4 Family Meetings

"Of course I want to come," Archie said speaking into the telephone in an exasperated tone. "It's just that it's not at a very convenient time." He paused to listen. "You misunderstand me, I said I'd come. Lexie and Paul can take care of the business here." Another pause. "Yes, Mother will come as well. I won't forget her." A shorter pause. "Okay, We'll see you at 2:00. Bye."

"Lexie, Paul," Archie called out as he strode towards the dining room. His wife and his brother were finishing their breakfast, just where he had left them when the phone rang. "Lizzie just called. She wants Mother and me to meet her at the hospital this afternoon for a family meeting with her therapist."

"Don't ye have that job interview this afternoon," Lexie asked.

"Yes, I was wondering if one or both of you can take it for me."

"Yes," they both said at once.

"Good, you're on," Archie said. "I'll go tell Mother."

"Sit down and finish your breakfast," Lexie said. "I'll go to her."

--------

"I don't get it," Duncan said to Golly as they were raking hay. "I'm the head ranger. What does he have to go and hire this naturalist fer?"

"I dunno," Golly responded. "Archie has big ideas for this place. I suppose he has to expand to keep up with rising costs."

"But this naturalist that's coming here is supposed to take over some of my responsibilities, like the wild animal pens."

"Duncan," Golly said, leaning on his pitch fork, "I'm sure the naturalist will let ye get on with yer work of feedin' the animals and cleanin' out the pens, while he goes out and finds more animals to put in them."

--------

"What do you think suit and tie?" Archie asked Lexie as they entered their bedroom.

"No, it's not a job interview," Lexie said. "And ye know the things we packed for Lizzie. She's gonna dress casually."

"That's right, I don't want to dress more formally than Lizzie or she'll call me a prig."

"So what do ye say," Lexie proposed. "Yer khaki trousers?"

"And that plaid shirt you got me for Christmas." Archie went to the wardrobe and took out the clothing.

"So Archie," Lexie said as he looked through the wardrobe for her own change of clothes. "Are you okay with this family meetin'?"

"Of course," Archie said. "If it will help Lizzie, I'm happy to do it."

"It could get awfully intense."

"For Lizzie, I suppose," Archie mused. "But I don't expect it will require more from us than telling her that we love her, and that we're willing to support her, etcetera, etcetera."

"Well ye'll see when you get there," Lexie said, "Go to it, Love Bug."

--------

Lexie and Paul were conferring on their way to the library, where the interview was to take place. "Archie gave me the scoop on this applicant for the naturalist position. He's the only one who's applied fer the job. He looks good on paper, so if we like him, we hire him on the spot. He's young but he has a degree in Environmental Sciences, he's an experienced camper, and has interned at a natural history museum."

"Sounds good," said Paul. "Let me see his resume."

--------

Archie, Molly, and Lizzie were sitting together outside the psychologist's office waiting for the appointment. Archie checked his watch, Lizzie bit her lip, Molly rummaged in her handbag, for she couldn't remember what. They didn't speak.

"Hello, I am Dr Ross," a woman in her 30s greeted them. "Please come in."

They followed her into her office and sat down in the chairs offered. Dr Ross took a seat with them, rather than at her desk. There was no couch.

"Thank you for coming," Dr Ross said. "I think Lizzie wants to speak first."

"Mummy, Archie," Lizzie turned to address them. "You already know I'm an alcoholic. I don't suppose that's any big surprise. What that means is alcohol is poison to me. It could kill me. And if it doesn't kill me, it will certainly ruin my life. I have to stop drinking altogether because I can't stop at just one. That will be hard for me because drinking dulls my pain."

"Molly, did you know your daughter was in pain?" Dr Ross's tone was natural and sympathetic.

"Yes," Molly answered hesitantly, "I mean no. I didn't know. I suppose I never really did understand her. But I love her and I want what's best for her."

"Thank you Molly. How about you Archie? Did you know your sister was in pain?"

Archie thought for a moment. "I don't think so. But I knew she was angry. I think that must have been a result of the pain." He looked over at Lizzie to see if she was going to throw something at him. She looked relatively calm, so he ventured, "I love you too, Lizzie. I'd like to help, if I can."

--------

Lexie and Paul were seated in the library, a room with a large wooden table, stacks of musty old books lining the walls, and a globe of the world from perhaps 1948. The door opened and Ewan ushered in a young blonde woman in a short-skirted suit. "Jess Morton to see you," he said.

