Page 15 of Autumn in Sycamore Park
It was a common surname, but Jennifer, who hadn’t really spoken to anyone since Amy in the park earlier, couldn’t resist.
‘Excuse me, you wouldn’t happen to be Gavin Gordon’s mother, by any chance?’
Marlie’s eyes widened. She was pretty in a drawn kind of way, perhaps only a year or two older than Jennifer, but had dark circles around her eyes to suggest sleep was a bonus, rather than a privilege.
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘I’m his new teacher at Brentwell Primary.’ Jennifer stuck out a hand and introduced herself. Marlie had a warm but calloused palm as though this wasn’t her only job. ‘I saw your name and took a guess. It’s not that big a town, is it?’
Marlie smiled. ‘No, you get to know pretty much everyone.’ She looked down, giving an apologetic smile to the desktop. ‘I’m sorry if Gavin’s a little … disruptive. His father and I … we separated last year, and Gavin doesn’t really see much of him now. He was always a lively lad, but he’s never been … bad.’
‘Well, I don’t think—’
Marlie looked up and gave a little shake of the head. ‘You don’t need to make excuses to me. I know how he is.’
‘He has a lot of energy. I wish he’d channel it into his schoolwork.’
Marlie laughed, a light, despondent titter. ‘Or into helping me. I’m not sure what to do.’
Jennifer was about to suggest that they go for a coffee to discuss it, but another staff member called to Marlie that a delivery van had just arrived.
‘That’s the new postcards,’ Marlie said with a smile. ‘I’d better go and sort them out. It was nice to meet you, Jennifer. I hope you’ll be a good influence on my son.’ She sighed. ‘I’m not doing such a great job myself.’
They parted ways, Marlie heading off to sort the new postcards, Jennifer back out into the town, where the rain had thankfully stopped. She walked up the high street, waved to a couple of tittering pupils hiding behind their parents’ legs, then headed for home.
As she walked down the street towards the north entrance to Sycamore Park, she found Angela outside the Oak Leaf Café, clearing tables.
‘Oh, hi there,’ she said. ‘Thanks again for yesterday.’
‘No problem. Any time.’
‘Were you busy today?’
Angela pouted. ‘The rain was a pain, as they say. There are only so many I can fit inside, but those pies will still be good tomorrow. I usually close Monday and Tuesday, so I’ll make another batch Tuesday night.’
Jennifer had a brief pang of longing that her new friend would be unavailable at the beginning of the week, but there was always her flat’s new cooker that could be christened with a dish or two. Other than using it to boil water before she unpacked the kettle, she was yet to cook anything at home.
‘Oh, by the way, Tom’s in today, so if you like, I could ask him to come over and we could chat about your harvest festival.’
‘Tom?’
‘The park’s caretaker?’
‘Oh.’ Jennifer paused a moment, unsure whether she had the energy to talk to some old gardener about yet another school issue. It seemed that everywhere she went, she was faced with more school issues. And while it was nice to take her mind off what she had left behind, she felt like she wasn’t really getting a break.
Angela lifted an eyebrow. ‘Too much shopping?’ She smiled. ‘I’ll make you a coffee while we wait. Go and sit down. I’ll give him a bell.’
Jennifer went inside and sat at her usual window table while Angela pulled an old Nokia out of her pocket. Jennifer watched her through the windows as she walked among the tables, her voice inaudible but the tone of the conversation obvious from the way she laughed, smiled, and gestured as she spoke. Jennifer wondered where the woman got her energy. If there was a secret elixir pond somewhere in Sycamore Park, she would like to see it.
Angela came back inside, rubbing her bare arms. ‘Gosh, it’s getting chilly. That means the leaves will start to fall soon. Once they start to pile up, be careful where Bonky puts his nose.’
‘Snakes?’
Angela laughed. ‘No, hedgehogs. Prickly little things. I have a hibernation box round the back. Last year we had babies.’
‘Sounds … interesting.’
‘The local kids were dead excited. We might end up with more this spring, although there are none in the box yet. Oh, Tom said he’ll be over in a bit. I’ll just get those coffees.’
