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have. It’s a man’s sport,” William said.
    I could feel my anger rising. A man’s sport?
    “Okay, you two, so if I could organise this, I assume you’d be willing to give the women’s team a start?”
    “We could give them a hundred start,” William said. “They’d still have no chance.”
    “Right, you’re on. I’ll make the arrangements with Annie Christy. We’ll sort out a day and a venue, and we’ll whoop your asses.”
    “Of course you will.” They both laughed.
    “Anyway, we’d better be making tracks,” William said. “We’ll leave you women to come up with a game plan. You’re going to need one.”
    Alan and William were still laughing as they made their way out of the tea room. After they’d left, Amber and Pearl turned to me. They looked horrified.
    “What were you thinking, Jill?” Amber said. “Women can’t take on the men at BoundBall, we’ll get slaughtered!”
    “Of course we can. If they give us a hundred start, how difficult can it be?”
    “Where are you going to get a team from?”
    “I don’t know. I’ll put an advert in The Candle, and I can stick a flyer on your notice board. I’m sure it won’t be that difficult to assemble a team of women to take on the men. Let’s show them what we’re made of.”
    “What do you mean, we ?” Amber said. “ I’m not playing.”
    “Nor me,” Pearl said. “I’ve never played BoundBall.”
    “Come on, girls, surely you’re not going to let me down?”
    “You’re on your own, Jill. Best of luck.”
     
    I called Annie Christy to give her the good news.
    “Annie, I’ve think I’ve come up with an idea.”
    “Really? What is it?”
    “I thought we could organise a BoundBall match—men versus women.”
    She went silent, and for a moment, I thought we’d been cut off.
    “Annie, are you there?”
    “Are you insane, Jill?”
    Not quite the reaction I’d hoped for.
    “No. I think it could work. It should stir up some interest.”
    “Oh, it’ll definitely do that. Every man in Candlefield will be there to laugh at your team.”
    “I don’t care. If it raises money, what does it matter? And besides which, they said we could have a hundred start. With that, I think we have a good chance of winning.”
    “Okay, Jill. I’m happy to go along with it if you’re willing to organise a team.”
    “Of course I am.”
    “Okay then. We’ll talk again soon. Bye.”
    Oh, bum! What had I let myself in for now?
     
    ***
     
    I didn’t go shopping with Kathy very often because she usually ended up driving me insane. She could spend forever looking at shoes or handbags, and still end up buying nothing. Today though, she’d persuaded me to help her pick out some new curtains. As she’d rightly pointed out, I had impeccable taste when it came to soft furnishings.
    We’d just come out of ‘It’s Curtains For You’, when I heard someone call my name. I didn’t recognise the woman at first, but then, when she got closer, I realised it was Dorothy’s mother, Dolly.
    “Hello there, Dolly. What brings you to Washbridge?”
    “I’m here to see how Dorothy is settling in.”
    “How is she doing?”
    “Very well, thank you. And it’s all down to you. It was great what you did—helping her to find that apartment. She really fell on her feet there. And her flatmates seem very nice. A little strange, but very nice.”
    “I’m pleased I could help. This is my sister, Kathy. We’re shopping for curtains.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Kathy.” Dolly smiled a toothy grin.
    “You too, Dolly,” Kathy said. I could tell Kathy was desperate to ask who she was.
    “I want to show my appreciation,” Dolly said. “For helping Dorothy.”
    “There’s really no need. You’ve done that already.”
    The ‘portrait’ she’d done of me was hidden away at the back of a cupboard in my flat.
    “Perhaps I can do something for your sister?” She turned to Kathy. “Tell me dear, do you have a family?”
    “I do. A husband, Peter,