Paul stood up looking delighted. "Come in, Jess. Sit down. I'm Paul Bowman." He extended his hand.

"I'm Lexie MacDonald. Welcome Jess," Lexie said with a bemused look at Paul. "Let me begin by explaining the job to you."

--------

At the hospital, Dr Ross turned to Lizzie and said, "Lizzie, you seem to have a very loving family."

"Loving, but clueless," Lizzie said turning away.

"Maybe," Dr Ross chuckled. "But I wanted to make sure you heard what they said. Your mother said she loves you. Your brother said he loves you. Do you have anything you want to say to them?

"Thank you," Lizzie mumbled looking down at her lap. "I love you too."

"Well, that's a good start, Dr Ross said. "Lizzie, do you want to tell your family how you started drinking?"

Lizzie took a deep breath and looked at Molly and Archie. "It was after Jamie died. We were all so alone in our private grief. Mummy, you spent half the time in your room crying, and the other half smiling and pretending nothing was wrong. I couldn't talk to you."

"I was trying to be strong for you, dear" Molly said. "Maybe it wasn't the best thing."

"And Archie, you spent most of the time wandering around the estate like a ghost, yourself, staring at the loch. If you did bother to come to a meal Mummy and Daddy would chatter away at you to keep your spirits up. I felt like I could have walked out of the room and no one would have noticed."

"I'm sorry, Lizzie. I sort of felt like dying, myself, back then. I guess I was pretty useless."

"With the two of you out of the picture I found comfort in the most unlikely of places. Daddy." Lizzie looked on with satisfaction at the surprise this revelation produced.

"Daddy would go into his study every evening and drink whiskey," she continued. "Drink until he could hardly make it up the stairs. I would join him."

Molly gasped; Archie gave a look of comprehension.

"He mixed mine with water. Even so, we both drank a lot of glasses in the course of an evening. We wouldn't talk, but still there was a kind of bond between us. It's the closest I've ever felt to him in all my life," she said sadly.

--------

In the library, the job interview was proceeding. Jess was speaking. She showed a little nervousness, but overall had an appealing manner. "My idea for the nature area is that we can include photographs as well as the actual animals in the cages. My nature photography is quite good - I brought some samples to show you." She handed a folder to Lexie.

Paul and Lexie looked approvingly at the pictures.

"We can mount these on plaques," Lexie said.

"Just what I was thinking." Jess said.

"These are very impressive," Lexie said. "We have no more questions. Is there anythin' else ye'd like to tell us?"

"No, I think that's it."

"If you'd step outside for a moment, and have a seat, I think we can have an decision for you shortly," Paul said gesturing towards the door.

--------

"I don't know why ye aren't more concerned, Golly," Duncan said as they were wheeling barrows of hay into the barn. "This naturalist may be taking over yer job with the wolves."

"Archie told me he wouldna." Golly frowned.

"Yeah, I've heard Archie say things like that before. Then some big shot with a university education like that Fergal comes in and does what he wants anyway."

"Well, I still have the sportin' side," Golly said. "Fer as long as that lasts."

--------

At the hospital, the family meeting was continuing.

"I'm going to read this part to you, because I won't be able to say it otherwise," Lizzie said. "I wrote it last night. Here goes." She swallowed hard and looked down at the paper in her hands.

"I remember the day Jamie died. It was after lunch and I was in my room polishing my nails for the ball that night. I heard voices from downstairs and I could tell something was very wrong.

"I went downstairs to the front entry. Golly was gripping Archie's arm like he was holding him up. Both looked wretched and both were dripping wet. Mummy, was crying "No. No Please, God, No." and Daddy was staring straight ahead like a stone statue with his hands clenched at his side.

Molly issued a muffled cry. Archie's turned white and gripped the sides of his chair. Lizzie looked up for a moment and then continued.

"Daddy started marching towards the loch. Mummy followed him. Golly said to me, (her voice cracking) "I'm very sorry, lass, but we think Jamie drowned. It was a boating accident." Then he took Archie upstairs. I was left alone in the hall. Alone except for Elspeth who was off in a corner somewhere.

"Elspeth was our housemaid at the time," Lizzie explained to Dr Ross.

"Elspeth took me in her arms and I just cried and cried. Then we went into the kitchen and had tea.

