The story so far.

Old Ted moved to Station Rd after death of wife. Meets neighbours (small minded busy bodies), makes friends with one boy, Billy - who the rest of the street hate - him and his family. Some of Elsie's jewellery goes missing, Ted assumes Billy is the culprit.

Chapter seven

I was going to march straight round to his house and demand it back.  I’d even fight his parents if I had to.  I’d stood up for Billy to my new neighbours, and as a result I wasn’t popular around the street.  Of all my possessions this was the only one I really cared about.  

 I was just putting my coat on when there was a knock at the door.  One arm in and one arm out I made for the door.

 “Ah, Mr. Brown,” said the vicar.  “We didn’t see you in church this morning.  I just wondered if you were alright.”

 “Fine Vicar,” I replied, rather rudely.  I was feeling a bit of a fool now as it seemed that everything the vicar had said was true after all.

 “You don’t seem fine Mr. Brown.  May I?”

 At this he stepped into my house.  I didn’t really know what to do.  I just felt a little bit silly stood there dithering:  whether to excuse myself and go over the road to confront Billy or to tell the vicar all about what had happened.

 “Perhaps we should sit down Mr. Brown?  You don’t look at all well.”

 Well that decided it for me.  I went into the front room and slumped into my chair.  I don’t mind telling you, all this was having rather a bad effect on me and my legs felt like someone had swapped my old bones with melting candle-wax.

 “You look pale Mr. Brown.  I’ll sort us out a cup of tea and then you can tell me all about it.”

 He disappeared from the room, only to return empty handed two minutes later.  What I couldn’t understand was, he was stood in my parlour and I could still hear cups clinking in the kitchen.

 “I’ve just got one of the parishioners round to sort the tea.  Now, what seems to be the trouble?”

 Now in normal circumstances I’d have asked him and whoever was in my kitchen to leave.  But these weren’t normal circumstances and all of a sudden I really needed to get all this off my chest.

 “A trouble shared is a trouble halved,” my Elsie used to say.

 “Well Vicar.  I think I’ve been robbed.  I mean I know I’ve been robbed.  My Elsie’s jewellery box.  It had her wedding ring and engagement ring and a necklace I bought her when I won the pools.  It’s all I’ve got left of her and I don’t know what I’ll do.”

 All this came out in a blind rush.  It was then I realised I was sobbing.  The vicar didn’t seem to know what to do with himself so I tried to get myself under control. 
 
 “Sorry Vicar, as you can see I’m a bit emotional, but I’ll be alright in a minute.”

 “It’s okay Mr. Brown.  All in a day’s work.  When did this happen?  Have you phoned the police?”

 “Oh yes Mr. Brown, you must phone the police.”

 Stood in the doorway carrying a tray with three cups of tea was Mrs. Pugh.  How much worse could this get.  It would be all over the street when she got out.  There’s nothing more people like her thrive on than bad news.  She’d enjoy telling this tale for a few days, I was sure.

 I suppose they both did me a favour.  Even after all that had happened I still couldn’t bring myself to like her or the vicar and so I decided I wouldn’t take their advice.  I wouldn’t phone the police.  A good job too.  If I had, things could have turned out very differently.

 “I think I’d rather just have some time on my own now if you don’t mind.  Thanks for the tea,” I said, remembering my manners.

 “Well if you’re sure Mr. Brown.  I still think you should phone the police.  You know where I am if you need me,” the vicar said.

 “Yes, you should ring the police Mr. Brown.  I’m just over the road if you need me.”  Mrs. Pugh was obviously enjoying this little drama.  She was already edging to the door.  All the sooner to spread her gossip I suppose.

Well all this gave me a bit of time to pull myself together and think a bit more clearly.  After they had gone I sat and thought about what I should do next.  I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew I was startled out of sleep by another knock at the door.

 “What now?” I grumbled.  “Have they come back for the second instalment?”

 I nearly didn’t go to the door.  But I thought that if I didn’t Mrs. Pugh would probably take great delight in ringing for the police herself, or even an ambulance.  I wearily pulled myself out of my chair trying to compose a way of politely telling them all to just leave me alone.  Well, what a shock I had when I opened the door!

 “Hello Ted,” said Billy.