Castle, Mine 3 - The Family Grows by Paul Audcent - HTML preview

12 A day dawns for you know what.

 

I was awake, just intermittent sleep even after two glasses of sherry to settle my worry, I glanced at the clock and it was eight in the morning. I looked at my right palm and curled my fingers inwards and looking at my nails I thought they looked like a row of monkeys. Glanced at the clock again five past, now they were coming at eleven so I was told by Dulcie, but suddenly a knock on the door followed by three more in quick succession. In came Robroy followed by the rest of the junior ranks felt pens held aloft, well I spotted two and one possible Biro.

'You are too early the operation is to commence at eleven.'

“No Grand papa we are going to wish you luck by writing on the plaster.”

'Why? Its coming off soon!'

“Its a tradition in family circles.” This was Jess unscrewing the top of the marker.

“Lets be having the leg out please Grand-papa.”

'What!'

“Your plastered leg please.” Robroy threw back the bedclothes and with his pen poised then started writing. He handed the felt pen to Brigan, who quickly wrote something then ran back out the room. Jarvis had snatched the pen in time and wrote then handed it to Robroy who held it tightly to his chest. The other pens were held by Mini and Tommy who took some time and from my angle looked like Mini was writing a poem. Finally they left leaving Robroy and Fig by my side. Robroy handed one of the pens to Fig who carefully drew a little X down by my heel.

'What's that for Fig?' I asked gently.

“A kiss Uncle, for it to get better.”

'Thank you very much Fig, but I do prefer kisses on my cheek.' So I got a slurping kiss on both. 'Tell me Fig what did Brigan write that he rushed out of the room?'

“He wrote in squiggly writing haven't done that school yet.” Fig looked up to Robroy.

“Its says Grand-papa, Break a leg.”

“And the others?”

“You can read them them when its off, give you something to do, but Grand-papa Mother says for you not to worry they use a buzz saw.”

“It does not hurt only tickles.” This from Fig who was now lying on my shoulder.

'Well I wish you both had told me that last night, I've been worrying that one mistake I could loose my leg!'

I kissed Fig on the forehead and we heard the gong go which was Finlay's sign for all children to go down to the car. Fig clutched my arm tightly.

“It will tickle Uncle you will be quite safe I expect they will send a team of doctors and maybe you could keep my kiss!” Then they both ran out to the passage and hall to collect their school bags. I heard the car leave and shortly after another arrived.

 

Finlay knock on the door I recognised his careful knock immediately,

“The saw doctor your Grace.”

'Just the one? Master Fig informed me I was to have team!' A man in a white coat entered with what looked like a Gladstone bag which he dropped on the floor near the bed.

“I see your Grace has messages scrolled all over the plaster, I take it you have read them.”

'You can be sure I have not, how in wide world am I going to double up and twist my old frame to get that low to read them. Save them if you can but especially the X that my nephew wrote. The man smiled and seemed not at all offended, Dulcie must have warned him.

“Nowadays we use these electric plaster saws.”

'That will no good the power point is right over there.' I pointed to it three metres away.

“Battery operated your grace, so no chance of electrocuting patients even high ups.”

'I'm certainly not high up, now shall we get on with it!'  Inside the bag he withdrew what looked a very much like a plastic body bag. My sudden body jerked  just bought back that gentle smile.

“Not what you think Sir, its for collecting the plaster, skin and bones that fall out!”

You have hit me with a pole and I really thought of calling for both Finlay and Tom but I knew Finlay was behind the door anyway so I did not. No need Finlay opened the door and with a menacing face said.

“Now do your job and stop teasing my employer or else I shall call Cook, She is a raving lunatic and has been known to throttle men servants, thus you will have noticed I am the only one left.” Well that shook the saw operator up and he immediately started the operation after single handedly lifting me onto the black polythene.

“Your Grace may have got some hairs through the muslin and trapped into the plaster so if I may ask your man servant to hold that part of the leg I have yet to cut out then I will lever it out and if there is resistance I will quickly rip it off.”