"Dear Elspeth," Molly murmured.

"Nobody ever told me exactly what happened to Jamie, I didn't dare ask. It wasn't until I saw Katrina a few weeks later that I heard the whole story, at least as far as the village gossip went. She told me that Archie was in the boat with Jamie, which I had guessed, and that our dog, Sheba, was also in the boat. I figured that out when I noticed that Sheba was missing. Katrina told me that Archie capsized the boat, and that Jamie died while trying to save Sheba, but no one seemed to have an answer for why Jamie should have drowned when he was such a good swimmer."

Do you know?" She asked reaching for a tissue and looking directly at Archie.

"No," he whispered hoarsely.

She dabbed her eyes and blew her nose. "I've always wanted to ask you what happened, but it never seemed to be the right time."

Archie opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"Well, this conversation will have to wait for another time," Dr Ross said. "Our time is almost up for today and I want to talk about our discharge plans for Lizzie."

Archie heaved a deep sigh of relief.

"There's just one more thing," Lizzie interrupted. "Do we have time for my thing about the mountain?"

"Briefly," Dr. Ross said.

Lizzie spoke quickly. "Mummy and Archie, remember when we used to climb Ben Bogel as a family and camp for two nights,"

"Yes, that was fun," Molly said

"It was the best thing we ever did as a family," Lizzie said. "But then we stopped."

"I had my surgery that summer. I couldn't go."

"But Jamie and Archie went with Golly. Why couldn't I go?"

We thought it would be too much for Golly to take all three of you."

"Why didn't we all go again the next year?"

"It was your father's decision. He said something about making men of the boys if they went alone."

"That's so unfair. I always got the short end of the stick being the girl."

"Lizzie," said Dr Ross. "Is climbing Ben Bogle still something you would like to do with your family?"

"Yes, with what's left of it."

"I'm sorry, you'll have to count me out," said Molly. "My climbing days are over."

"I guess that leaves me," said Archie.

"Lizzie, talk to Archie about it" prompted Dr Ross.

Lizzie turned to him. "Archie, I know you're busy being laird, but would you be able to climb Ben Bogle with me sometime this summer? Just the two of us? It would mean a lot to me."

"I suppose so," said Archie. "Why not? It could be fun."

--------

In the library, Lexie was speaking. "Jess, we decided to offer ye the job. Will ye take it?"

"Yes," Jess exclaimed, enthusiastically.

"If you need any time to think it over..." Paul offered.

"No," Jess exclaimed, just as enthusiastically. "I mean no time to think it over. Yes, I'll take the job. I can start right away."

"Good, then," Lexie said. "Paul, why don't you show her around, introduce her to the others, and take her to her croft."

"My pleasure," said Paul. "Come with me."

--------

Duncan and Golly were coming out of the barn with empty barrows.

"I tell ye, Golly," said Duncan. "If this new bloke expects me to do all the dirty work while he gets all the credit, I'm not gonna stand fer it. If he gets too pushy with me, I'm gonna push right back."

"Good for yew, Duncan. And if he wants my wolves, I'm gonna fight for them if I hafta."

"That's the attitude, Golly," Duncan said, raising his fist defiantly. "If we hafta, we'll just give him the old pow, he said, punching the air with his fist.

"Aye," the old pow," Golly said punching, likewise.

"Hello, there," said Paul who was just approaching the two men. "I'd like you to meet Jess Morton, out new naturalist."

"Jessica!" Golly, exclaimed.

"Hi, Jessica," Duncan said.

"So you know each other?"

"Hi Dad, Duncan."

"Jessica's my daughter," Golly said.

"Oh," said Paul turning to Jess, "You never mentioned it."

"No," she said a little awkwardly. "It just seemed more professional not to mention family connections."

Paul nodded, "I was just going to take her to see her new quarters," he told the men. She'll be taking that croft between the two of yours. Maybe you can help her move in."

--------

Archie and Molly were driving home.

"Do you think she'll be all right?" Molly asked.

"I don't know. I hope so."

"Are you all right?" she said, noticing Archie's white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he said as he drove through a stop sign and slamming on his brakes just before he ran into another car.

"Do you want me to drive?" asked Molly.

"No, no, I'll be fine. I'll be more careful." They drove on without further incident.

--------

Golly, Duncan, and Jess were hauling things form Jess's car to the croft.

