From the Journal of John and Anna Bates - September 1928

When I came down at seven o'clock this morning, I found our long neglected Journal on the kitchen counter. Is this a not so subtle hint from Anna that I need to start writing in it again? Well, that's true enough, I should. I know in the years to come we'll be glad we've taken the time to do it, especially on a momentous day like today.

Our Will is starting school today, and we shall soon be delivering him into the capable hands of the Downton Village School. The lad couldn't be happier. Percy is starting too, but he's a seasoned pupil with two years under his belt, and he's not nearly as happy about it.

My darling wife has been walking around the house on the verge of tears for the past week. She's just coming into the kitchen now, wiping her eyes, and warning me not to say anything. I never would. It's not easy being a tender-hearted mother.

'The girls are dressed, the boys are ready and will be going to fetch their granddad in a few minutes, then I suppose we can leave,' she said quietly.

'It's a bit early, isn't?' I asked.

'Maybe, but I want to give this the time it deserves. Will won't be going to school for the first time ever again.'

'Well, there is university,' I mentioned and immediately regretted it.

'Don't you even, John Bates. I can't think about that today! Don't you care about your first born leaving?'

'He's hardly leaving, Anna. He's going to a school just down the road. And it's been his greatest dream since he learned to talk. He'll be fine, darling and you will too. A week from now he'll be a changed man, you'll see. You won't recognise your baby boy.' That turned out not to be the best thing to say. With her handkerchief to her nose, she left the room.

So what have you missed? We had a wonderful August. We took a train trip to the beach and this time, the weather was warmer. We were also able to travel to London to visit the Museums and were overnight guests of his Lordship at Crawley House. He was staying there with George and Sybbie, doing his grandfatherly duty and I think he longed for some adult company. It was a bit of a culture shock staying in such grand surroundings. Our boys loved it and were very well-behaved. George showed them how to slide down the bannister of the main staircase, much to Anna's horror. They didn't need much encouragement. Sarah and Daisy watched the girls back home for us.

Business is still brisk, but we will be closing Anna's Tea Room for the season since autumn has come early this year. And, we're in full swing planning for the Harvest fête coming up at the end of the month. Yes, it's been a good summer, indeed.

The boys just ran through the kitchen and out the back door, presumably to fetch their granddad. I guess we'll be leaving shortly. I'll have to think of someway to distract Anna while they're in school. I think I can do that.

~ John Bates

xxx

The air was crisp and the morning fog still hugged the ground when Anna and John set foot outside. The first days of September had brought an early Autumn this year. Summer had been lovely. Hot days and a mild breeze. Some rain, yes, but nothing too bad or long-lasting.

September had come early, in a flurry of falling leaves, chilly weather and cloudy skies. Overhead, migrating birds - making their own kind of music, bidding goodbye to the English countryside.

'I know I'll regret saying it…' Anna sighed with a happy smile, Fee in her arms trying to grasp her mother's hat. 'But I look forward to autumn. We had such a hot summer, it nearly killed us all.'

'Oh you will regret it,that's for sure, but I agree.' John replied, holding a fussy Finnie who wasn't very happy being carried around anymore.

Anna continued, with sad eyes and pout on her lips. 'I can't believe William is going to school already.'

John took a deep breath, 'But he is my darling and there's no way out of that.'

He admired the girl he carried in his arms. Her hair was dark, as dark as his almost, and her hazel eyes contrasted with her rosy cheeks. She had a bow atop her head, a violet one, matching her socks, and he wondered how long it would take until she would rip it off in fury as she often did. The children were all growing so fast, too fast, and both he and Anna watched them doing so with mixed feelings.

'Before we know it he'll get married and leave us.'

'Oh,Anna.' That made him chuckle. 'Come on, we still have time to get used to that idea.'

'He was just born yesterday, John. And now, look at him! All set to go to school, to make new friends, to have a life outside our walls.'

'That's exactly why we have children...to watch them grow and set them free to live. Isn't it?'

Anna pouted again, this time with tears forming in her eyes. John shifted Finn to his other arm, and pulled Anna against his chest - Fee and Finn met in their parent's embrace, giggling and reaching for each other.

'Here they are!' he announced and she turned around, to look at Will and Percy coming from the hotel door, where they had gone call Eamon, who also wanted to be present on the boy's' first day of school.

