The Other Side of the Dale by Gervase Phinn

Author:Gervase Phinn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: For the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Published: 1997-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

“There has been a veritable harem wishing to speak to you today, dear boy,” said Sidney when I arrived at the office late one afternoon. “Is that not so, David?” David Pritchard looked up from his papers and nodded. His leg, with the most enormous plaster cast upon it, was thrust out before him.

“I would like to know,” continued Sidney, with mock melancholy, “your secret with the opposite sex, Gervase. Women seem to be queueing up to speak to you.”

I was ready with a riposte, for both colleagues had been teasing me good-humouredly over the past few weeks about finding ‘a good woman’ and ‘settling down’ and giving up my ‘lonely bachelor life’, but before I could open my mouth Julie bustled in. She held a batch of telephone message sheets which she proceeded to read out, much to the amusement of my two colleagues.

“The phone has not stopped ringing all afternoon for you,” she announced. “It’s been like the switchboard at a dating agency. You’ve had Mrs ‘I could turn you to stone with my stare’ Savage asking if you were in. She intends to ‘catch you’ later on. You’ve had Mrs Beighton of Hawksrill School wanting you to get in touch. You’ve had Mrs Powell (pronounced Pole) about the St Philip’s Church fête. You’ve had Connie from over the way thanking you for the box of chocolates – what are you sucking up there for? You’ve had Sister Brendan on, asking you to take part in her Victorian Day. You’ve had Miss – or Miz Isleworth about the drama seminar. And – you’ve had Miss Bentley of Winnery Nook saying a cheque is in the post. There,” sighed Julie, “all done. You sound like the Casanova of the Education Department.”

“What it is to be so popular,” sniggered Sidney snatching up his briefcase and breezing out of the office but not before adding, “and in such urgent demand by the delightful Miss Bentley of Winnery Nook as well.”

“I thought you were finishing that report for me to type before you went?” Julie said to his departing back.

Sidney stopped in the doorway, and said with deadly emphasis, “Julie, if Mrs Savage is on her way over here I am departing post haste. I’m just not up to seeing her this afternoon.” His words were followed by a clattering of high-heeled shoes on the stairs and jangling of heavy jewellery. Sidney gave a great sigh and pulled a grotesque face. “Here she comes.” With that he shot out of the door. “Prepare for the entrance of the Queen of Sheba.”

“If it wasn’t for this leg,” sighed David rubbing the plaster cast, “I’d have been down those stairs with him.”

Mrs Savage swept into the office with all the appearance of assuming she was the most important person there.

“Was that Mr Clamp I saw scurrying down the back staircase? I wanted a word with him.” She did not wait for a reply. “Ah, Mr Phinn, just the man I want.”

David looked up and arched an eyebrow.

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