Kay runs inside the house for another quilt, "This should do it. I will return for you in a few moments."

April quickly double checks the inventory against the list. Once satisfied she covers the three wicker provisions hamper with the wool blankets and carries them to the mud room entrance.

She puts on her mittens and wool hat.

Kay opens the outside door and grabs the top hamper.

April feels her face slapped with cold, she quickly covers her face with another scarf.

Kay returns to grab the next hamper.

April grabs the last hamper and follows Kay out to the nearby truck.

April quickly places her hamper in the back, runs to the front cab and closes the door. She swings around, gets on her knees and watches Kay securing everything down from the small window.

Kay waves.

April waves back.

The last knot is tied; Kay runs into the cab and slams the door before any more heat escapes.

April pulls the quilts around her shoulders, lets out the clutch and they begin their Saturday.

"I am still not used to all this room. Edward took up plenty of space." Kay lays the length of the seat with a giggle.

"I will mention that in my first letter. I hope we have an address soon."

The reach the end of their road. April regrettably stops the truck.

"Kendel or Tebay?"

Kay sits up, "Tebay has the better tea service, if we have a good deal we can stop on the way home."

"Tebay it is." April feels the chill outside working into the truck. She pushes down the accelerator and get the car moving. She has learned that if she keeps the truck moving the heat from the engine is just enough warmth to keep her from being sleepy.

Kay shifts her body next to April's, "Are you warm enough?"

"I am thankful for your attentiveness. I feel terrible that you have to do more work."

"It is only for the winter. The summer heat is my enemy. The sun makes me sleepy and sluggish. I supposed that is what happens in the cold to your body."

"Oh yeah!"

"Yeah?"

"That was from the The Women we saw three Sundays ago. That is how one of them made a smart remark."

"That was a wonderful movie. What movie are we going to see next month?"

"There is a film called Wizard of Oz."

"We read a book titled, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Did they make it into a film?"

"According the article it a slimmed down. How long did it take us to read the book?"

"I thought we read it within a few days, it was very short."

"Maybe we should read it again, refresh our brains."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea."

The two travel towards Tebay and enjoy the snow-covered landscape.

First stop is the combined post office, telegraph office, grocery and staples shop packed into the long white house on Church street. In London April laughs about how much running around the did to different shops for different items. For fruit and vegetables, you went to the greengrocer. For meat, to the butcher. For fish, to the fishmonger. For bread and cakes, to the baker. For groceries, such as jam, tea, biscuits and cheese you went to the grocer. Other shops sold clothes, shoes, medicines, newspapers and all the other things people needed to buy.

Here in Tebay all but fish and meat were sold next to the mail counter.

"Good Morning Ladies!" Greeted Mrs. Theobald, "I was wondering if you two would dare come into town with weather like this."

"It is cold," responds April as she brings in the first hamper and makes space for the other two. "We have an excellent inventory for you."

Kay quickly brings in the next two hampers while April nearly hugs the Godin stove.

Kay opens the latches, removes the wool covering and steps back allowing Mrs. Theobald a full view.

"I appreciate that." Mrs. Theobald walks up to each hamper, bends down and examines the contents.

She stands up facing Kay, "I shall take the chickens, the entire stock of vegetables, the eggs and ..." She reaches down and feels the wool blankets acting as insulation between her fingers, "Are you selling the wool blankets?"

"No." April responds from the chair nearest to the Godin stove, "I am sorry for such a quick response. They are our only wool blankets."

"Too bad." Mrs. Theobald goes to the back of the counter, opens the door to yells inside, "Vera! Ellen!"

Two faint voices can be heard from the other side, "We shall be right there!"

Mrs. Theobald goes to the counter and starts to make an itemized receipt.

Kay and April wait patiently.

April remains by the Godin stove.

Kay walks around the store to grab one box of biscuits, two bars of Pears soap and places them on the counter.

Mrs. Theobald hands Kay the total.

Kay quickly goes over the figures and nods in satisfaction, "We only the petrol for our monthly deliveries."

"Of course," Mrs. Theobald writes the amount down in the separate book.

Two young women enter the store from the residence door. Without looking up, "Vera, please take the stock from those two hampers and place them on display."

"Hello!" Ellen smiles at seeing her friends.

Kay pull out the two chickens and holds them up for final inspection.

Mrs. Theobald nods in approval and points to the two chickens, "Ellen please place these on ice."

Without complaint, the two young women went to work.

While the products were being put on display Kay quickly asks, "Is there mail?"

"Yes, you have a large box, a small package and a few letters. Those most of your letters are local notices." Mrs. Theobald goes to another counter, pulls a large box from a cubby and letters from a small box with the words 'Low Bridge' written below. She hands the letters to Kay who places them in her pocket and takes the boxes.

"Anything else?"