"So, it's Morton, now, is it," Golly remarked to Jess.

"It's my stepfather's name," she said.

"I know it is. I didna know it was yer name."

"They gave it to me when they got married. I was 4."

"That's awright," Golly said. "It's good to have ye here."

"So do ye carry your stuff aboot in yer car all the time?" Duncan asked.

"No, I came straight here from my university place. I didn't even have a chance to go home before I came here."

"Before you came home," Golly said.

"What?"

"Home." Golly repeated. "This is yer home noo, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess it is. Once I get my stuff in and some curtains up."

--------

Archie and Molly were nearly home now, crossing the bridge and starting down the drive.

"We don't talk much in our family about our feelings, do we?" Archie observed.

"No, we don't " Molly agreed. "I didn't know we were supposed to."

"I think we are," Archie said. "Lizzie seems to want us to."

"They always told us to keep a stiff upper lip. You can't very well do that and be emotional at the same time."

"I suppose not."

"But you're right, Archie. We should talk more. It clears the air. It prevents misunderstandings."

They pulled up in front of the house and got out.

"It's been so nice having this little chat with you Archie," Molly said as they went inside. "We should do this more often."

---------

Duncan was still helping Jess move in when he noticed the time. "I've gotta go," he said. I have a date."

"The big one," Golly said. "With the girl's family."

"Just her brother," Duncan corrected. "But he's a policeman." He whispered this last piece of information as if PC Callum McLean were Big Brother, able to see all and hear all."

"You're not going dressed like that, are you?" Jess said.

"What's wrong?" Duncan asked. Today he was wearing a striped t-shirt with his kilt.

"Well you have hay on you for one thing," she said. "Come on. Let's take a look at your closet and I'll help you pick something out."

--------

Jess was browsing through Duncan's scanty wardrobe. "All you have are kilts in here."

"I have one suit," He protested.

"Too formal," Jess pronounced. "She searched through and found the cleanest, least worn kilt. "Okay this one, with this white shirt."

"It has a button missing," said Duncan.

"Do you have the button?" Duncan nodded. "And needle and thread?" He nodded again. "Good. It's your lucky day. I'm going to teach you how to sew on a button."

--------

The family was sitting around the dining table for dinner. Archie was pouring out the wine for Paul, and Molly, but Lexie wasn't having any. "Enjoy this whilst you can," he said. Lizzie will be home in 3 days, and after that, she and her doctor have requested that we not drink in front of her. In fact, I will be locking up all the alcohol in the wine cellar. If any of you have a private supply, please keep it in your rooms. Is that all right with everyone?"

"Everyone nodded yes.

"Good, then." Archie said, raising his glass. "This may not be appropriate under the circumstances, but I'll say it anyway: To Lizzie."

"To Lizzie," the others responded.

"And to the Ghillie's Rest," Paul added.

--------

Duncan, holding a bouquet of wildflowers he had picked at the last minute, rang the doorbell at Rosie's house. As luck would have it, it was PC Callum McLean, still in his policeman's uniform, who answered.

"Are those fer me?" the policeman asked, deadpan.

"N-n-no," Duncan stuttered. "They're for Rosie."

"Rosie," PC Callum McLean shouted to the kitchen. "Yer boyfriend's here."

"Comin'," she called back. Rosie appeared, her hair more dishevelled than usual, wiping her hands on her apron. "Duncan, are those fer me? They're beautiful. Callum, do we have anythin' to put these in?"

Callum fished a tomato juice jar from the rubbish, gave it a quick rinse, and handed it to Rosie. Rosie put the flowers in the jar and the jar on the table. "They're so beautiful, Duncan," she repeated. "Everythin's ready so ye can sit doon now."

Duncan sat across from PC Callum McLean. The two men looked at each other. PC Callum glared. Duncan cleared his throat.

"Here it is," Rosie announced. "Fisherman's Pie". She put the dish on the table.

"This is great, Rosie," Duncan said.

"I'll be back with the rest." She left for the kitchen and returned with two more bowls. "Peas and beets," she announced.

"Rosie, ye musta been cookin' all day," Duncan said.

"Not really. The veg are canned."

Rosie sat down and they ate mostly in silence. It wasn't until everyone's bellies were full that PC Callum McLean popped the inevitable question.

"So, McKay, what exactly do ye do at the MacDonald place?"

"I'm the red danger, I mean head ranger," Duncan replied.

