Read The English Lesson (The Greek Village Collection Book 11) for Free Online

done in her life. Her surety comes in equal measures to her overwhelming terror, the two oscillating, pulling her up, pushing her down. The thoughts make her head spin.
    'I know we say pio poli in Greek, but in English, “more-better” is considered wrong. Use one or the other, but in this case, you don't need either. It makes sense if you just say that your need to learn English outweighs everything else.’
    But Toula can only think of making lists in her head.
    'Hi guys. Am I too early?' They both turn their heads as Michelle comes up to their table.
    Toula looks at her watch. 'Oh, the time is like bird, as the English say.’
    ‘Time has flown,' Juliet corrects, but Toula is not listening.
    'Tomorrow, same time.' It is not a question. Toula points to her watch.
    'Oh, okay. Yes, if you are serious.' Juliet smiles but she is also frowning.
    Toula does not answer. Instead, she gives Juliet her sternest look. She has never been more serious. After Apostolis has eaten his lunch and he goes into his study, she will slip out again and go to the travel agents. Hopefully, they will not close in the heat of the afternoon like some shops do. Then she can buy her ticket.

Juliet
     
    Juliet watches Toula go.
    'Good lesson?' Michelle asks.
    'Yes. No. Not sure.' Juliet uncoils herself, stretching her legs out. She hadn't realised she was so tense.
    'Why? What happened?'
    'It was as if she had some sort of epiphany, suddenly deciding that she was going to go off to England on her own to see her grandchildren.'
    'Good for her. A frappe please, glyko .' Michelle address the waiter who is standing, staring at Juliet.
    'Maybe she just likes the idea that she will go on her own. Maybe she won't follow it through.' Juliet frowns. 'But she has asked me to give her lessons every day until she goes.'
    'Are you going to do it?' Michelle leans her shopping bags against the leg of the table.
    'I said I would.'
    They fall into silence, watching the old woman progress down the lane.

Toula
     
    Toula stops just before her house to pinch off another sprig of bougainvillea. She will put it in a vase on the yellow kitchen table. The cat is by her feet, its fur so soft. The creature is so friendly. It is nice to have something to love.
    As the key turns in the lock, she is deep in thought, trying to imagine what it must be like to live in London and be cold all the time. No doubt the houses are properly insulated with boilers that work, lifts that move, and radiators that do not leak brown water onto the floor to soak between boards and stain the ceiling below.
    She has not seen pictures of her daughter’s house, not as such. But she has always studied what is in the background of the photographs full of smiles. The living room is in cream, with a white sofa with golden cushions. Katerina's bedroom has a painting on the wall of a forest with birds in bright colours and a deer peeping from behind a tree trunk. The kitchen is modern, with black work surfaces and long, vertical chrome handles on the white cupboards.
    Did she remember to pay just now, or has she left Juliet with the bill? She stops as she is putting her weight to the door and tries to remember. No, she did pay. She left a note and some coins on the table next to Juliet's money.
    She shoves with her whole weight and the door opens. The cat rushes in ahead of her. Looking up the broad wooden polished stairs, she waits for her eyes to adjust to the relative dark. The lift stopped again a couple of days ago when she was coming down with the heavy rubbish bag from the kitchen. She jumped up and down, the counterweight shifted, the wheel at the top that the big cable loops round gave a quarter turn, and she dropped enough, and quite suddenly, to be able to open the ground floor doors and take a big step down to get out. After putting the rubbish in the bin, she went back up by the stairs. Complaining to Apostolis resulted in him pressing the button a few times. The lift worked for him, and he