Page 29 of Fireworks at Pennycress Inn
‘Sit down, sit down.’ Walking behind the table, Declan hefted his bag onto it before pulling out books and papers. After riffling through the papers, he pulled one out triumphantly. ‘Here we go!’
Slipping into the chair opposite, with Vicki at her side, Polly shifted her seat under the table, still unsure whether this impromptu meeting was a good thing or not. ‘Is everything okay? How was your meeting at HQ?’
‘My meeting was great, thank you, Polly. Very good indeed and very insightful.’ Declan nodded as he shoved the rest of his belongings back into his bag, leaving out the one sheet of paper he’d found earlier. ‘In fact, everyone was very excited about your proposal for Meadowfield’s Bonfire Night and producing information leaflets about the reserve too.’
‘They were?’ Polly widened her eyes, the nervous butterflies in the pit of her stomach somewhat abating.
‘Absolutely. Which is why I’ve called you in here now.’ Declan sat down and shifted his chair closer to the table too. ‘I didn’t want to waste another minute.’
‘Oh, right.’ Polly grinned as she turned to a fresh page in her notebook. Who was he referring to who had liked her idea? The other project managers of various nature reserves? It must be. And Mr Bob must have been there too. She’d love to know what he’d thought of it.
‘A couple of other reserves have also taken it upon themselves to get some leaflets printed and so I have…’ He picked up the sheet of paper and held it aloft. ‘A list of things you may wish to think about including.’
‘Oh, that’s great.’ Polly nodded as she picked up her pen. She’d had a few ideas on what to include and had begun to draw a quick mock-up, but she could certainly use anything the other reserves had found to be successful.
‘Don’t worry about taking notes. I have the list here. You can have it.’ Shaking his head, he waited until his reading glasses had dislodged themselves from the midst of his flock of white hair and settled on the end of his nose before continuing. ‘I’m sure you have already thought of at least a few of these, but such things as a map, how to get here, things to do once here… that sort of thing.’
‘Thank you.’ Leaning over, Polly took his list in her hand before settling back in her seat and skimming over it. ‘Oh, the options on what visitors could bring to feed the ducks is a great idea.’
‘Yes, yes. I thought so too. Particularly being as a lot of people know old bread isn’t a good idea and worry about what else to bring.’
‘That’s right.’ Vicki placed her palms on the table. ‘I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we suggest to Jarvis and Helena that they could sell duck feed at the café? Little bags for fifty pence or so. We’d make a profit and the ducks will love it too.’
‘I love that idea.’ Polly smiled.
‘Thanks.’ Vicki grinned as she gently rearranged the scarf hammock around her neck, securing Nutkin.
‘This is great, all of these ideas about how we can improve the reserve.’ Declan pushed his reading glasses back onto the top of his head before lacing his fingers together. ‘I can feel it now. The reserve is going to be in the best shape it’s ever been before I retire. What more could I ask for?’
‘Well, you asked for fresh eyes and that’s what you got.’ Vicki pointed her forefingers towards Polly. ‘You’re making us consider the reserve from a different perspective and seeing it for the first time again.’
‘That you are, Polly. Great work.’
‘Thanks.’ Looking down at the blank page in her notebook, Polly tucked a loose curl behind her ear, a fierce blush creeping across her face. This was what she’d wanted. She’d wanted to make a difference, and Declan, Vicki and now project managers from other reserves in the trust seemed to be believing in her.
‘Right, well, I’ll leave this in your capable hands whilst I get off. Have a lovely weekend, both of you.’ Standing up, Declan pulled his heavy bag from the floor before leaning it against the table and pulling out another piece of paper. ‘Oh, Vicki, here have this. It’s a list of printers the other reserves have used and recommended for their leaflets. Might you want to take a look and see if they have any availability at short notice?’
‘I certainly can, boss.’ Cradling Nutkin through the cotton scarf with one hand, she stood and reached across the table, taking the paper. ‘I’ll give them a ring round before I leave today.’
‘Good, thanks, Vicki. Don’t stay too long, mind. It’s almost time to go.’
‘I won’t. I don’t need to be told that twice.’ Laughing quietly, Vicki headed to the door, Declan behind her.
As the door to the meeting room closed softly behind them, Polly looked down at the list in her hand once more. How was she ever going to get everything done? With just a week until the Bonfire Night celebrations, how was she supposed to design the leaflets by Monday, declutter her grandparents’ flat and paint two rooms? It was impossible. Completely impossible.
Standing up, she walked across to the small refreshment area and jabbed the kettle on. She had half an hour left at work and then she’d just have to hurry back to Pennycress Inn, pack a weekend bag and grab the first bus to the train station. Maybe if she could get back to the flat by eight, then at least she’d have a few hours to start decluttering.
She poured herself the long-awaited coffee, spooning not one but two sugars into the dark liquid before adding a splash of milk. She had a feeling she might need those two sugars if she was going to stay awake. Sitting back in the chair she’d shortly vacated, she turned her notebook upside down and opened it up to the last page. Scribbling the title ‘To-Do List’ at the top, she downed half her coffee, barely registering how hot her drink was.
Holding the mug in one hand, she began writing down the tasks she’d have to complete this weekend, both for the reserve and back at the flat. It was just typical that both work and life stuff had the deadline of Monday morning. She needed to get the leaflets off to the printers if there was any hope for them to be ready for Bonfire Night and David was showing the investors around on Monday, too. Work and home. Both needed completing if she were to have a chance of staying on in Meadowfield, so both were equally important. And possibly both equally time-consuming too.
Lowering her mug to the table, she leaned back in her chair; the backrest creaking slightly in disgust that she wasn’t hunched over the table working. Covering her eyes with the palms of her hands, she tried to clear her head. Not that it was any use. She had too much to do. Too many commitments this weekend. How was she going to get them done? Even if she focused on one or the other, it would take a minor miracle to get either of them completed in time, and to a standard she was happy with, too.
‘Polly! You frightened the life out of me. I thought the office was empty. I was only popping my head around the door here to check the kettle had been switched off at the wall.’ Standing in the doorway, Harold waved his bunch of keys in the air, the metal clinking together. ‘Time to go home and enjoy the weekend.’
Pushing her chair back into a sitting position, Polly glanced at the clock. It was ten to six. She must have been in here writing her to-do list for over an hour. How did that even happen? Standing up, she grabbed her notebook, pen and the empty coffee mug and turned to Harold. ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise what the time was.’
‘No worries. Just don’t want you getting locked up in here for the weekend, now do we?’ Harold held the door open for her as she hurried back into the office.