'Thank you.' Well I couldn't think of any thing else to say, besides which I was holding my breath in anticipation. But the plaster came away cleanly, he had made four long cuts and my goodness didn't my leg smell awe-full. I apologised to Finlay who seemed to not notice. Anyway as soon as I was able, a nice hot bath would rectify the body.

“I will cut out the writing and the X so your Grace can read them at your leisure.”

'Perhaps you could read them quietly and dispose of those you think inappropriate.'

“Oh I see what you mean there are two here I would say not suitable.” He cut the X out in a little square and handed to me, then gave the suitable ones to Finlay to hold. He lifted me back on the bed and checked the leg then rolled up the plastic, bowed and left with his Gladstone bag.

'Finlay ask her Grace to give the gentleman a tip please and give him back these hospital poles.' I said this to Finlay's departing back as I steadied myself up and went to change into my clothes. Thankfully Tom came in and helped me dress whilst I leaned on his shoulder. I changed my mind to Tom and said

'Sorry Tom, hot bath first then clothes, if you can help up the the bathroom please.”

 

Then lightly clothed and breakfast, back to bed in my turret room which gave such a feeling of pleasure to be in my very own bed.  I had quite forgotten my lolly jar which still resided under the East Wing bed so just as I dozed off, I wondered which child would investigate under that bed and discover the jar. But Dulcie came in and I heard her gently slide it under my bed. I got a brief kiss on my head and then fell into a deep sleep.

I must have slept two full days as Tom came and woke me to say Robin's wife had been taken to hospital to have their baby and that Dulcie had gone with them. So I aroused myself and got dressed. I saw Robroy's face peeking around the open door and waved him in.

“We thought you might be dead Grand-papa, and the doctors had sliced you up and sold your body!”

'Why on earth would they do that I'm just an old fart dressed in country trews I'm not worth a penny dead but I did have a glorious sleep all the same.'

“Did the saw hurt you at all, and did you read all the plaster messages?”

I pointed to Fig's little X mounted on the fireplace shelving amongst my lead soldiers.

“Ah”, he said,” I thought you would keep that.

'Yes I read the rest but Tom here took the bits and pieces away. Except yours, the one you wrote which is safely tucked away in the bottom drawer! I expect you came for a pear drop?. Well you know where they are kept.'

“I popped down to the East Wing to look for the jar in case you had forgotten it!”

'Your Grand-mama beat you to it!'

“Yes she told me and she said if you were looking for the red ones she chose two of those for delivery charges!”

'Your Aunt Laura has been taken to hospital!'

“Indeed Grand-papa but we could be in for a long wait it being her first baby.” By now he had opened the lid and was gently sucking, then Fig came in and Robroy handed him the open Jar. But he did not take one, I encouraged him to do so but he kept looking at his X on the fireplace shelf and a small tear crept from is right eye.

“Fig was afraid you had left us as Grand-mama forbade us to wake you, only Tom was allowed to check on you and he never said a word just nodded.”

'Take two sweets Fig for old times sake. Tom I will need to go to Miss Scrims before tea to get fresh supplies, now boys I'm getting fed up with pear drops have you any suggestions?'

“Yes,” said Fig,”I think it best if we come with you,  just Nick and and I and Tom of course!”

'A splendid idea, off you both go and tell your parents you and I are going for a trip to the village.'

 

Shortly after two adults and two boys left to go lolly hunting and I'm sure the local dentist was rubbing her hands in glee. Tom parked the car in the square so I could do a little walking to check out my leg. But that bath was such a joy and especially to get rid of that smell. Most of all I kept the long knitting needle Maise had given me to scratch the itching. Yes I told her I placed it next to Robroy's plaster message in case either one of us needed it again, and Yes I did remember to wash it at the same time.

 

Tom took me in to the hospital at Kettleridge for a scan on my leg plus some sort of  a manipulation of the leg muscle presumably since it had been so idle for two months. He got a call from Dulcie and dived off home leaving me at the tender mercy of two well bolstered nurses. He was back after they had finished with me and as I was waiting in the hallway Robin found me he waved and placed his hands over his tummy, then carried on through to the wards.  Tom came in after parking the car. We waited until Robin re-appeared and said he was going to stay so I asked if anything had to done at the Home farm and he said to ask Uncle Gideon to feed the farm dogs and check the farm was locked up.

