Chalk Dust & Broomsticks, Chapter 47

Shirley reveals the third card.

Chapter 47

Shirley’s fingers hesitated over the third card in the tarot deck. She was wondering if the interruptions were significant. With her senses heightened, she felt that anything at all that happened now may be important. If a clap of thunder shook the heavens, she couldn’t have been more nervous, but after a few more moments had passed, she grasped the card and turned it over. It was ‘The World’, a card that promised fulfillment and a favourable outcome. Relieved, Shirley stood up and danced a jig, much to the amusement of her three cats, who all scarpered to the sides of the room to avoid being accidentally trodden on.

Next morning

Sue Phillips was waiting for Shirley when she arrived at the school, earlier than usual, as requested, and invited her to sit down in her office – formerly Althea’s office

“Shirley, I have news and it’s significant. Paula’s husband has had a stroke and it’s quite a bad one. She’s with him now at the hospital and she has told me she doesn’t expect to be back. I have her keys. It’s not looking at all good for Mr. Manipulator, so she’s decided to retire. It’s short notice and it leaves me in a rather embarrassing position, as you can appreciate. Althea has been charged with the murder of Alex Simmons and Nick Blunt is also on a charge. I don’t want to have to close the school. The school and its continuity must come first under all circumstances, so I am asking you if you would be prepared to step in and help me at once. I fully understand your position with the redundancy situation and everything, but we really need your expertise. “I have had a conversation with Carole Catchpole and she is in agreement with me that no-one else could cover this period better than you. In fact, she has asked the other governors to postpone the redundancy indefinitely if you would consider staying on? What do you say?”

As Dora had already passed on some of the information about Paula’s predicament, Shirley was not entirely surprised at this development, but it caused her to think carefully about her answer because after months of uncertainty and stress, she had almost accepted the redundancy outcome and plans to leave at Christmas, which was approaching fast, had already been at the front of her mind. However, she was very fond of Sue Phillips and so it didn’t take her long to decide on her answer.

“Of course, I’ll help you in the immediate future Sue, but I’ll have to think again about next term because my long-term future plans will need to be finalized.”

“Yes, I understand,” Mrs. Phillips replied, still looking anxious, “and I thank you for agreeing to help. Can you start today? The class registers are arriving on Paula’s desk and the data all needs inputting into the computer?”

Shirley understood how embarrassing it was for Mrs. Phillips to be in her current position so she acquiesced immediately and put her handbag under Paula’s desk. The first note she wrote on Paula’s notepad was ‘Ring Paula and find out how her husband is today.’ Then she texted Ranjit to tell him what Sue had proposed and asked him what he thought. He was working in the school so they could meet at lunchtime, maybe take a walk around the estate and discuss the pros and cons of her working with Mrs. Phillips.

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During the afternoon tea break, Shirley and Dora were enjoying a pupil-made biscuit at Shirley’s desk and discussing Paula’s shocking news.

“Shall we call in together this evening, after school. She might appreciate a visit or even some help if she’s been in the hospital with her husband for much of the day? We could take her some flowers?”

“Good idea. I was going to suggest it myself, if you hadn’t,” agreed Dora; so the two friends, pleased to find Paula home, called round to Paula’s with a bunch of beautiful carnations and listened while she tearfully recounted events as they had happened the previous day when she found her husband collapsed in the shower.”

“It was a bad one, Shirley. They were marvellous at the hospital and he’s had all the help he could expect, but the doctor has warned me to be prepared for the worst. He may never be coming home.” She wept.

“Don’t talk like that, Paula. People can recover from a stroke, but it sometimes takes a long time.”

On the way back to the school, so Dora could collect her own car and return home, the conversation was all about how sudden things like that happen and how necessary it was to be prepared for that eventuality, especially as one became older.
Shirley went to bed early, feeling exhausted, but encouraged by the outcome of her tarot card reading.

