![]() ANNE AND THE MISSING BOOK IN 1959A Story by Terry Collett![]() A BOY AND GIRL IN CHILDREN'S NURSING HOME IN SUSSEX IN 1959![]() ![]() Here Kid take this what is it? whats it look like? its a prayer book
thing yes so take it and hide it under your jumper why? just hide the
darn thing so Benedict hides the black book with red ends under his
jumper and follows Anne into the grounds out of the French windows Anne
crutches herself across the grass and makes towards the round white
table and chairs and plonks herself down in a chair tossing her crutches
aside Benedict sits down in the next chair looking back towards the
nursing home do you think we were seen? seen doing what Kid? walking
across the grass no doubt liberating Sister Dumb-arses prayer book no
Anne says Benedict turns around and stares at her dont keep looking
around Kid or the penguins will guess youve been up to no good me been
up to no good it was your idea to take the prayer book but youve got it
Kid not me but you said take it and you did well done Kid Anne says
smiling she rubs her leg stump and pulls the blue skirt down further
what do we do now? Benedict asks looking at Anne tempted to turn around
and look behind him sit tight Kid sit tight but I cant hide the book
under my jumper all day he says pass it under the table to me so he
passes the prayerbook to Anne under the white table and she opens it in
her lap he looks at her his stomach tightening guess whose it is? Anne
asks he shrugs dont know its only Sister Bridgets how do you know? has
it got her name in it? no they dont own personal property its just that
it has this prayer card in it with an image of St Bridget on one side
and a prayer on the other and on the top shes scrawled Sr Bridget in her
bird-s**t hand writing God shell go ape he says looking round at the
nursing home what do we do? shush Kid what do want them to know weve got
it? he stares at the building imagines the nun galloping across the
lawn towards them her black robes billowing behind her like Batman turn
round Kid youll look suspicious he looks round and stares at her sitting
in the chair as if butter wouldnt melt in her mouth on a hot day where
are you going to put it? he asks out of the sight of their eyes she says
where though? she pulls up her blue skirt and tucks the black prayer
book in her navy blue underwear and pulls down the skirt and brushes out
the any signs you cant keep it there he says why not my knickers she
says are they going to search me there? she says now just go get my
wheelchair and we can go visit the sea out the back gate he sighs and
wanders back towards the home trudging across the lawn leaving Anne
sitting in the chair like some royal queen on her throne she lifts up
her skirt and adjusts the book more securely just as well I wore the
passion killers Mum bought me she says to herself and lets down the
skirt again and sits staring towards the home as she sits a few of the
kids come out and make their way to the swings and slide they know her
and avoid her like a plague a nun comes out too Anne stares at her its
Sister Lucy a young one green as grass more virgin that the Blessed
Virgin herself Anne says under breath the nun walks towards Anne her
hands inside her black habit how are we today Anne? the nun asks smiling
my bloody leg aches Anne says o dear the nun says looking at Annes leg
visible under the table have you seen Sister Paul about some pain
killers? no not yet Anne says anyway its not this leg its the one not
there my stump leg o I see Sister Luke says staring at the unseen stump
beneath the blue skirt I could pray for your leg if you would like me to
the nun says might help Anne says putting on her pious pose its hurts
so much I feel like crying she allows tears to dribble out of her
eyes(shes an expert of conjuring tears out of her eyes) o my dear child
the nun says coming around the table and placing a hand around Annes
shoulders Ill ask Sister Paul about some tablets the nun says thank you
Anne whimpers feeling the prayer book move slightly as she moves in the
chair she tries to adjust it with her hand to a more secure position
Benedict comes across the lawn pushing the wheelchair he sees the nun
and his eyes enlarge and he senses danger have they suspected Anne
already about the missing prayer book? he wheels the chair behind Anne
the nun looks at him arent you a good boy she says yes hes my best
friend Anne says smiling through the glassy eyes the nun smiles well I
best get back Ill see Sister Paul about those pills the nun says and
walks off towards the home that was close Benedict say she didnt mention
the prayer book Anne says she just came about me and the bloody leg and
offering prayers o I see he says gazing at the stump area thinking
about the stump of her leg hes seen many times are you going gawk at my
stump all day or are you going to help get in the damned wheelchair? o
right yes he says and helps her get from the chair and into the
wheelchair holding it steady at the back make sure the prayer book
doesnt slip out of my knickers Kid she says as she rises from the chair
and plonks into the wheelchair she moves the book to a more comfortable
position and pulls her skirt down pass her knee just as they were about
to move away Sister Bridget comes across the lawn towards them like a
rhino on heat hang on Kid here comes the penguin wait wait the nun says
raising a hand Benedict pauses pushing the wheelchair and stares at the
approaching nun keep cool Kid Anne says under her breath act innocent as
the Pope at a nudist colony Benedict feels himself perspire the nun
stands in front of Anne in the wheelchair a prayer book has gone missing
the nun says gazing at Anne has it? Anne says in an innocent tone yes
it was taken from the Common Room shall we help look for it? Anne asks
have you seen it? the nun asks no not that I know of whats it look like?
Anne asks as if butter wouldnt melt a prayer book is what it looks like
the nun says eyeing Anne with her suspicious eyes black cover with red
ends no cant say I have Anne says Benedict looks away at the trees
behind of them at the avenue between them and you Benedict have you seen
it? the nun asks staring at him her eyes over him like maggots he
shudders no sister not seen it at all he hates lying to a nun he feels
as if she looks into his soul and at the minor sins lurking there like
naughty children then the nun looks down in Annes lap gazes at the
outline of the leg stump not hiding it are we? the nun says hiding what?
Anne says my stump? no I tried hiding it but its always there each
morning I wake up the nun screws up her eyes and peers at them both no I
mean the book where is it? no idea Anne says Benedict looks down at
Annes lap where have you hidden it? the nun says havent seen it Anne
says one of the children says she saw you take it the nun says me? Anne
says you cant take the word of child I believe what the child tells me
Benedict looks at the outline of the leg stump the child says you have
it about your person she saw you from the upper bedroom window the nun
says sternly must be mistaken must have seen me rub my stump they always
watch me rubbing it so nosey the nun sighs and gazes at Annes lap and
at the stumps outline show me your leg stump? the nun says hands on her
hips Anne pulls up her skirt to reveal the stump Benedict looks too
wondering if the book outline could be seen under the knickers the nun
looks away where have you put it? put what? the book the prayer book the
nun says I havent seen it Anne says as innocent as she can muster
innocence lies will get you to Hell the nun says and walks off across
the grass like a bad tempered bear what now? Benedict says Anne takes
the book out of her knickers and hands it to him warm and scented what
do I do with it? he asks shove it on that other chair under the table
and were off to the beach so he puts the book under the table and pushes
Anne off in the chair off out of reach. © 2015 Terry Collett |
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Added on April 2, 2015 Last Updated on April 2, 2015 Tags: NURSING HOME, BOY, GIRL, NUNS, 1959 Author![]() Terry CollettUnited KingdomAboutTerry Collett has been writing since 1971 and published on and off since 1972. He has written poems, plays, and short stories. He is married with eight children and eight grandchildren. on January 27t.. more..Writing
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