"And what does a head ranger do? Look oot for the red danger, I suppose? Heh heh."

"No," Duncan said hotly, "I'm part of the land management team. I make sure the land is managed properly. I have a lot of responsibilities."

"When I first met him he was clearin' a path for the tourists," Rosie said proudly.

"Right," said Callum smugly. "That's quite a responsibility."

--------

"Would you care to join me for a drop of whiskey before I lock it up?" Archie asked Paul after dinner.

"I'll join you, but not for whiskey. I've never fancied the stuff."

"Are you sure you're a MacDonald?" Archie quipped.

"Yes." Paul said coldly.

"Just kidding, Paul," Archie said clapping him on the shoulder. "Is there anything else I can get you."

"Gin and tonic, if you have it."

"Of course we do. Come on in the study." Archie poured out the drinks.

"If you had grown up in this house you would have learned to like whiskey."

"Undoubtedly. I know that Lizzie likes it."

"Lizzie likes it too much," Archie said. "Father probably did too but no one ever viewed his drunkenness as anything but eccentric."

"Laird's prerogative," Paul suggested.

Archie chuckled. "I wish you could have seen him expound on the virtues or deficiencies of a particular whiskey he was drinking. It really was entertaining the first few times you heard him." (He put on his Hector voice) "This one has a strong taste of the peat, but it's quite smooth." He switched his glass into the other hand. "This one tastes of kelp. That's typical of the whiskies from Skye, mind you, but it's also quite spicy." He switched hands again and frowned comically. "This one tastes like cat wee-wee."

"You do that quite well," Paul laughed. "It makes me almost want to give it another try. Well, not that last one."

-------

In the McLean dining room Rosie was bringing out dessert of fresh fruit salad and chocolate chip cookies. Duncan's eyes grew as big as the cookies themselves. "Rosie, you must know that the way to a man's heart is though his stomach," Duncan said appreciatively.

"No, I didna," she said. "But thank ye for pointin' that oot to me."

Callum took his dessert and went to the front room to watch TV. Duncan was finally able to relax.

"Rosie, you look beautiful today," he said. Maybe it was the heat from the kitchen, but her cheeks looked rosier than usual. Her dress looked like it had been ironed and showed her figure off to advantage. But mostly the stars were in the eyes of the beholder.

"Thank ye, Duncan. Ye look pretty handsome yerself. I havena seen that kilt or that shirt before."

"I sewed the button on myself," he said.

---------

Archie and Paul were still in the study. "Has Lizzie always been so... eccentric," Paul asked.

"Yes," Archie answered. "She's belonged to just about every cult there is, and most major religions. She's had more boyfriends than I think she can name. When she was young she was a tomboy. When she was older my mother nicknamed her the champion of lost causes because she'd do things like try to protect the deer from stalkers. You can imagine how that went over with Father. He nearly locked her in her room... I don't think she's so much eccentric as a lost soul."

"A lost soul in a sea of souls," Paul mused poetically. "Do you think she's going to be able to stay off the bottle?"

"I don't know. I have my doubts. She doesn't have a good record of sticking with things."

"That could make things difficult around here."

"If only we had something to keep her busy. That's what the doctor said she needed. Something part-time, not too stressful. Maybe outdoors. Do you need any help with your work?"

"No, I'm all set, Archie.

"I don't have anything either. Even if I did she couldn't stand taking direction from me."

"It can be hard working for your younger brother," Paul observed.

I'm your younger brother. Is it hard working for me?

"Sometimes, yeah."

--------

Duncan and Rosie had just finished cleaning the supper things and decided to go for a walk. The walked past Callum sleeping on the lounge to discover that it was a lovely summer night, light for hours yet to come. They began walking down Rosie's street until they came to the end. Past the end was a small patch of woods and then the school yard on the other side.

"Let's go in there," Rosie suggested. She took Duncan by the hand and lead him to the playground. "This was my favourite part of school when I was there."

"Mine, too," said Duncan.

"Let's try the swings," suggested Rosie. "Do ye think we'll still fit?"

"I'll push you." Duncan pushed and Rosie swung.

"Duncan, ye go on the swing next to me." Duncan was about to protest but changed his mind. He got on the swing, which was a little too low, but he was able to get it working by making some jerking motions and keeping his feet off the ground. When he got up to speed he jumped off the swing and landed in the sand. Rosie jumped off the swing and landed in the sand as well. "Duncan, that was fun," she laughed.

