Chapter 3

Louisa watched Martin as he headed under the stairs to his office, narrowly avoiding the low beam. She ate her toast and began to contemplate what it would be like to carry a baby? Her baby! She put her hands across her abdomen as if she could already feel it there. Martin had said not to place too much faith in the test, but she just knew she definitely was pregnant.

When she checked her watch, she was horrified to discover she had a mere 15 minutes to get ready and find her bag! She hurried up the stairs to their bedroom to clean her teeth, comb her hair and pick up her handbag. Downstairs she pulled her coat from its peg before shrugging it on. The November weather was cold and damp.

The bell was ringing as she got to the gate and she waited for the children to go inside first. "Hi Tricia," she greeted Miss Soames. Tricia acknowledged the greeting and remarked "bit late for you?"

Louisa smiled and said "Yes, got hung up waiting for my hair to dry. Seemed to take ages this morning!" Louisa moved through the corridor to the Staff room where she left her coat on its hanger. Walking along to her classroom she requested some silence from the chatterers and some orderly walking from the more boisterous ones.

"Good morning class" she intoned. "Goood Moorning, Mrs Elling-ham" came back the sing-song reply from her class. "Sit down, and I'll take the register." The children seated themselves while she ran through the list to see who was in today. After she'd done that, she asked the children to get out their drawing books and pencils. There were some groans as writing was not their favourite activity.

"Right, I want everybody to think of their favourite fruit and their favourite vegetable. Then I want you to draw and colour a picture of them." Louisa set them the task to get them concentrating on schoolwork.

Once the majority of children had finished, she asked them to put their crayons down and then she would ask a few questions. When they were all looking at her, she asked "Why do we need to eat our fruit and vegetables?"

Several hands shot in the air and she picked on a girl sat at the back of the class. "Wendy, what do you think?"

Wendy swallowed and then said "We need them to get bigger and stronger, Miss." Louisa nodded and asked Johnny what his answer was. "They give us vitamins, Miss." Johnny said.

Louisa smiled at the class, "Yes, two good answers. Fruit and vegetables help our bodies to grow and the vitamins keep us healthy."

"Class, my name has changed from Miss Glasson to Mrs Ellingham. So, I'd like it if you could remember to reply with Mrs Ellingham, when you ask/answer a question." She smiled at them and said "I'm having trouble remembering too, so you'll be helping me as well!"

The children all laughed as she asked them to put names on their drawings and to hand them in for marking.

The next lesson was arithmetic and Louisa pointed to the maths tables on the wall and began "One times 6 is 6. Two times 6 is 12…" The class joined in, almost chanting their answers as they went through the 6 times table. At the end of the rote Louisa asked them to look at the 7 times table. "We're going to move on today, to this table. Don't forget I will be asking questions later to see who remembers their five-and-six times tables." The children concentrated on reciting the next table and were quite happy to hear the bell go for their break. "Put your coats on and go to the canteen to get your drinks, please." The children dutifully went to the canteen to get their drinks, before heading out into the playground.

In the staffroom the teachers were milling about getting their hot drinks and exchanging gossip and small talk. Pippa came over to join her. "Morning Louisa, how are you today?"

Louisa looked at her sharply, but saw it was just a normal question with no innuendo intended. She replied laughingly "Fine, bit of a delay this morning getting ready! Just my usual tardiness."

"Hmm, you should try having to get a husband and two children ready for their day before getting ready yourself! My boys would drive a saint to drink!"

"Yeah, you're right. At least Martin is used to doing things for himself and certainly doesn't need me to organise him. In fact, he gets irritable if I try."

"Well, that's something in his favour," remarked Pippa. "Did you hear that Joanna is leaving? Her husband has got a job in Devon and they're moving up there. Looks like we'll have a new head before much longer."

Louisa's ears pricked up at this. "Really? When is she going?"

"Said she'd asked to be away at half-term next year," was Pippa's reply. "You going to apply then?"

Louisa bit her lip and said that she wasn't sure, she'd have to talk it over with Martin, first. "When will they be asking for applications, do you know?"

Pippa said that Joanna had only just put her notice in, so not immediately.

"Right, that will give me some time to think about it."

As the bell went for the end of the break, Louisa made her way thoughtfully, back to her classroom.

At lunchtime she went along to Joanna's office. "Have you got a minute?"

Joanna beckoned her in and Louisa shut the door behind her. "What is it, Louisa?"

"I'd like to leave early on Friday, if that's possible, please?"

"Getting sick of us already, Louisa, now you're no longer single?" laughed Joanna.

Louisa grinned and said "Not really. Martin has told me that he can no longer be my doctor, because we are now a family. I've requested a change to Wadebridge and have to go for a check-up there. If I could get away by 2:30, or 3:00p.m. at the latest, I'd be able to make my appointment.

"I'll see what I can do, Louisa. I'll let you know by the end of the day, OK?"

Louisa nodded and told her that would be fine. "I'm sorry to hear that you are leaving. Are you looking forward to the move?"

Joanna frowned and said "I'm not sure. It will be a wrench to leave here as I've grown up here and enjoyed my time as teacher/headteacher. However, Ben has to move, so of course I'm going with him."

"Will you look for another headship, up there?"

"No, I think I'll drop back to being a teacher again, I've missed the interaction with the children more than I thought I would. Anyway, headships aren't that easy to find, you know."

Louisa nodded and then said she'd go to lunch. "Thanks, Joanna."

The afternoon classes went swiftly by and Louisa went to the staffroom to collect her coat. Joanna called her into the office. "I've managed to get someone to sit in your classes, so you can go at 2:30 on Friday," she explained to Louisa.

"That's great, thanks Joanna." Louisa smiled as she left the school. Martin would be pleased to know that they had plenty of time to get to Wadebridge and wouldn't have to rush.