“I could be here all night Father so if Tom could pick me up after the school run for breakfast and take me back here.” Tom nodded. Then we were off back home, I never enjoyed leaving our sons alone by themselves even though they were fully grown men. Dulcie was even worse than me and had been hard pushed to accept the daughter in laws. In reality our two boys were lucky with their wives and were well cared for. I cogitated on the drive home and my leg felt all the better for the mauling those nurses had give it. Tom stopped at the butchers to pick up a parcel of meat for Cook then we drove on. It was a delightful morning and I asked him to stop by the school, it being about lunch break time. And there they were all clumped together on the grass under the oak tree. I wish I had my camera to take this group and freeze it in time. Then one of them recognised the car and they all rushed helter skelter over to the metal gates. So I got out and to thunderous questions about Aunt Laura and had she had it. So I shook my head and said my leg was much better now which had absolutely no effect on them. Except that Jarvis had the cheek to ask for a sweet, I was tempted to say I had kept what he wrote on my leg and to cross him and his brother off the birthday list!

'Robroy how many pupils have you in school today?'

“I think about fifty Grand-papa.”

So I instructed Tom to Miss Scrims.

'I'll be back soon.'

Tom drove me to the sweet shop and I bought fifty eight small chocolate cream eggs in fact most of her Easter stock plus five large ones. She bundled them into a cardboard box and handed it to Tom, we then returned back to the school and Frob was outside calling the children into lines, my lot were very reticent about leaving the gates! I left the car and called Frob over.

'Frob there is a chocolate egg for each pupil and a single one for you and your staff. Happy Easter.' I kept back two small creams and the other three large ones for my staff.

She opened the gate and took the box so my lot dutifully followed her inside!

 

When Tom had parked the car I gave him a large egg and asked him to take two down to Cook and Maise. As we climbed the steps Finlay opened the door and I gave him his egg. I found Dulcie in the library and we both had one of the small chocolate creams. So what a full morning it had been and I really needed a rest so upstairs I went for a snooze. Maise came up with a bowl of thick soup and a thick slice of home baked bread admirably coated in local butter. I told her we may have left the meat in the car though all the adventures we had so she promised she would Tom to collect it and then she thanked me for the egg!

It was late evening when I woke, thankfully not disturbed by any of the children then I heard the car come up the drive and as I dressed I saw Robin alight and run up the stairs, so I quickly donned my shoes and as fast as I was able then marched down that blasted staircase to the screams of excited children and Dulcie hugging her two sons.

'What the devil is all this commotion about'. I called from halfway downstairs.

“You have another Granddaughter Grand-papa.” From Robroy ever the one to get the first word in! Dulcie released her two boys and came and greeted me as I eventually arrived. Then gave me a hug.

'Have you decided on a name yet Robin.' I demanded.' And where is Laura?'

“No, and still recovering in hospital.” Robin his eyes full of delight.

 

Later that night over diner, a succulent roast,  he explained all the action in gory detail, the children were entranced and so was I until Finlay distributed my sherry bottle around the company, I really will have to get another case of the stuff, it does not last long with this family, and two more to feed as well and clothe because boys hand me downs will not fit girls.

'Well Fig, you are no longer the youngest you can take your place among the elderly now.' Fig smiled and nodded.

“And what is more we are equalling up the sexes at long last.” Dulcie proud to have grand daughters eventually. So I thought to put some gravity into the speeches.

'So from now on only boys will be welcome, future girls will be sold off. Boys can work the farm and the estate, girls will fetch big money.' But I got booed down until Cook bought in a flaming Bomb Alaska and I was instantly forgiven.

 

They kept Laura in for a week the released her. It was a Thursday I remember and Dulcie had bought a a huge parcel of cotton Nappies. Laura was quite pleased but said

“These days we use disposable ones.” 

“Wasteful and expensive!” said Dulcie “Don't mention that to your Father in Law!”

 

 

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