"Thank you. I noticed you were not interested in our jams, soups or other canned goods. Is there a reason?"

"After Boxing Day I will have customers who would be interested. Until then no need to pack so much."

"Any town news?"

While Mrs. Theobald discuss another encounter with Mary Baines, the Tebay Witch.

April quietly comes over to the grocery counter and lays down a small paper bag.

Kay looks inside and smiles. She points to the small bag at the grocery counter and asks Mrs. Theobald, "Please take these off our credit."

Ellen has just returned from the cellar, "Ellen please weigh the small bag and credit accordingly."

Ellen opens the bag, looks at April and cringes, "I never understood the appeal."

"It is an acquired taste."

April makes a mark on the bag and then subtracts the difference from the ledger. She turns it around to show April who simply nods in approval.

"Have you finished the book?"

"Wait right here."

"Mother I will be right back. I have to return a book to Mrs. Flint-Saint Clair."

Mrs. Theobald nods and continues her gossip to Kay. Local gossip is one of Mrs. Theobald's greatest and sought after inventory.

April watches Vera put all the stock away, pack up the hampers and quickly returns to the residence. Vera almost knocks down Ellen returning to the store.

Ellen hands over The Regatta Mystery by Agatha Christie, "Thank you so much."

"Are you interested in another book?"

Ellen's eyes go wide, "Yes, of course. Is it another mystery?"

April pulls out of her coat a book and hands it to Ellen, "My sister says it is quite popular."

"Have you read it?"

"I will not have time to read it for a few weeks. I have so many unread books taunting me daily. I am pleased to have winter's free time to catch up on my literary quests."

"I read every night while my mother and niece just listen to broadcasts."

April can see Kay's fixing her hair, the sign. "Miss Ellen, I must be going. It is time for our tea."

"Oh are you headed to the Tavern?"

"That is our plan."

"Will you be handing off The Regatta Mystery to Doreen?"

"Yes, that is the plan."

"Good." Ellen pulls out a letter with a large D on the front. "Please give this to her, it will save me money for the stamp."

"Is she working today?"

"Like me, she always works Saturdays. That is the curse of a family business."

April smirks, "Or running a farm." With emphasis, she picks up the hamper with the unsold canning jars and puts them on the truck. Before she goes inside for another she turns the ignition on and reset her quilts. As she enters the store to pick up the two empty hampers she notices Mrs. Theobald monopolizing her poor Kay's attention.

April takes the two hampers out to the truck and secures them. She feels the cold setting in and quickly rushes inside and sits in front of the Godin stove and yells at herself privately as to why she didn't wrap the scarfs properly.

It only took a few minutes for her face to become warm again. She sits back relieved and notices her Kay needs saving. She walks over and grabs the two packages and says to Kay, "I am sorry. I know you want to be more social with our Mrs. Theobald, but I have things to do back at the farm and I wanted to stop off for tea before I begin the chores."

"I am sorry. Mrs. Theobald next week? I want to hear more from you. You are the highlight of my week."

Mrs. Theobald becomes giddy with the compliment, "Next week Mrs. Flint-Saint Clair."

April goes straight into the truck while Kay secures all the hampers.

Kay and April find themselves, moments later, at the tavern.

"Hello Miss Doreen." April quickly sits down at the small table closest to the roaring fire.

Kay is up at the bar ordering drinks and food, "Have you heard from your brother?"

"He is doing well, at least that is what he writes in his letters to mom. He has another few weeks of training." Doreen smiles, "You didn't order mushrooms?"

"We bought some at the Theobald's place."

"I will put this order in to my mother." Doreen nods to April's location, "I will bring the tea service over in a moment."

As soon as Kay sits down April asks Kay, "Has there been Mary Baines activity?"

"Well, per one of Mrs. Theobald's customers the witch has been causing havoc over at the school. Apparently two bullies were teasing a cat. One slipped backward and fell on his rump. The other fell in the other direction and when he landed a pencil tip pierced his hand. The teacher had to pull out the small piece out with a tweezer."

"Oh dear are the two children okay? How is the cat?"

Kay leans in for dramatic effect, "The cat seems fine. However, Mrs. Theobald said that one has a concussion and the other is dealing with lead poison. I did not have the heart to tell her that there isn't lead in pencils nor that a person could not get a concussion without damaging their head."

April bursts out laughing just as Doreen brings over tea service.

"My wife was sharing a tale." April look up to Doreen. "Did you finish the book?"

Doreen pulls out of her apron, The Dragon's Teeth. "I enjoyed that."

"Good", April gives Doreen The Regatta Mystery and an envelope with a large D written on the front. "This is from Ellen."

