more likely tomorrow. Will that suit you?’
‘Yes, that will be absolutely fine. But please don’t put anyone out, it’s not an emergency.’