'Granddad had to put on his leg.' Percy squinched up his face, still not used to the old man's morning ritual.

'He has money in it!' Will exclaimed, quite impressed.

'It's my pocket change,' Eamon said. 'But instead, it's in me leg.'

'Rather hard to access, isn't it?' John coughed, feeling a bit nauseated about such matters. 'Just spare us the details.'

'What?' The old man turned to him with a sour expression. 'You were just one inch luckier than I was, else you would have a wooden leg too.'

'Let's go?' Anna put an end to what would definitely be the start of another heated conversation between father and son. 'Or the boys will be late for their first day.'

The family set to school then. Will and Percy jumped all the way there, laughing and joking, excited for the day ahead. Percy was happy he would have his brother in school with him, and Will was expecting to learn all there was to learn now that he would be a proper pupil. Dad was a good teacher but... he was no actual teacher after all.

'Are you cold, love? If you're chilly I'll fetch you another jacket.'

'I'm all right, mum.' Will rolled his eyes after Anna asked him the same question for the third time. She was kneeling before him, her hands on his shoulders, taking in her boy as if he was about to travel the world.

'And are you hungry? I think you didn't eat enough for breakfast.'

'I'm not hungry, mum.'

'Listen,' Anna continued with her intensive care, running her hands up and down her son's arms. 'Mummy will come to see you at recess, all right? Both of you. And I'll bring you both a snack.'

'They give us a snack,' Percy replied, one of his hands resting on Anna's shoulders, while Eamon and John held the girls - two girls who, at any opportunity, would run as fast as their little legs allowed them without looking back.

'Yes, but mummy's snacks are better, aren't they?' Anna insisted.

'Yeah,' Percy gave in, thinking back on Mama's cooking.

'Oh look, Mr Molesley.' John pointed out as the teacher approached the family, after welcoming the other students to another year of learning. Boys and girls ran inside the building, some of them, like William, were saying goodbye to their parents before their very first day of school. There was a lad who was crying, begging his mother not to leave him there. Another small girl with black hair was on the ground, kicking everything within her reach. 'I'm sleepy! I'm so sleepy, Mama! I hate school!'

'Good morning. I see our new addition is on time, and you'll get to meet our new teacher today, Mrs Jakes,' Mr Molesley said, patting Will on the shoulder. 'Excited?'

'Very!' The boy smiled looking up at the teacher with beaming pride. 'I'm ready to learn mountains of stuff!'

'Oh my! Now that's the eagerness we wish to see in every boy and girl.' The teacher laughed. 'As eager as Lola when I arrive home after work.'

'Lola? You don't say!' Eamon asked with a wink. Fee in his arms was playing with the collar of his shirt and talking to herself. A big white bow in her blonde hair, matching her dress. Her blue eyes crossing as she focused all her attention on the piece of clothing.

'Lola, my cat. Lilly's and Charlie's daughter. Oh, she's a darling, she is. She's a special girl. The smartest thing ever. See, she waits for me at the window and as soon as I open the door she meows at me and runs to the kitchen, to her little bowl. Sweetest thing,' Mr Molesley said with a proud smile. If there was something he could talk about for hours it was about his Lola.

'Oh right!' Eamon grinned. 'Mr Sunshine is a smart fellow too. He spends his mornings at the pub with me. Lays on the bar and waits for people to pet him and give him treats. And when I'm not there, he sits at the front desk welcoming guests. Doesn't he, John? Everyone knows him, they all say hello. Sometimes folks only come in to say hello to him, wish him a good day.' the old man bragged.'

'Yes, that's true.' John shared a look with Anna. 'So then, it's time, isn't it?'

'Oh right!' The teacher checked his pocket watch. 'Let's go in, boys?'

'Wait!' Anna kneeled down again, grabbing Will by his arm. 'Give mummy a kiss and a hug. I'll miss you so, so much.'

William did so, too quickly for his mother's liking. 'Mum, I'll be home by three o'clock.'

Anna nodded, holding back her tears, and pulling Percy to her. 'Come here, Percy. I'll miss you too.'

'I will too, Mama,' the boy replied, hugging Anna tightly. William didn't know how lucky he had been all his life, with such an affectionate family and people around him.

'Say goodbye to daddy and granddad.'

The boys did as their mother told, taking off their hats in turn for John to kiss the top of their head, and for Eamon to muss their hair, much to Anna's exasperation.

