Read The New Rector (Tales from Turnham Malpas) for Free Online

someone to lead the group and for other helpers as well. It occurred to me that you might be interested in running the group. I know you were a teacher before the babies came along and I thought you would be an ideal person. Mr Harris, Peter, you know, doesn’t know I’ve come to see you, so it’s all very secret at the moment.’
‘You must be the answer to a prayer. I would love to do it. What an opportunity! I could bring Rosie with me because she’s the right age. Oh, Miss Hipkin, I could kiss you! In fact, I will!’
    Suzy stood up, took Muriel by the shoulders and gave her a hearty kiss on each cheek. ‘Seeing as we’re in the Common Market you can have a continental kiss.’
    Muriel hadn’t been kissed since she couldn’t remember when. Her mother hadn’t been one for kissing, and there wasn’t anyone else. She blushed bright red.
    ‘It isn’t definite yet, because Mr Harris doesn’t know I’m here, but if you seriously mean you want to do it then I’ll have a word.’
    ‘Oh, I do, I do. It will be such an advantage for the children to have a playgroup. Just think of all the children on the farms and the ones from the Big House. Those poor little mites will be in their seventh heaven.’
    ‘This coffee is lovely, thank you very much for it. I’ll go and see the rector now and tell him of our plan. Dr Harris says she thinks it will have to be a mother and toddler group until we get proper permission from the County. We must walk before we run. Bye bye, dear girls.’
    ‘Bye bye, Miss Hipkin,’ they said, their mouths full of crumbly biscuit.
    ‘My head’s exploding with plans, Miss Hipkin. I shan’t be able to sleep tonight for thinking about it.’
‘Mr Meadows won’t mind, will he? I know some men can be funny about their wives having jobs outside the home.’
    ‘Oh, don’t worry about Patrick. He probably won’t even notice I’m doing it. Anyway, men don’t mind wives having jobs nowadays. Let me know as soon as you can about the playgroup. Liz Neal would probably help as well.’
    ‘Of course, I’d forgotten about her. Bye bye … Suzy.’
    Muriel stepped along past the infant teacher’s cottage to the Rectory and rang the bell.
    Peter answered the door wearing his decorating trousers and an old shaggy jumper relegated to the bin by Caroline but rescued just in time.
    ‘Come in, Muriel, you’ve caught me finishing painting my study. How do you like the colour I’ve chosen?’
    ‘Lovely, it’s really lovely. I’d no idea this room could be so light. What a difference! The white woodwork sets it off so nicely. It takes courage to choose such strong colours. I’m afraid my house is white or magnolia and that’s that. I’ve really come to see you on parish business. You remember we were talking about starting a playgroup? Well, I think – with your approval of course – that I’ve found the very person to be the leader.’
    ‘That’s excellent, Muriel. Who is it?’
    ‘Suzy Meadows. She can take little Rosie with her and when I mentioned it she jumped at the chance.’
    Peter turned to look out of the window to hide his consternation. Muriel awaited his grateful thanks.
    ‘She used to be a teacher, you know, before the girls were born and I think she would enjoy getting back into the fray, so to speak.’
    ‘What a good idea, Muriel. I should never have thought of asking her. Are you sure it won’t be too much for her with those three girls to look after and her … husband?’
‘This new generation of women are much more energetic and determined than their mothers used to be. She’s very keen.’
    ‘Very well. We’ll get the ball rolling. I’ll make arrangements to meet her and get down to brass tacks. Thank you for being so inspired, Muriel.’
    ‘Not at all. I’m looking forward to it all starting. Good morning, Rector. I’ll see myself out.’ And Muriel shut the Rectory door behind her.
    Her next stop was the village store, where both Harriet and Jimbo