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Eight Months Later

July 2000
Shirley and Ranjit travelled down to Cornwall for a well-earned week’s holiday by the seaside. They hired a bungalow with a sea-view at the front and a countryside view behind. There was even a friendly Jersey cow, which poked its head between the branches of a hedge at the bottom of the garden to say hello in the mornings. Whilst there, Shirley got in touch with her old boss, Geoff Padstow, who invited the couple to come and visit. Geoff suggested it would be a good time to catch up with news of the school as he had felt unable to visit since Christmas. With Ranjit’s agreement Shirley agreed and so on the Wednesday evening they found themselves enjoying a cool glass of wine on Geoff and Marie’s garden terrace as the sun began to set on the horizon.

Geoff already knew about Nick’s two-year custodial sentence, but he was unaware of all the other news from Primrose.

“Well,” said Shirley, “where shall I start? Firstly, we all still miss you and you Marie. Sue is doing a great job as Acting Head and we won’t be seeing Althea back in the school ever again, I’m sure. She will probably get off with a manslaughter charge and a custodial sentence, which will be reduced eventually. Her case hasn’t come up yet, but we all know it won’t go well for her.”

“I heard that Nick and Gina’s baby was a boy and healthy. Have you seen him?”

“No, I expect I’ll bump into Gina in Puccinos one of these days. I did speak to her on the phone soon after the baby was born. His name is Simon and she says he looks just like Nick. He even has the same dimple in his chin as Nick has. It’s a family trait apparently.”

“And what of Gerald?”

“Interesting! He’s been given a ten-month suspended sentence because of a loophole in the law. I doubt he will go to jail, so long as he behaves himself during his probation.”

“Good old Gerald,” chuckled Geoff. “He’s a lucky bastard if he gets away with what he did! Is there any other staff news I need to know?”

“Poor Paula’s husband had a bad stroke. He has been in need of nursing care ever since so she retired. She just handed the keys to Sue and left the day it happened and so that is how I came to do the lion’s share in the Admin. Office. Dora does more office work too. We’ve always worked well together. Plus, I’ve been doing a bit in the library too. I really enjoy that.”

“Will you stay at Primrose?”

“I’m still thinking about it. Ranjit and I are getting married later in the year, although the date is not set yet; it didn’t go well with me when I was offered redundancy, so I don’t feel quite the same as I did before when Oggs was Head.”

Having imparted as much of the gossip as Shirley thought fit, she asked Geoff how his career was progressing to which he answered that he couldn’t be happier. Marie loved Cornwall – the weather was warmer; they hardly had any frost in the winter and their children were doing well at school and had made lots of new friends.

“Is there any other news in the school?” asked Geoff, dipping his hand in the nut bowl, full of delicious cashews and walnuts as well as the salty peanuts.

“Yes, the school is thirty years old so we’re going to be having a celebration soon. You will probably get an invitation and so with Mrs. Ogglesby. Will you come, do you think?”

Geoff looked at Marie to see if she was interested. She smiled and said “Of course we’ll come. It will be good to see some familiar faces again and it will be a good excuse to get a new outfit. Maybe I'll have time to see Gina again and little Simon with his cute dimple!"

Marie gave Geoff a searching look. She knew him so well. She could tell from the tiniest expressions on his face, exactly what he was thinking and she saw now that he was feeling uncomfortable. She knew why and she forgave him. He was always forgiven for his little indiscretions because Marie was a wise wife. There was never any doubt in her mind that Geoff loved her deeply. He was like a proud and beautiful cockerel, who just couldn't pass up the chance to take advantage of a beautiful hen.

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Alex, in her form as a Ka, stretched out in front of the biggest boiler in the boiler room at the school. She looked remarkably like a long, white cat as her tail twitched and her whiskers bristled. Life is not so bad, after all! She purred to herself as she rolled over and over, tail now swishing. She was warm, she was fed – Jane saw to that and she had a home, of sorts. I don’t like that man who comes in here and feeds the boiler, but I can’t remember why. Maybe it will come to me. He does let me out though, when he finds me in here, but only if I demand it. Otherwise, he leaves me alone. I’ve caught him giving me funny looks sometimes, but when he does I just stare at him with my enormous blue eyes and then he turns away. I’ll soon be strong enough to leave this place all together. Perhaps I’ll make it to a wood where I can chase mice and hide. On a cold winter night, when there is snow all around, I will be completely camouflaged.

The End


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