Some Sunny Day by Helen Carey

Author:Helen Carey
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: TSAP Books
Published: 2011-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Joyce woke to the sound of a cock crowing. For a moment she felt the disturbing sense of unease that usually settled on her the moment she opened her eyes, then she suddenly remembered there was no need for her to feel tense today. She was miles away from her worries, warm and snug and alone in Mrs Baxter’s enormous spare bedroom.

She had barely had the thought when she heard a tap on the door and a girl’s voice, Angie’s voice, although she still barely recognised it with its strong West Country burr.

‘Are you awake, Mum?’

Quickly rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Joyce levered herself up on her elbow just as the door opened and her daughter came in with a steaming cup of tea.

‘Mrs Baxter says as you looked all done in last night and you’re to stay in bed a bit,’ Angie said putting the cup carefully on the bedside table. ‘Then when you’re ready she’ll do you a nice cooked breakfast.’ Having delivered this message, she hovered awkwardly by the bed for a moment. ‘And then she said I can take you down to show you the threshing.’ She stopped when she saw Joyce’s blank expression and coloured slightly. ‘Only if you’d like to, mind.’

Feeling guilty Joyce nodded hastily. ‘I’d like to do that,’ she said, sitting up a bit more. ‘It’s just that I’m not sure what threshing is.’

Angie’s eyes widened. ‘It’s an enormous machine which comes to get the grain off the straw,’ she said. ‘It’s on the next farm now and everyone’s down there helping. It’ll be here next week and then everyone will come here.’ Her eyes sparkled at the thought. ‘We’re allowed off school when the thresher comes.’

Joyce looked at her eager face. ‘But you’re not going to school today, are you?’ There certainly had been no mention of school last night.

Angie shook her head. ‘No. But only because you’re here. Otherwise we’d have to go.’ She rolled her eyes in a gesture that reminded Joyce of Jen. ‘And it’s miles to walk. So we’re awfully glad you’ve come.’

‘I’m glad I’ve come too,’ Joyce said. It was true. She was glad. Even if the kids were a bit awkward with her, even if they didn’t really know how to treat her. It was understandable. They hadn’t seen her for eighteen months and letters were hopeless. Big buxom Mrs Baxter had taken her place and although that had been a bit difficult to accept at first, in reality it was a great weight off her mind. Angie and Paul seemed happy and healthy. And if nothing else it meant she could enjoy her holiday.

And she was enjoying it. After the first few minutes of complete terror, she even enjoyed the ride to the neighbouring farm in the pony and trap, once she had got used to the idea of twelve year old Paul being in charge of such a sprightly little horse.

She hadn’t recognised Paul yesterday. It was only when he walked

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