The Price of Butcher's Meat

1

FROM: charley@whiffle.com

TO: cassie@natterjack.com

SUBJECT: farewell amp; festival!

Hi Cass!

My last mail from Sandytown! Like I told you after the great anticlimax, I was ready to head straight back home amp; immerse myself in the serene certainties of life at Willingden Farm. Ordinary-run-of-the-ruined-mill-boring-had never seemed more attractive. But Tom amp; Mary were so pressing-Id lived through the dark days-surely I wanted to see the dawn-that sort of thing-at least that was Tom. Mary was more-of course you want to get back to your family but I hope now we are family too-sort of-at least thats how I think of you- amp; Minnies really going to miss you-I know I am-but please dont feel any pressure!

Shes never said anything-but I think deep down in the middle of the night Mary may have been having nightmares that Tom was somehow mixed up in Lady Ds death-or maybe it was her own dislike amp; distrust of the woman making her feel guilty- amp; now the crisis is past-as often happens-the strain begins to show!

How could I abandon her straightaway! So I said OK-but Ive promised to be home for the Bank Holiday-if Im not there at the Willingden Country Show on Monday to see dad snapping up prizes for the Sexiest Heiffer- amp; mum for the most scrumptious Victoria Sponge-Ill get the gold medal for the Blackest Sheep of Family Heywood!

So Ive agreed to stay till today Saturday-for the Grand Opening of Sandytowns first ever Festival of Health. What better time amp; place for a wounded community to start its healing-says Tom-I think hes practicing his opening speech on me! — but he may have a point. Certainly Sandytowns showing remarkable resilience-only 4 days since they found poor Hen amp; already the locals have moved from shock! horror! to a kind of knowing fatalism-the Hollises a doomed clan-not marked for happiness-only Alan at the Hope amp; Anchor seems to have escaped the curse-maybe his ma played away! I even heard someone say-Hen always said he were born at Millstone- amp; no bugger-not God in His Heaven nor yon old cow at the Hall-were going to stop him dieing there!

Ive made a lot of notes-might do a little paper sometime-tragedy amp; the mass consciousness-not snappy enough? — OK-how about pigs amp; needles amp; two yards of rope! Sorry. You can see Im doing it too-turning tragedy into a topic.

Havent forgotten my thesis though. Combined a visit to Claras sickbed with a surreptitious interview. Godly Gordons alleged miracle cure is an even more popular topic than Hens suicide-Tom can hardly refrain from chortling with glee at his own cleverness in persuading Gord to join his team of alternatives-naturally I didnt tell him the only reason his precious healer had come to Sandytown was cos hes got the hots for me!!!! Cant help feeling flattered even tho theres no way I could fancy the guy-tho I must admit I quite like him now. Anyway-he seems to have got the message-theres been no sign of him for the past few days-I think Toms a bit worried he may not show for the festival opening-but I assured him Gord wouldnt let him down-not that kind of fellow.

Anyway-Clara is doing well-when it came down to it seems that its mainly broken bones amp; concussion-probably was from the start but Gords still getting all the credit locally! Could be moved now to an NHS specialist unit-but Ted Denham insists that she should stay at the Avalon- amp; the specialists should all come to her-his treat! Ted-as youd expect-has bounced right back from being pilloried in the News as no 1 suspect-rides into town on the Sexy Beast like Alexander the Great looking to be worshipped-which he is-everybody loves a rich young squire-who promises to be a lot more liberal with his money than dear old Daph! Hes promised Tom hell take her place in the development consortium- amp; fulfill all her undertakings- amp; more! The Festival of Health is of course Toms particular baby-but Teds first spectacular will come next week when Daphs funeral takes place. I dread to think what hes got planned for the wake! Havent seen much of Esther-but when I did the thaw begun at the hog roast continued-maybe it wasnt me in particular she disliked-just life in Daphs large shadow. No word yet of the return of the Swiss toy-boy. Maybe she thinks it wouldnt be decent to parade him till her aunts safe in the ground.

Back to Clara-not much useful there for the thesis-hoped she might have had a white tunnel experience-with Gord at the far end shouting-go back! — but all she remembers is some dream about a sweets shop- amp; not being able to get in! Something there for the Jungians maybe-must have a look when I get back to my books.

The cops have packed up amp; left the hall. Bumped into Novello before they went-or maybe she contrived to bump into me. She said-sorry-its the job. I said-yeah-mines the same-getting people to trust me-difference is-if I let them down-Ive failed-

Unforgiving or what!

Saw Andy Dalziel in the pub. He asked me how I felt about things. I said I was glad it was all over-wasnt he? He said being glad wasnt part of the job description. Not sure what he meant. Need to think about it. Hes on his way too-after the weekend. Says whatever else all the excitement did-its got him back on his feet amp; hes looking forward to being back on the job again in a few weeks. I said-Mr Pascoe will be pleased to hear that- amp; he said-you reckon?-

Funny thing about Mr Deal-whatever he says-no matter it sounds dead ordinary-it leaves you listening to the echoes.

Minnie has just come in to tell me its time for the off! Shes sitting on my bed staring at me accusingly. I think she takes me going home after the opening as a personal affront. Also I think shes got a whiff of whats going on between Uncle Sid amp; the bart. Not surprising-like Ive said before-if I was head of MI5-Id get Min on the books straightaway! Happily she met George when he drove me back to Kyoto- amp; it was love at first sight! Shes decided if I wont be her sis-in-law by marrying Sid-shell do it the other way-by marrying George! Only compensation for me leaving her after the opening is that George is coming to pick me up!

Sids back in London-dont know if hell show today or not-be interesting to see what the future holds for the Odd Couple now that Teds stinking rich. Funny thing love. Poetry says it stays fixed even when everything around it changes. Not my observation. Its a creature of circumstance. All it needs is a handy pine tree amp; an even handier ex-best-mate- amp; there it goes! Still debating louse Liams penitent letter. Hope you amp; the mahogany hunk prove exceptions to the rule- amp; stay fixed- amp; eventually settle down in a nice little honeysuckle covered cottage in Willingden!

Got to go or Mins going to explode.

Next one from home!

Love

Charley xxx