Chapter 9
As the Yuletide season got closer, so Ronnie began to think of his usual visit home to Micklewell.
‘I’m going to worry about you over Christmas, Sarah,’ Ronnie said.
‘I told you, I’m not going to be on my own.
We’re going to my aunties’ for Christmas lunch.
Then, on Boxing Day, the minister at St Mary’s is putting on a Christmas entertainment for families.
I think it’s going to be a little play that the Sunday School children are going to perform, a few games and tea and cake.
It will be fun. If the old stove in the church hall doesn’t decide to stop working, that is! ’ Sarah said.
‘I wish you and Anthony could come with me’ Ronnie replied. ‘But perhaps the time isn’t right just yet. I do so want you to meet my family, though. When the festive season is over, I will take you to Micklewell and I know they will welcome you with open arms.’
‘That would be very nice,’ Sarah said. ‘Now, shouldn’t you be off? You will have things to do before you leave tomorrow.’
Ronnie produced two parcels that he had brought with him in his saddlebags and laid them beneath the very small Christmas tree that he had helped Sarah and Antony erect and decorate.
‘Not to be opened before Christmas morning,’ he said to Anthony with a wink. He kissed Sarah, hugged Anthony and left.
‘Merry Christmas,’ he called as he stood at the door. ‘And a Happy New Year.’
‘Merry Christmas,’ Sarah and Anthony replied.
* * *
Ronnie smiled to himself as he prepared to leave the School House.
He felt happier now that he knew Sarah and Anthony were joining others over the two days of Christmas and he was ready to join the rest of his family, across the water.
He knew that the moment he set foot inside number 2 Mead Cottages, he would be swept up in the hurly-burly of the household and every time he stepped outside the door again, into the village street, he would be besieged with questions about himself, Dot, Tilly, Amelia and life on the Isle of Wight.
Micklewell was a special place. The villagers wanted to know everything that was going on in other people’s lives, but in a kind way, and they always made him feel as if he had never left.
They had a genuine interest in his progress in life. He was looking forward to his visit.
School had finished for the term and Dot had gone to be with William.
Amelia was travelling to London to spend Christmas with her sister’s family and Tilly wouldn’t be leaving Ryde for another day or two because she had to work right up until Christmas Eve.
Ronnie was the last one left in the School House and it felt very strange to be alone, but it wouldn’t be for long.
They would soon all be crammed into 2 Mead Cottages for a very noisy but cheery Christmas Day.
They would all sit around the scrubbed kitchen table tucking into turkey with all the trimmings, the younger members of the family poised on wooden crates as there were never enough chairs.
Ronnie packed his bags, looked around to make sure he’d left everything tidy and prepared to leave.
The schoolhouse in Whippingham would be shut up for a while, pipes already lagged against the cold and the grate laid for the fire to be lit as soon as they all returned.
It felt to Ronnie, when he closed the door and turned the key, like a new phase of their lives was about to start.
The new year would bring new joys and challenges too, no doubt, but he had the feeling that those challenges would be faced head on, whatever they might be.