'Fee and Finn, say bye bye to your brothers.' John encouraged his daughters. 'You won't be seeing them until later.'

'Bye bye!' Fee exclaimed, waving her chubby hand in the air. A big smile on her round face and a trail of drool dripping down her chin.

'No! No, no, no.' Finn shook her head energetically, then ripped the bow she wore from atop her head, throwing it on the ground with a show of her tongue. 'Pffff. No!'

'Now Finnie, that's enough' John chastised the little girl, her stubbornness growing old. 'Have a good day, gentlemen, and behave.'

'We will, Papa!'

With that, the two boys ran inside.

'Look at them...they've grown so much during the summer,' Anna said rather sadly, feeling like part of her had just gone inside too, only to return later in the day. When she turned to face her husband, finding odd the lack of a reply from him, she found him with red and watery eyes, as he held his baby daughter tight against his chest. 'John? Are you crying?'

'Me?' He jumped at her question, cleaning his eyes instantly. Finn was looking at him, confused. 'No. It's just...well-'

'Good, you have the girls to keep you company now.' Eamon stated, placing Fee on the ground and helping the girl walk on her own. 'Now, you ought to think about having more...for when these two go to school as well.'

Anna and John eyed each other.

'It's just an idea. It won't be as bad if you always have a baby with you,' Eamon insisted.

'We'll see about that, Father. I'm still rather done in from my last pregnancy,' Anna giggled.

'Me too!' John arched his brow and Anna and Eamon couldn't help but laugh.

xxx

The morning was going slow. Almost annoyingly so. There wasn't much to do around the hotel, or the cottage, for that matter, and that only made Anna mind free to miss their boys.

John had to admit he missed them too, running through the office door with a new funny and often silly idea for a game. Or asking if they could help with the paperwork or Archie in the kitchen. Their conversations about this and that, the way they saw life and everything around them. Well, this is foolish, John thought to himself. They'll be home by three o'clock, it's not like they're gone forever.

For Anna, it had been their many requests for food. Or better, the number of times they would ask her for a biscuit or a piece of cake. The crumbles she would find in the couch cushions, on their beds or just about anywhere. Then, there was the garden, so empty without her boys. Even old Jack seemed sad, missing his partners in crime.

'And what about you, ladies?' Anna asked the two cats sitting by the window - Lily, the mother, and Pearly, the white cat who belong to Percy more than anyone else - looking out. 'You're missing the boys too?'

That's when she saw her husband waving at her from the office window, gesturing for her to meet him there.

'Do you need help?' she asked him. 'I have the girls down for a nap, they were up so early today, poor loves...I can't stay-'

Before she could say another word, John Bates wrapped his arms possessively around her, kissing her passionately. Anna melted, her mind blanked. When they broke apart she could barely breathe.

'What's all this?'

'I thought we both needed a distraction,' he said with a seductive voice.

'Cheeky, and this is your distraction?'

'Well…' he pulled her to him again, kissing her one more time. 'Don't you like it?'

'I do, rather.'

'And, what about this?'

With a couple of steps, her back was pressed against the closet. Oh, she knew what was to come. He opened the door then, and quickly he pushed them both inside, kissing her fiercely. His hands became more and more bold, touching her in places that he knew for sure would make her responded, and not to his surprise, it didn't take long before Anna started moaning against his lips.

'What if someone comes in?' she spoke a moment later, suddenly aware of where they were.

'The door's closed.'

'Your father rarely knocks,' she told him.

'I know.' John stopped his ministrations only to smile mischievously at her. 'Here, take it,' he handed her a small piece of paper he had taken from his vest pocket.

'What's that?'

'Don't read it yet! Just when you're outside. Now go,' he said, slapping her bottom as she stepped out of the closet. 'I'll see you soon.'

With a giggle, Anna stepped out of the office and into the garden. The paper burning in her hands. She unfolded it then.

'Cottage pantry. 11.30pm. Make sure the girls are still asleep. More notes to come.'

x

'So tell us! How was your day?'

The family sat around the dinner table, ready to enjoy a delicious roasted chicken and rice - the boys' favourite dish. They all awaited the answer to John's question expectantly, apart from the twins, who were too busy munching on carrots and little pieces of chicken.

'It was all right, I guess,'' William replied with a look telling them it was not all right.