Doreen takes the book and letter, "I will see her tomorrow at services." She places the book in her apron, heads behind the bar and opened the envelope. The envelope has another inside. She quickly rips it open and begins to read. Her eyes dart back and forth attempting to gobbles words written as if it they would disappear in seconds. She folds everything, opens the book and places the papers inside and shoves the book back into her apron.

A small bell has been rung. Doreen composes herself and goes into the kitchen.

April and Kay share a look of concern.

April drinks her tea and enjoys the warmth taking over her body, "I was given the letter from Ellen."

"We have our own letters." Kay lays them on the table, "Do you want to read them now or at home?"

"At home." April takes another sip of tea and adds, "I don't want the local witch to be tempted to divulge our secrets."

Doreen brings over their meal a bit more distracted.

"I hope the letter didn't bring you distress?"

"No." Doreen is about to turn around.

"You can trust us."

Doreen is about to open her mouth and the door rings as another customer enters the establishment. She whispers, "Another time," and she heads back to tending bar.

April and Kay give each other intrigued looks.

"These girls are hard workers."

"Well their families are depending on them. They have to work harder now as their brothers, fathers and other men in the community will go off to war."

"True."

"I just wish we could do something."

"Like what?"

"I am lending them books." April begins to formulate a plan, "How about a Book Club?"

"A what?"

"A book club," April is remember by at Trinity her classmates would be assigned smaller groups to read and discuss books. "The leader picks a book that they all read and get together to discuss what they like or don't like."

"Like a study group?"

"Social group with a literary focus."

"I like that, but books are expensive. How many members? When? Where do we all meet?"

April slouches a bit, "That is a good question."

"It must be walkable and available to us once a month and free."

"Yes, yes and yes." April becomes more defeated with each moment.

Kay offers sympathetic eyes, "We will not let this go. Eat. Drink. Please be warm."

Doreen comes over, "Everything fine?"

April response without hesitation, "Thank you all is very good as usual. Your mother is a good cook."

"I would like to ask a personal question, may I?"

Doreen becomes slightly fidgety, "It depends."

"Do you have a day off?"

"Mondays."

"When does Ellen have off?"

She responds solemnly, "Wednesday."

"I see."

"Why do you ask?"

"Since you both like reading April is thinking about starting a book club."

"What is that?"

Kay quickly explains and adds, "... we just need a place we all can sit and discuss the book for a few hours."

"I have off Mondays and Ellen is off Wednesdays." Doreen adds, "We don't get to see each other except church and a few hours a week. Besides working we both are taking correspondence classes. We don't have much free time. Sunday services are the only planned meetings."

The kitchen bell rings.

Doreen quickly adds, "We just don't have the time."

Kay can see her wife's face is frustrated, "At least they are going to classes and not intellectually stumped."

"I suppose."

Kay mimics her wife while taking another bite of egg sandwich, "I suppose."

They enjoy the rest of the meal and finish in time before the tavern is flooded with customers. April bundles up properly and they both wave goodbye to Doreen, "See you next week!"

"Thank you!" Doreen replies before taking a customer's order.

It is a quick drive to Low Brorrowbridge from the tavern.

April quickly brings in the heaviest of the hampers while Kay carries in the other two easily.

April undresses, puts more wood on the fire, puts a kettle over the fire, and starts to put the canning back on their supply shelf.

Kay parks the truck in the barn and does a quick check on the animals before heading back into the house.

April puts together tea service.

Kay enters the warmth of the kitchen and lays the gathered quilts on the table, "One last trip. More tea?"

"I just need to get the chill off; my body wants to sleep."

Kay returns with the packages, mail and groceries.

They put everything away.

Kay lays out two biscuits on each tea saucer and puts the rest in the cupboard.

April sits down, gulps her tea down and holds in her hand a box cutter.

"You have been patient enough." Which shall we open first?

April looks at their bounty, "Letters."

Bills, local notices and two personal letters for each. April puts the bills and notices off to the side.

"It must be from Edward," Kay exclaims. She shoves the stamp into April face, "Look!"

April stops open the letter from her mothers and looks, "This could be the beginning of a philatelist hobby."

"Remind me to get a book on stamp collecting next time we go to the library."

April nods and re-reads the letter from her mother. Listen, "You must finish your project as soon as possible. Family members travel abroad. Need family meeting."

Kay taps the larger box, "Maybe that is what in here."

With the box cutter in hand April opens it and instantly knows what it is, "This will be fun." She pulls out the parts and starts to take over the table.

"Before you start," Kay hands her the smaller package.

April opens it. She is now pulled into different directions. "Do I read this or work on the project?"

Kay holds up the letter from her mothers.

"Right."

"I will start this and you read me the letter from Edward."

Dear Residents of Low Borrowbridge,

I am safe and sound in Delhi.

Did I mention I was hot? Twenty-eight degrees and my shoes soles are melting.

The food is decent; my lodging is acceptable and my uniform is itchy.

