Cow Hey -4 Problems

Mrs. Allsop returned with a tray, and putting it on the table beside her chair, she sat down and then poured out a cup for Fred and another for me. There was also some fruitcake and she cut and offered each of us a generous slice of that.

"That goes down a treat," said Fred. "First thing I have had since 7 this morning, as I had a problem with the wheel on the cart that I had to fix, and that made me late for picking up Blanche. But she managed to get herself a warm spot at the Railway Inn while she waited for me."

"That was very brave of you," she said, looking nervously at me.

"The station porter told me where to go and introduced me to the publican, who gave me tea and a scone without me having to pay," I said.

"I hope he didn't get the wrong idea about you - a young girl on your own like that."

"Oh, I am sure he didn't and Fred came in and talked to him before we left, and offered to pay and everything."

"No, he was a real gentleman, that's for sure," agreed Fred.

The conversation ground to a halt while we concentrated on our tea and cake, and before long we heard the back door opening, and a man came into the room.

"Hello William," said Fred, getting up to shake his hand. "We've finally arrived as you can see. I had some trouble with the wagon wheel first thing, so that's why we're somewhat later than expected."

William looked to be quite a bit younger than Mrs. Allsop, and also a fair degree friendlier.

"I take it that you are Blanche," he said, coming over and putting out his hand to shake. "May I say how very pleased we are that you have come to live with us, and we hope you'll be very happy. Has Ma showed you your room yet?"

"There hasn't been time," said Mrs. Allsop showing her annoyance. "They've only just come and we've only just now sat down for tea. All in good time. It isn't as if she needs to be in a hurry off somewhere. She will have the rest of her life to see her room."

That statement confused me a bit. Did she really think I was going to be staying here with them for the rest of my life?

"Well, I must get a move on now, as Miss Hammersley will be wondering what's up with me, and I expect she'll be wanting her trap to use herself later this afternoon. So, I'll say good bye and good luck, Blanche, and I'll drop over and see you one night after work, if I may, and give you a proper invitation to come and see where I live, probably next Sunday, but I have to check with Miss Hammersley about that first."

I gave Fred a warm hug. "Thank you so much for collecting me, and bringing me here Fred. I'm so pleased that we're living close to each other again. If only it hadn't taken Pa's death to bring it about." I was about to snuffle, so he decided to forestall me and opened the door and was out like a shot.

"Nice man, your brother," said Mr. Allsop.

"Yes, he's always been the strong sensible one in our family. Our older brother Harry went off some place and we don't even know where he is. So Fred had to take over the job of being my guardian."

"Well, he won't have to do that any more now," said Mrs. Allsop.

"I expect he will be in charge of my decisions up till I'm 16," I said. "I guess that is the age when one is considered an adult properly."

"Not any more he won't," said Mrs. Allsop. "That'll be our job now seeing as how we're adopting you."

"Adopting me? Are you serious? You cannot mean that! I'm not a baby to be adopted!”

"Well, your brother was quite clear about what he thinks of the matter, and he didn't want you just working for us, when we could let you go or you could run off. He agreed that us adopting you was the best thing. That way you have the security of knowing you have a home to belong to - in case something happens to him - and also, as we have no children of our own - we'd like to be your parents now, and so when you do go off and get married in time to come, you can have a home to bring your kiddies back to visit," said Mr. Allsop.

"Do I get any say in this?" I asked quite angry now. "I think I would prefer just to be your maid or hired help of some sort and then when I am old enough I will make my own decisions. I will tell Fred when I see him next time he comes that I don't want to be adopted."

"Listen here, girlie, you don't know what you're being offered. You're being very quick to knock back what is a very good offer from my wife. We're saying that we'll treat you as if you were our own child, although now that I see this temper that you have on you, perhaps it would be wiser if we had not agreed to this," said Mr. Allsop.

I started to cry. I was so tired and confused and upset.

"Whether we adopt you or not, you'll have to stay with us for a few days," said Mrs. Allsop, testily, "so I'll show you to your room. I've arranged for my niece to pick you up and take you to school tomorrow morning. She'll be arriving at half past eight or so. Even, if as you say you are unhappy with the arrangement of us adopting you, you have to stay somewhere for the time being. I don't want a maid or a servant. If I'd wanted one, I wouldn't have agreed to have you. And I don't wish you to feel you have to spend all your time doing work around here to justify your presence in the meantime. Now I'll show you to your room, and you can stay there, or come and join me in the kitchen after you've moved in. Whatever, we'll be having our tea at half past five, as usual."

So without another word, I picked up my bag, and silently followed her through the sitting room, up the steep stone steps, and into what was a very good sized bedroom, given that I'd always shared a room - first with my sister Charlotte, and latterly with Aunt Elizabeth and Florie.

I didn't even feel like unpacking the few things that I'd brought, as I thought it was likely that I'd be moving out again in a few days. So taking out my rag doll - the one toy that I had kept throughout my childhood, I lay down on the pink flowered counterpane, and promptly fell asleep.

When I woke it was very late, and I expected tea had finished long ago. Lighting a candle which was on the bedside table, I crept down the stairs and in the kitchen there was a plate of bread and cheese and a glass of milk put out for me, but it was obvious the others had gone to bed. I ate quickly and quietly and went back to my bedroom - assuming correctly that there would be a chamber pot under the bed. This time I undressed and as I knew I wouldn't immediately be able to sleep, I sat and thought about what would happen now that I'd made my opinion known.

Maybe I'd be sent back to Gran's - and she wouldn't like that. Maybe the lady who owns the house that Fred stays in would offer me accommodation until I can find work somewhere - probably at the mill, as Fred says that most people around here don't have servants. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised what an opportunity I was giving up. Here I'd have this big bedroom all to myself – with a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. There was little chance I'd ever get such a nice room if I were a servant. I'd probably have to share with other servants or be up in the attic or in a corner in the kitchen. And I really didn't want to work in a mill. It'd be hard work, and tedious and with very little to show for my effort. But now as I'd said my piece, perhaps they wouldn't reconsider even if I apologise for what must have seemed to them like very ungrateful behaviour. And Fred had set it all up so he might be more than annoyed to find out that I was rejecting what he considered to be the best opportunity for me. He might be so angry that he wouldn't even want me to stay up here to be near to him.

What they were telling me I had decided was outrageous - and with only having just lost my Pa, I didn't really feel that I was ready to call somebody else by that name. And as for calling Mrs. Allsop, Ma - well that would be like denying that my wonderful Ma existed. I wondered if they'd expect me to kiss and hug them. Oh, what a mess it all was. But with having thought things through a bit more, I felt a bit better about the whole situation, and eventually fell into a fitful sleep.