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were working. As Muriel entered, Harriet was serving Sharon and Scott from The Royal Oak.
    Sharon was choosing her shopping with a disdainful expression on her face. ‘You haven’t got no convenience foods, have you, like what we sell in Tesco’s. Lovely Chicken Kiev and things all ready to pop in the oven, we have there. Scott, put that KitKat down. Mum said you weren’t to have no more chocolate today.’
    ‘Shut up you, I’ll do as I like.’ Scott picked up the KitKat, tore off the wrapper and began eating it.
    Jimbo fumed. ‘You’ll have that to pay for, Sharon.’ ‘He can pay for it himself, I’m not paying.’ ‘Can’t, our Sharon. Haven’t got no money.’ ‘Wait till I get you home, I’ll tell Mum about this.’ ‘If you do I’ll tell her about where you were last night.’ Muriel felt compelled to intervene. ‘That’s not the way to talk to your sister, Scott. You should pay for it. Come to think of it, you shouldn’t have taken the chocolate in the first place if your mother says you shouldn’t.’
    ‘Shut up, Miss Prim Hipkin. Miss Neat an’ Tidy, Miss Dull an’ Boring, mind your own business.’
    ‘Well really.’ Muriel blushed bright red. This nasty little boy had spoken out loud something she’d been thinking about herself for quite a while. But it was disconcerting to hear the truth from one so young.
Jimbo marched round from the cheese counter, took hold of Scott by his collar and removed him from the store.
    ‘Out, you, and stay out. You can come back in when you’ve apologised for your bad behaviour. And if your father wants to know why I’ve sent you packing, ask him to come round to see me.’
    Sharon didn’t even have the grace to apologise for her brother. She paid for the goods she’d bought and sauntered out of the shop, putting her tongue out at Muriel as she went.
    Harriet sat Muriel down on a chair and gave her a coffee from the machine provided for customers.
    ‘Sit here, Miss Hipkin, and drink this. I’m sorry he was so rude. The parents are to blame, not him – remember that.’
    Jimbo was fuming. ‘And you remember, Harriet, that Scott McDonald is not allowed in here until he has apologised – and I mean it.’
    ‘Jimbo, The Royal Oak is a very good customer of ours.’
    ‘I know, I know, but I won’t have him in. He’ll be shoplifting next.’
    Muriel found her tongue. ‘He’s very difficult in school, you know. Mr Palmer has to keep him on a tight rein. He always plays up in music lessons.’
    ‘Doesn’t get enough attention at home, I suppose.’ Harriet had turned away to press on with collecting ingredients for some cheesecakes she was making for the freezer.
    Jimbo went into the meat department to find some trimmings from a hindquarter of beef that he’d just cut into joints for a customer. He presented them to Muriel in a smart dark green plastic bag with ‘Turnham Malpas Village Store’ printed on it.
‘To Pericles from Jimbo with his compliments.’
    ‘How kind you are, Mr Charter-Plackett. Pericles will enjoy himself. You indulge him too much.’
    ‘Not at all, it’s my pleasure.’
    After Muriel had made her purchases she wandered off home. As she paused to check the road before she crossed, Scott McDonald approached from the green and, ramming something into her shopping bag, ran off laughing. When she looked inside she found his KitKat wrapper. He’d quite spoilt her day. It had begun so well, solving the problem of the playgroup leader and admiring Peter’s colour scheme and looking forward to shopping for her little bits and pieces – and now Scott had ruined it all. She couldn’t demean herself by speaking to Mr McDonald. She didn’t go into The Royal Oak: ladies didn’t. She had to hope it would all blow over. However, Pericles enjoyed his fresh meat and eventually her usual cheerfulness reasserted itself.
    Muriel’s visit had left Suzy Meadows all of a dither.
    ‘Come on, girls, we’ll go round to Mrs Neal’s and