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Scandal at Six(11)

By:Ann Purser


“Let me have a go,” said Lois. “It’s probably a bit damp.” She pushed as hard as she could, and the door began to move.

“Heave-ho, my hearties!” said Gran, adding her weight to Lois’s final push. They half stumbled into the room, and Josie followed. She turned to look back to see what had blocked their efforts, and froze. Then she screamed, and ran swiftly out and down the stairs into the back garden.

“What on earth is she doing?” said Lois.

“Look,” said Gran. “Look behind the door.”

It was a very large grey rat, and its tail was trapped under the half-open door. If rats could snarl, it would have snarled at them. It was an animal at bay, faced with an unknown enemy, and it twisted and turned, making a hideous noise, trying to free itself.

“Oh my God!” said Lois. “What do we do now?”

“Catch it,” said Gran. “We’ll catch it and take it back for Derek to deal with. Now, what we need is a strong cardboard box and a flat piece of wood to slide under it. Quick as you can, Lois, before it gets free.”

Lois found a box and the necessary piece of flat board, and watched in amazement as her mother turned the box upside down over the rat. “Now shut the door slowly, so its tail is freed. I’ll keep it trapped.”

With a shaky hand, Lois did as she was told, and held her breath as Gran very carefully slid the board under the box. Then she lifted slowly and turned it the right way up, trapping the rat inside.

“You stay here and look after Josie and the shop, and I’ll take this up to Derek. I think he’s working at home this afternoon. I’ll be back here in two ticks. And no, Lois, I don’t need no help. Just stand at the bottom of the stairs and catch me when I fall . . .”



*



“The rat was just bad luck,” Lois said, as they all sat round the supper table. “Josie pulled herself together quickly, and we made cups of tea all round. Fortunately, nobody came into the shop until the school bus, and we were able to make a start. We made up the bed and switched on the electric blanket to air the mattress, and then we had a good clean all round, so at least that will be all right for Mum.”

“I can tackle the rest tomorrow,” Gran said cheerfully. “I’ll set traps, and them vermin will either meet a swift end, or turn tail and run. I’ll soon show them who’s boss in that flat.”

“We’ll wash up these supper things, Mum,” Derek said. “But first I shall see you down to the shop, and make sure you’re safely settled before I leave. Josie’s put supplies in the fridge for you, and we’ll get breakfast ready in time for you to come up and tell us how it’s gone overnight. Okay?”

“Fine,” said Gran. “Except that I shall let myself in here tomorrow morning and have breakfast on the go before you wake up. Old habits die hard, and I need to make an early start to my day.”

After Derek and Gran had gone, Lois went into her study to prepare for the following working day. She stood at the window, watching them walk down the road in the dim light to the shop. Her mother’s step was firm, and she had a hand through Derek’s arm. Tears came unbidden to Lois’s eyes. What a brave woman she was! Still able to cope with horrible rats, and determined to change her situation dramatically, when most women of her age would be thinking about warden-controlled flats and sheltered accommodation.

When Derek returned, Lois greeted him anxiously. “Was she all right? I mean, really all right?” she said.

He smiled. “Practically turned me out when I suggested helping her to sort out a few things. And I heard her lock the door as soon as I left. I made sure the storeroom was secure.”

“Was Matthew around?”

“Yep. At least, I think it was Matthew. Definitely a figure in a car parked down the road from the shop. Cowgill wouldn’t forget.”

“Right, then. Let’s watch a bit of telly. I can’t say I’m happy about all this. I really hope she decides to come back home tomorrow.”





Seven





True to her word, Gran was back in the Meade House kitchen at seven o’clock sharp. Lois came down in her dressing gown and asked anxiously if she had had a good night.

“Slept like a log,” Gran said. “I set my alarm, and when I remembered where I was, I shot straight out of bed to the window. It’s quite refreshing, you know, to wake to a different scene. There was not a soul about, and I was washed and dressed in no time. Had the street to myself when I walked up here. No sign of Matthew, but I expect he’d gone off duty once it got light.”

“So will you go back there again tonight? We missed you, you know.”