There are only a few British Officers and I am assigned to them as my secretary. I am usually finished with my general duties by noon and find myself finding things to do while my commanders are off being social. Occasionally I will get a communication for one of them. I quickly run down to the outdoor cafe and encourage them back to their post.

They are not Officers I expected to be services. They have such a cavalier attitude and pay no attention to the possibility of attack. I wanted to be safe from using my pistol, not bored through my service. My passive ways have ended me with a passive service, I must rectify this soon. I must find some way of being of service to the England, in my own way. The alternative is no acceptable to an Oxford man, no it is not acceptable for an English man!

Sorry to digress into my own mental spin. I have written my sister but left out the desperation of my mental state of mind. Do see that she never gets wind of my challenges, I do not wish her to worry.

On the note of something interesting - as per your request.

In the evenings, I have been watching a popular sport called Kabaddi. Two teams take a side of a tennis court facing each other. Each team takes turns sending one of their own to the opponent's side. His goal? You'll rather like this is to simply touch of the opposing team member team members and run back to his teammates. It almost feels like a school yard game, yet grown men play.

I will write again soon; you can write me directly using the return address.

Don't let Mrs. Theobald cheat you out of any credit you deserve, watch her figures.

Your Friend

Edward

P.S. The food and weather are exactly as I expected, HOT!

"I can see his dilemma of boredom. Although I think any man who has not had a life of leisure would trade placed with our Edward easily. Patriotism or not, no one wants to face death. Those off to war is somebody's son, brother, husband, peer or friend."

"He is a hard worker; how can you speak so freely like that of our Edward?"

"My dear Edward, passivism aside, is a man of means." April looks around the kitchen for emphasis, "His attachment to this farm is an unexpected haven for him and he knows hard work will help secure his sanctuary. If he was forced to work on the farm, without the perks of his attire, we have seen the last of him. I believe men work for reward while women work for purpose."

"How do you explain for Mrs. Theobald?"

"Ah," April ponders for a second. "Her purpose is to keep Tebay safe from the witch Mary Baines."

April lays out the schematic diagram on the table and attempts to lay it flat. Nothing seems to work.

Kay grabs the butcher tape they used to wrap their meat and chicken to tape down the corners.

April plugs in the soldering iron into an extension cord and into the wall socket. Once done she lays out all the components.

Kay goes upstairs. She comes down with a fan, opens the window about six inches and puts more logs on the stove.

"Thank you," April looks up. "I am feeling pressure to get this done. Do you suppose everyone received the same kit?"

"Of course." Kay leaves the kitchen and returns with her portable writing desk. She puts opens the bills, double check if they are personal or not and puts them in a new envelope addressed to Saville Row. She opens the first local notice, "This is not good."

'What isn't good?"

"Petrol is being rationed."

April lays the iron down in a safe position, "How bad?"

"We won't be able to make our deliveries with the truck."

"Are there exceptions?"

"Commercial."

"We need to write Julia and see if we are able to get a license."

Kay nods and creates a small pile of letters for Saville Row. She opens the next notice and looks at the clock. "It is almost one, would you like to listen to the news?"

April concentrating nods her head yes.

Kay turns the know and with a pop and static the words fill the room, "... that was Hazell's Printing Works Band conducted by J. Alderson ..." - a bit of static and a familiar voice says, "This is London Calling." A cadence of bells rings and then "Here is the news ... Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd. merged to form British Overseas Airways Corporation. The International Olympic Committee President Henri de Baillet-Latour announced the cancellation of the 1940 Winter Olympics, which would have been held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Germany reports four British ships sunk in the North Sea, but our Navy denies the claim ..."

Kay turns down the sound, "I am disappointed that the Olympics have been cancelled. First Japan was selected to be the host but after war broke out between China and Japan they couldn't host. I understand, why would any athlete want to compete with bullets flying around. I had hopes when Switzerland was offered the event and they couldn't organize themselves. Which means Germany becomes host."

"You think we should send our athletes to compete in Germany?"

"I just saying why not have the Olympics in a neutral place."

"Currently, Switzerland is the most neutral country and if it can't be there then the Olympics is taking sides of the war."

"Why not the Americas?"

April shakes her head as she solders another piece, "They have decided to Quarantine themselves against the world. The Olympics are an honor and gift. I stand by the Olympic committee to keep from being political. Besides who would we send to compete?"

"I suppose." Kay sits back with a slight pout, "I think it would have been a nice diversion."

"I know dear." April continues to solder.

Kay turns the volume back up, "... In his broadcast, today Reginald Gamble will be coming alone to the microphone to discuss winter pitfalls and the vital necessity of bringing stocks of bees through the coming months..."

April and Kay both look at each other for a second.

Kay immediately grabs the paper and begins to take notes.