Good varied stories today with Sally's childhood school memories (which came second) and Pat's school bully. Joan E told the story of the secret garden. Brian gave a graphic description of his Dickens like up bringing with the nuns. Sue recounted the Halloween scare while in a caravanette at Calshot. Sheila's story was about sandcastles. John and my own contribution was on the same theme murder most foul. But Ann's was chosen as best and you can read the prize winner your self.
Who Did This
When the firm announced they were closing the local offices and re-locating to Washington, there were murmurs of anticipation until it was pointed out that this was Washington U.K., not Washington U.S.A. Oliver was told there would be a job guaranteed if he decided to move, but there would be a lot of discussion with Emily and the boys before a decision could be made. Emily was a District Nurse and felt she would probably get another job quite easily. The boys were nine-year-old identical twins, Adam and Justin, but they were at an age when they would have time to settle into the new education system before they moved on to senior school. After discussing the pros and cons every available moment, they finally decided to take the chance and make the move,
Oliver started his new job and moved into a small guesthouse while he researched the locality and visited estate agents. During the half term Emily and the boys motored up to spend time with him and look at the places he had short-listed. They were all very acceptable, but nothing outstanding. On the way back one afternoon they took a different route and came across this delightful looking cottage with an estate agents board up outside. It was one Oliver had already registered with, so they called in to make enquiries. They were told it had only come on the market the day before and the details hadn't been sent out yet. The following morning they were all waiting for the agent to arrive and show them inside, having already peered through every window and wandered around the garden and outbuildings. As soon as they stepped inside they all fell in love with the place. It was as if it had been waiting for them. Having found somewhere to live they couldn't wait to move in.
They had been there about six months now. Oliver was enjoying his new job and the promotion that went with it. Emily had got a part time job at the local Doctors surgery and the boys had settled in well at the local village school and had started to make friends. When the odd incidents started to happen a few weeks after they had moved in, they initially put it down to the boys playing pranks. Emily had found the cereal and sugar in the fridge one morning and the milk in the cupboard. Another morning all the breakfast cutlery and dishes were either upside down or back to front. "Who did this?" was a cry often to be heard in the household, although the boys always denied it was anything to do with them. When all the twins' clothes were turned inside out, even Emily began to think this was not of their making. The evening the dog woke up from an apparently deep sleep on his beanbag while they were watching T.V. and looked towards the door, wagged his tail and appeared to follow something across the room with his eyes decided it for them that they were sharing their home with a poltergeist. No-one felt the least bit intimidated by it's presence. It was not a malicious being and the tricks were not intended to hurt. They decided to call it Patrick. One morning all the books in the bookcase had been turned upside down and another day Emily and Oliver found each of their pairs of shoes consisted of one of his and one of hers!
Life continued with the addition of Patrick and his tricks until one morning Oliver couldn't find his car keys. He looked everywhere and decided to take the spare set only to find these missing as well. Adam eventually found a set in his school bag. This time Patrick was not popular. On the way to take the boys to school Emily heard a traffic report of a road closed because of a serious accident. She knew this was the route Oliver used. As soon as she had dropped the boys off she tried to phone Oliver, but couldn't get a signal. When she arrived home she called his office only to be told he hadn't arrived yet. Leaving a message for him to call as soon as he arrived, she put the kettle on to make a coffee. When the phone rang, she nearly jumped out of her skin even though she was waiting for it to ring. Oliver told her he had been held up due to dreadful accident. If Patrick hadn't hidden his keys he would have been at the junction about the time it had happened. As she sat down with her coffee she glanced over to the key rack to see the spare set of keys hanging there.
