Edith

“What a stormy night” thought Edith as she fought her way forward to race the clouds and reach home.  She was soaked through and her hair was whipping across her face as she attempted the stroll.  She never would have done it if it hadn’t been necessary.  And she could hear the waves of the Loch slapping on the shore at a fast pace. Why oh why oh why did there have to be an emergency on this terrible night?

She opened the front door and the wind and rain whooshed past her making the porch completely drenched.  Thank goodness she had paid the extra and had a porch installed in her new home.  My goodness, the stress it saved her!  She could take her boots and weather proof clothing off and leave them to drip dry so the mess wasn’t carried into the house.  And she could slip her slippers straight on.  What a relief!

Edith sighed and opened the door to the dark hallway, wanting to just go into the sitting room and sitting by the fireside that was burning brightly and comfortingly and have a little brandy to end the day quietly. However, a little voice was calling “Mummy! Mummy!  Are you ok?  The storm didn’t stop you?  I was worried about you Mummy!  Mummy please come and see me!”

“Give me a minute Trish” she replied, “I just want to go and dry my face as it’s so wet with the rain and put my hair up again. That wind was terrible.”

“OK Mummy.  I was waiting for you to come home so that I knew you were safe.”  Edith nodded but didn’t reply.  Trish had always been anxious about everything and if she felt something was wrong or could be wrong, she lay awake until she was certain things were alright again.  

Edith sorted herself out and ran up the stairs two at a time to her small daughter, scooping her up and tickling her until they reached Trish’s bed.  So Edith put her down and took her dressing gown and slippers off and put her into bed.  “So, my darling, who am I saying goodnight to tonight?  A princess, a queen, a post lady or a dinner lady?”  

“Oh Mummy, you are silly!”  Trish giggled in return.  “Let’s say I’m a princess tonight.”

“Very good, Princess Trish” she replied “I will finish by wishing you goodnight.  If you have need of me, please do ring the bell and I will come straight away.”  She curtsied deeply and walked backwards out of the room, softly leaving her daughter’s room and pulling the door to, leaving a small beam of light for her daughter to be able to see if she did awaken during the night.

And the marvellous thing was the next door neighbour Phyllis.  She was approaching her fifties, had never married or had children and so was delighted a child had moved next door to the doctor’s house. She promised Edith she would take care of Trish while she was out and never to worry about her.  When the weather was terrible, she always lit the fire in the sitting room and poured Edith a brandy leaving it on a small table ready for her to collect.

Edith made her way downstairs very carefully and slowly to make it to the fire. She got the brandy and went to sit in the comfortable wing backed, velvet red chair in the sitting room.  The rain had died down somewhat but the wind was still howling round the house.  She was as certain as she could be that the house was storm proof.  When she had the porch built, she had the rest of the house inspected to be sure everything was ok. A small stone house in the Highlands of Scotland with two bedrooms, an escape from their past and she and Trish had started a new life in the village with Edith as the local doctor.

She could tell she was greatly respected and Trish was enjoying going to the small local school with her new friends. The teacher was patient and kind, teaching her and answering her myriad of questions, completely different to her old one who got annoyed with her and didn’t satisfy her curiosity about the world and life in general.  Trish had a vast thirst for knowledge of all kinds - typical of the autistic nature she had.  Thank goodness there were things like Alexa or Siri to answer questions at home!