Tuesday Evening and Another PB Postcard

(Been a busy week at work... brain feels like mince! But some more good news: was second in a writing competition and a neat cheque for £100 came through the door today. That was nice.

Here is a piece that concludes Tuesday in Port Brokeferry (remember this project is seven days in PB). We have done Monday and now that's Tuesday done. Enjoy!)

PORT BROKEFERRY – TUESDAY EVENING.

Magnus looks for Eileen coming from The Bobbing Boat. He has closed up the bank and set the alarm to ‘on’. A red flashing light tells him he has done right. He crouches down in the street, unties and ties the lace of one shoe. Then he stands again. In his head he rehearses what he will say to her when she comes.

Eileen has been kept back with the extra dishes to wash and dry. That’s how it will be for the next two weeks, Guthrie has told her. What with the fair and the visitors. He says there will be more money in her pay packet at the end of the week. For sure there will be. Eileen looks at the clock on the wall and thinks of Magnus shutting up the bank.

At the far end of the street there are kids from school. They’ve heard about the arrival of the fair and have detoured via the green just for a look. They’re late in getting home, but they don’t mind. Already there are things going on and music playing and orange and yellow and blue lights making the place seem like there’s something to see.

Evelyn is also there. A little back from the green. She’s just looking, too. She is dressed like she is going somewhere, even though she isn’t. She searches the faces of the people she sees, the men and the women at work unpacking the trucks and laying tarpaulin over the grass. She is looking for one face in particular.

Helen thinks Grace looks different tonight. It’s not just that she’s wearing the new dress from the catalogue. Maybe it’s her hair or her skin. Helen isn’t sure. She seems brighter somehow. Like there is a light in her eyes. Grace is sitting with the baby in her arms and a bottle in her hand. But she is looking out of the window.

Athol Stuart is walking Mad Martin back from the green. They aren’t talking, except that every few steps Mad Martin asks Athol if he has seen Col. Athol does not answer. His mind is on other things. He is thinking about the extra he will have to do with the fair in Port Brokeferry. He is also thinking about Grace and how she left work early this afternoon. That is not like her, he thinks. Helen didn’t offer any explanation. He wonders if maybe the baby is sick.

Callum is still with Tom and Tom still in his bed. He is sleeping and Callum hears Tom’s bag of words spilling into the dark of the room. He is in two minds about whether to call Marjory or Doctor Kerr.

Sinnie reads over what she wrote that morning. Her dream of owls and the biggest one wearing Struan Courtald’s buttoned waistcoat. She wonders what it was that the big owl laid at her feet in the dream.

The sea slaps against the side of The Silver Herring and the cables on the boat hit against each other making the sound of small bells ringing. It is Tuesday evening in Port Brokeferry.