Page 36 of A Christmas Celebration
‘Perhaps all will be revealed on the night?’ I suggested to Kathleen with a shrug which hopefully implied that I had no idea about the town’s potential benefactor.
‘Maybe,’ she responded pensively, ‘but either way it’s going to be a great event.’
‘I’m sure it will be.’ I nodded, my attention focused back on scrutinizing the packed car, before I fell into the trap of fantasizing about whether I was going to the pub with Brodie during it or not. ‘Right, I think that’s everything.’
‘It had better be,’ she laughed, standing with her hands on her hips and also admiring how we’d managed to utilize every available space, ‘because you won’t get anything else in there now. Thank goodness you haven’t got Bran with you today.’
‘Oh, don’t,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘I had to sneak out this morning while Dorothy distracted him. Looking at how much there is here today, I think I might need to just use the Land Rover from now on and leave Anna’s Fiat at the hall. That said,’ I added, puffing out my cheeks, ‘I still don’t think I’d get Bran in there with the same amount as this to drop off.’
‘You’re right,’ Kathleen laughed, as she pulled a notebook out of her coat pocket. ‘Now,’ she said, completely changing the subject, ‘can I put you down for a ticket to the dance on Friday night?’
‘Me?’ I laughed.
‘Yes,’ she said seriously, giving me the once over but unfortunately not noticing my two left feet. ‘We could do with some fresh faces and I’m trying to get more of you youngsters involved.’
‘But I can’t dance,’ I told her, feeling myself go hot in spite of the weather. ‘I’m useless.’
‘Everyone can dance with the right partner,’ she said briskly.
‘You might think that…’ I began, but she cut me off.
‘Town hall, seven o’clock. Leave the lessons and the dance partner to me,’ she twinkled.
‘Lessons?’ I choked. ‘Dance partner?’
‘And don’t forget to ask Mr Smythe if he needs a lift to the ulcer clinic, next week,’ she said, backing away. ‘And make sure Gladys has got that appointment date on her calendar. After all the trouble you went to, to book it, we don’t want her forgetting, do we?’
I knew Gladys did have the appointment on her kitchen calendar, because I’d written it on there myself, but I added Kathleen’s reminders to the bottom of the delivery list anyway. I was still being meticulous about even the tiniest of details and double checking everything.
By the time I looked up again, Kathleen was back in the library, so I made another note to telephone and tell her I wouldn’t be attending the dance. She might be easier to say no to on the phone.
‘How are the roads?’ asked Mr Smythe, welcoming me into his home and eagerly looking through the stack of festive romance novels he’d requested from the library.
‘Still a bit icy,’ I told him. ‘Certainly not what I’m used to driving on, anyway.’
‘You should have come in that Land Rover,’ he said wisely. ‘That thing can handle anything.’
‘You’re probably right,’ I agreed. ‘Now, about the ulcer clinic. Are you going to need a lift?’
‘Not this time,’ he said. ‘My daughter’s got the afternoon off work, so she’s taking me. I’m hoping this will be practically the last time I have to go. It’s almost better. Do you want to see?’
I respectfully declined his offer, made a note of the arrangement he had made with his daughter and headed off again. Replacing a light bulb was required of me at my next port of call.
‘How’s that, Mabel?’ I asked as she flicked on the switch and we squinted in the bright light bathing her sitting room.
‘Oh, that’s better,’ said the tiny woman who wouldn’t have been able to reach to do it even if she had been able to climb up on to the chair I was balanced on. ‘I kept losing count of my stitches last night,’ she informed me. ‘That table lamp is nowhere near bright enough for close work. Fancy a cuppa, my dear?’
I still had another call to make and was mindful of making it to Albert’s in time for his eye test, but accepted anyway.
‘Yes, please,’ I said keenly. ‘That would be great.’
‘Are you going to the dance on Friday?’ she asked as she offered me the sugar bowl.
‘According to Kathleen, I am,’ I said, biting my lip.
Mabel chuckled.
‘I’m getting a lift in, so I’ll see you there then.’ She nodded, then surprised me by adding, ‘I love a good tango.’