'Just all right? Goodness!' John chuckled. 'Your mood has changed considerably.'

'What happened, love?' Anna asked, running a gentle hand up and down her son's back.

'Well…I just had to sit still for a long time.' Will sounded very disappointed. 'And we didn't even learn anything.'

Percy rolled his eyes. 'That's because it was the first day, I've told you a million times! Before you know it you won't be feeling your head with all the learnin'!'

'Percy's right,' John said, as he began to serve everyone around the table. 'First days never promise too much. But soon enough you'll be learning all the things you were expecting to learn.'

'I sure hope so… 'cause it was boring.'

'But you'll have to sit still anyway,' Anna warned, pointing at her son. 'And do whatever the teacher tells you.'

'Yeah, I know, mum.'

'I never used to do that before, so I would be sent out and have my ears pulled. It was terrible.' Percy recalled, rubbing his ears. 'But now I behave well and my ears thank me for that.'

'You do, Percy. And that makes us all very happy.' She smiled at the boy. 'And Mr Molesley too!'

'And, Will, what do you think about Miss Jakes?' John questioned, knowing too well his son had been a little sad when he found out Mr Molesley wouldn't be his teacher.

'She's nice.' Will managed a small smile. 'She bumps into our desks sometimes.'

'That's because she's got a big arse!' Percy laughed, his mouth full of rice.

'Percy, that's not nice. And please, don't speak with your mouth full.'

The boy nodded, swallowing everything as quickly as he could. 'It ain't nice but she's got it anyway.'

Anna and John shared a look. Now and then Percy would still come out with one or two cuss words, the remains of his previous education, or better, the lack of it. Nothing too bad, and truthfully, they found it funny sometimes.

'I had a teacher with a big…' Eamon began, coughing as he thought of a better word to use. 'Behind. She always wore black, always, and whenever she stood from her chair her dress would be, well, stuck in...between, you know.' The old man's pink cheeks turned flushed and he wondered why he had even started this story. 'She had dark curly hair, and her heels made the most terrible sound ever. Ha! I got under her skirts once, even her underwear was black.'

'Father!' Anna scolded Eamon, shooting him a look.

'I'd fallen down!' The old man tried to excuse himself. 'It wasn't like I wanted to do it.'

'I'd rather have Mr Molesley anyway,' Will insisted.

'Mr Molesley teaches the older children now,' John told the boy.

'I wouldn't mind that...we're going to learn letters and numbers and I already know all about that. Some children in my classroom don't even know how to write their names.' William complained, sighing into his plate. The girls began to fuss in their seats and Anna gave each of them a piece of chocolate biscuit she had baked that morning. That seemed to settle them down.

'Probably because their parents work hard and are too busy to teach them, darling,' she reasoned, and John concluded.

'Not every boy and girl are lucky enough to have a mum and dad around them all the time like you do. So, you'll be nice to them and help them. All right?'

'All right, Daddy, I will.'

'Good boy. Now, let's eat! Finn and Fee are almost done and we still have our plates full.'

'Not mine, it isn't!' Percy bragged smiling at his empty plate.

'Want more, darling?' Anna asked.

'Yes, please, Mama.'

'Yes, Mama!' Fee repeated, clapping her chubby hands and giggling, while Finn shook her head with 'No, no, no!'

xxx

From the Journal of Anna Bates

What I was sure would turn out to be a simply miserable day for me actually turned out fairly nice, thanks to one John Bates. Of course, I missed the boys terribly and so did John if he was to fess up to it, but time went quickly. My husband kept me so busy with his little games and trying to keep my spirits up. He seems to have a 'thing' for tight, dark spaces. The man is incorrigible.

The girls and I walked to the school to be there for recess but the boys seemed to be getting along just fine, and we didn't stay long.

At dinner, Will expressed his boredom with his class. I don't want him to lose interest. Now I'm wondering if we should have worked so hard with him learning to read and write, but how could we not? We'll wait a couple of weeks, let him adjust and see how it all plays out. By then, maybe a meeting with Mrs Jakes will be in order. I do wish he had Mr Molesley teaching him.

John's tucking the boys in now. He said he'd let William read the story tonight to cheer him up.

The girls are finally asleep. I don't know what's going on with my sweet Finnie. Maybe it's an early onset of the terrible twos. I hope it passes soon.

Sweet dreams, Anna Bates