A Morning at The Glen

Miss Peeg had to step out of the office and find out.

"Hando, hello."

"Miss Peeg, how are ya?"

"Very well, thank you. I’ve noticed you in town and wondered if you might be working here somewhere?"

"No, Ma’am, I’m living here now. Got the flat above Barretts."

"Oh, I see, well , I’m glad to see you doing well, Hando."

"I do alright." Hando looked past her at the window of Richie’s office. "Solicitor keepin’ busy?"

"Oh, yes, quite busy. I just wanted to say hello and I’m glad you’re here now."

"Are ya?" Hando grinned. "See ya round." He sauntered on up the street.

She was secretly pleased he’d turned out as he had.

Across the street Nonnie was watering her potted garden outside her shop. She waved. "Good morning, Nonnie."

"Morning, Miss Peeg. Everything alright?"

"Yes, thank you."

It was a beautiful spring morning, still cool enough for a wrapper. Miss Peeg pulled her shawl around her shoulders and walked back into the office. Everything was ready for the solicitor when he would arrive. He’d taken to having his breakfast at Andy’s where he would read the newspaper before walking to his office and beginning his day’s work.

"More coffee, Mr. Roberts?"

"Ah, no thanks, I’m already wired." He grinned up at the waitress. He checked his watch and folded the paper under his arm, retrieving his phone from the table and leaving a nice tip he left the restaurant. "Morning, Andy." He threw his hand up as he walked out of the boarding house.

Andy was late arriving and hoped his staff had breakfast well underway. "Hey, Richie, everything okay?"

"Good breakfast, see ya."

"Sorry, I’m late." Andy apologized. "Baby’s sick."

"Oh, nothing serious I hope." Alice turned from the grill.

"Who knows. He’s going to the doc this morning. Got it all going I see."

"Oh, yes. There wasn’t any reason for you　 to hurry in. You know I got breakfast under control."

Andy grinned. He did know but he was a young man with a lot of responsibility riding on his shoulders.

Richie stopped out on the sidewalk by his office door and watched Nonnie watering her plants. He thought better of speaking to her right now. The day was young and there would be plenty of opportunity later on to once again work on his fence mending with her. Lately it seemed like he could only put his foot wrong in her direction. Deep down they connected and possibly even loved each other but Nonnie wouldn’t let him become complacent. She was not to be taken for granted.

Nonnie saw him and purposely directed her hose at him and waved. He smiled and waved back and entered his office before she brought the hose across the street. He didn’t doubt for a moment that she’d do that.

Nonnie laughed and sprayed off the walk in front of her shop before turning off the hose. Her little dog saw that the water was off and tip toed into the shop leaving his prints across the tiled floor.

Up the street past the galleries and book store Kim Barrett arrived at his store. No longer was it just a bounce down the stairs since he’d rented the flat to Hando. He now had a commute but he didn’t mind it. He unlocked the front doors and left them open since the weather was nice. Already his staff was busy straightening stock and displays. He stopped to straighten a tie on a mannequin. "Good morning all," he called out giving the floor a wave before disappearing into his glassed in office.

The butcher shop was open for business and the sound of a meat grinder could be heard when the door opened from the prep area to the counters.　 Bill McGee always came around in the mornings to make sure everything was coming together as it should. His son, Travis, gave him the shop to build and oversee although Travis did agree to keep the accounts. Bill made friends with his employees and respected a good butcher.

"Pies?" Bill frowned. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Well, sir, over in Coffs there’s a meat market that sells the best pies. I’ll bring you one in one day and you can see what I’m talking about. We could do ‘em easily here and I know they’d sell."

"Hmm, bring me one tomorrow and we’ll see." Pies, might as well open an eatery, Bill thought scratching his head.

Johnny Ryan dropped Amanda off earlier at her daycare and drove her car to the garage. Engine light was coming on.

Dom wiped his hands and walked over. "Engine light, eh?"

"Yah, that’ll give a fella a stomach ache won’t it."

"Don’t know till I have a look. Can you leave it for awhile. I’ve got these two ahead of ya?"

"Sure, I’ll need a ride to my truck over at the day care center."

"No problem." Dom hopped in his car and took Johnny to his truck. "I hear you’re doin’ okay with your sheep station."

"It was a rocky start but it’ll pay off eventually. Thanks for the ride, Dom."

"Don’t mention it." Dom grinned and turned around for the garage.

Travis was on horseback helping to herd his yearlings into a pen. He’d been out since dawn. That was something he liked to do, go out early and watch the sunrise over the hills. It was hard for him to imagine he’d ever lived any other kind of life.　 In the big house Toni was up with Cole trying to get him dressed for the day. Tomasina was finished cooking breakfast. It was all in the heated dishes waiting on the household to awake. Lee was dusting the big den and picking up after Travis and Tee who’d been in there watching rugby games on the large TV screen. Tee was at school and had been taken there by his Grandpa, Bill McGee.

Michael Stanley stepped out of Miss Peeg’s back door onto the little terrace with his cup of coffee and newspaper. He’d not been feeling very well lately. Angina attacks were coming more frequently and he’d been taking it easy. He jerked the iron chair away from the table and a leg caught on a loose brick. He gave it a yank…and dropped his cup and paper. The pain shot up his arm and through his chest and he slowly sank to his knees and lay down on the cool bricks of the terrace. The sky was blue, very blue and that was the last thing he ever saw in this world.