Page 25 of Matilda’s Summer of New Beginnings

I had a few more words with Edie after that and then said goodbye. I looked back at my blank paper, and then on impulse texted Jay, who was still on his train.

How’s it going? I wrote.

Not long now! he messaged back. Willing to help me pass the time? I spy, with my little eye, something beginning with F.

Field.

Correct. He added a smiley face. Then a moment later: I’m still bored.

Well, this might help. Tell me about a Padcock Prowl icon that needs quirking up.

Oooh. Yes. I can do that.

A couple of minutes passed before my phone dinged. Jay had sent a picture of a bridge over the pretty little canal that ran alongside Padcock.

Then my phone rang.

‘It’s the bridge where the Doddington lock keeper met his doom,’ Jay’s voice said in a very echoey manner. ‘It’s quicker to phone you. The bridge was next to a big tree that fell over in a storm. The trail leaflet still says look to the right of the large oak tree. They replanted the tree with a sapling, so it’s going to be a while before it’s relevant again.’

‘Okay,’ I replied, strangely happy to hear his voice, even though we’d just spoken this morning. ‘So what’s a better landmark?’

‘It’s near a pub. And the ruins of an old lock-keeper’s cottage on the other side.’

‘Great. I’ll have a look on Google Earth and see if I can find the cottage. Then I’ll do a picture including that.’

‘Good idea.’ There was a teasing note in his voice. ‘Is this specifically for our Prowl leaflet?’

‘No — of course not. I just needed some inspiration.’ I paused. ‘I just spoke to Edie. She said I should probably have another think about Julio’s.’

‘You probably should,’ said Jay. ‘Decide what you actually want to do.’

‘I don’t want my mugshot on a Tube station poster.’

‘Ha!’ He laughed. ‘I honestly can’t see the problem with that.’

I thought, for one ridiculous moment, that he’d say something like, ‘You have a lovely mug and it would do the Tube stations a favour.’

But of course he didn’t.

‘It’s one of the best ways to get publicity,’ he continued, and I wilted, just a little. Although part of me wondered why it was so important to me that Jay thought I’d look good enlarged on a poster.

‘Hmmm,’ I responded. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. Then: ‘Would you like to be on a poster?’

‘God, no! That’s not me at all. Look, I’m going to have to get ready to get off this train, we’re nearly there.’ I could hear a shuffling and he got a little muted while I presumed he was looking for luggage or putting on his jacket or something. ‘I’ll catch you later.’

‘Okay. Catch you later.’ I knew we wouldn’t, it was just something to say at the end of the call, and I was happy to echo it. ‘I’m off to quirk up the bridge.’

‘I look forward to seeing it,’ he said, again with a smile in his voice. ‘And once you’ve done that, we have a whole trail that needs to be quirked up. Hurrah for Matilda Matthews!’

‘Hurrah for the Padcock Prowl!’ I said, grateful because it had given me something to draw today.

We said our farewells, and I hung up. I had a quick look for the cottage on Google Earth, and when I was happy with what I found and had taken a reasonable screenshot to help me, I propped up the phone on my windowsill.

Then I looked at my paper, opened my pot of ink and began to illustrate it to the best of my ability.

A little later on, I got another alert on my phone. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it was Jay again. He’d done what he said — he’d caught me later. I couldn’t help grinning as I opened it.

Hope this helps! said the message. Have fun with it. Remember, Google Earth is your friend :)