"Aye, it was." This time Duncan took Rosie's hand. "I want to show ye somethin'." He took her into the small patch of woods they had just been in.

"What?" asked Rosie.

"I want to show ye..." Duncan's voice became serious and a bit fumbling. "Somethin'... special." He leant over and gave her a kiss.

"Duncan, ye kissed me."

"Aye."

"That was verra nice."

"Aye," he laughed. Would ye like me to do it again?"

"Aye."

The two kissed a little longer this time when...

"Ahem." The sound came not too far away, from the street. It was PC Callum McLean. He had his truncheon in one hand and he was slapping it across the palm of the other.

"Hello Callum," Rosie said. "Duncan was just showing me somethin' special."

"I bet he was," said Callum.

"Are you takin' yer walk?" Rosie asked.

"I was just out for my evenin' stroll."

"That's nice." Rosie said. "Have a good time."

Callum began to walk in the direction towards home, but his head didn't turn around so he could still look at Duncan and Rosie. He stopped and said, "There are laws against loiterin', ye know."

"No I didna," said Rosie, "but thank ye for pointin' that oot to me."

Callum gave up and walked back home. Duncan and Rosie continued their activities uninterrupted.

--------

It was several days later at Glenbogle House. A delivery van pulled up the drive and stopped in front of the house. Two men got out and opened the back and began taking out boxes. Lexie opened the door and noticed the liquor purveyors.

"Two cases for Mr MacDonald. Sign here, please."

"There must be some mistake," Lexie said. "We didna order this."

"Excuse me, Madam, but I took the order myself, this mornin'."

"From Archie MacDonald, Glenbogle House?"

"One and the same."

"He must be daft," Lexie muttered.

"I thought he might be hostin' a children's party," the man said trying to be helpful.

"A children's party," Lexie said, even more confused.

"It's one case of non-alcoholic sparklin' cider," the man explained.

"And one case of Coke and ginger beer," the other said.

"Oh, awright," Lexie said, relieved. "Bring 'em into the kitchen."

--------

The car pulled into the drive in front of the house. Lizzie stepped out of the passenger side, Archie, from the driver's side, carrying her luggage.

"Good to be home?" Archie asked.

"I think so," Lizzie responded. Then she noticed Golly approaching. "Golly, she called out as she ran over to embrace him."

"It's good to see ye, lass. I'd like to introduce ye to my daughter, Jessica. She's workin' here now."

"Hello, Jessica. Nice to meet you." Lizzie looked over at Golly as if expecting an explanation.

"Long story," he said. "Fer another time."

"Ah, Duncan," Archie said in greeting. "You remember Duncan, don't you Lizzie?"

"Yes, Duncan was very kind to me. He took me in to sober up the day before you saw me, Archie. We thought we'd keep my condition our little secret. But it turned out that the secret wasn't so little and it couldn't be contained. Thank you, Duncan. I don't think I ever thanked you properly."

"So she spent the night at your place?" Archie asked.

"She was out stone cold the entire time," Duncan said hurriedly. "She couldna even walk. I put her on the bed. I took the lounge. I got a crick in my neck from sleepin' there," he babbled, "but it's awright now."

"You were a perfect gentleman, Duncan" Lizzie said.

"Thank you for looking after her," Archie said.

Duncan heaved a sigh of relief.

"Let's go in, Archie suggested. He and Lizzie walked into the house with the others following behind. In the great hall they were greeted by Molly, Andrew, Lexie, Paul, Ewan, and Useless, who seemed to know that soon there might be droppings for him to eat. There was a "Congratulations Lizzie," banner on the wall, which she recognized from her University graduation. There was a table laden with food and drink.

"Welcome home, Lizzie dear," Molly said. "I hope you don't mind that we've arranged this little celebration. See, there's nothing you can't drink here, just lemonade, coke, and tea."

"May I pour you something," offered Andrew.

"No thank you," Lizzie said. "I think I'd like to go to my room and do a little inspirational reading. But thank you very much, all of you. Do carry on".

There was a silence in the room as everyone gazed at Lizzie going up the stairs and out of sight. Only Useless followed her up.

"Ye heard what the lady said," Ewan said breaking the silence. "Carry on. Ye'd better finish this lot because yer not gettin' anythin' else until dinner."