Dell and Nancy were about to leave when Dell told Phoebe that if he could intervene on her behalf not to be backward to let him know.
“Well Phoebe, Aunt Helen is coming down to the farm for the long weekend. Could Nancy and I invite you up for Sunday supper?”
“Do you suppose, Dell, that I would be presentable by Sunday.”
“You are always presentable to us.”
So Mrs. Forester was Dell’s widowed aunt of two years. Her chartered accountant husband passed away very suddenly. Mrs. Forester was Aunt Helen to Phoebe as well. Phoebe often babysat for Dell and Nancy since they were very often on the trail in Dell’s constituency cutting ribbons, opening a new business or bridge or maybe presenting a hundred year senior citizen with a plaque.
Aunt Helen Forester was a tall, agile lady in her early sixties.
Phoebe told dad that she thought that she would be able to go to school the coming Monday.
“I told you ,kid, that I make you as good as new again with your mum’s beefsteaks.”
Bertha piped up, “And keep out of trouble with that temper that you have. I do not know where you get this temper from. It’s not from your dad or me.”
“Mum, you are all wet. That’s just where my temper comes from. I inherited a set of principles and ethics from you and dad and a temper to defend them.”
The party lines around Dunadry were hot with gossip. Not since Plunket’s old mule dropped dead at the junction of Temperance and Brewery Streets was there such a juicy drip on the grapevine. Back at school on Monday, some of the students were eager to have discussion with Phoebe about her ordeal. She sternly made it clear to them that she did not wish to have to have any discussion on the subject whatsoever. Some tapped her on the shoulder as they passed. There was the odd female known to Phoebe as a joy rider with Hector in his Austin Healey that gave Phoebe a dirty look. That is if their eyes ever made contact.
There was a lot of anticipation concerning the approaching exams and summer holidays. Phoebe and her two close pals were having a milkshake in the cafeteria when Jackues Lenard said, “Gee, Phoebe, I hate to bring this up, but we are glad that you came out of your ordeal in good shape.”
Linda Sinton was a little redhead. “Phoebe, my brother, Ned, happened to see you in Mrs Broughton’s car and he said that you looked to be a total wreck.”
“I felt a total wreck as well, but thank God my father took over and recycled me. I’m not saying how he did it but he did.”
When Phoebe got home from school she found that Sinton had called and left a message about Sunday for supper. She said she will call.
Phoebe was looking forward to her visit with Aunt Helen when little brother, Earl, piped up. “You’ve had it pretty soft for over a week, big girl. Don’t forget, before Sunday that wood box has to be filled up and five barrow fulls of firewood brought up to the woodshed.”
“You know big brother how it was.”
“I know you scared the heck out of us.”
It came Friday night once more and Phoebe was to choir practice. When Phoebe and Jacques Lenard arrived at the church, most of the choir were there. Most of their eyes were on Phoebe. Big Irish Sam Gipson, an accomplished tenor, was choir master. He reached out his hand which was more like a paw.
“Welcome home Phoebe.”
Phoebe, with that mischievous grin of hers, said, “Surprise, surprise, Sam, and I’m all in one piece.”
After some drivel of gossip, Sam called the choir to attention.
“Now as you all know, Easter Sunday is coming and we should try and put on something special. Does anybody have any suggestions?”
Alfie Gardiner rose to his feet.
“I would suggest part that Mrs. Liddle and Rob Gipson give a duet for the first of the service and for the latter part that Phoebe give a solo. I’m sure that the congregation would enjoy that.”
Phoebe rose to her feet. “It sounds good and I wouldn’t mind, doing it but i think that on account of the controversy that is going on at our school, and it is not over yet, so on that account I decline.”
Mr. Gipson said, “I’m inclined to agree with Phoebe, but like the rest of you I really like to listen to Phoebe’s soprano voice.”
That behind her, Phoebe was looking forward to Sunday to be with her second family; Aunt Helen, Nancy and Dell. Come Sunday, Nancy picked up Phoebe in their Essex . Aunt Helen gave Phoebe a big hug.
“Thank God that you are not disfigured or maimed.”
Dell told auntie that she should see the other guy.
Nancy was setting the table and interrupted Dell. “You be careful Dell. Whatever Phoebe cares to tell Aunt Helen js up to her.”
Phoebe felt quite at ease and free with Aunt Helen and felt that her Aunt Helen was too reserved to question her for any detail and, at the same time, Phoebe felt that she ought to know.
“Aunt Helen, is there anything you would like to know about that fracas I got into and out of.”
“Indeed ,honey, I would very much like to know, first of all how did it all begin and what was the cause of it all?”
“Well, Aunt Helen, this boy has lots of money, prestige and charisma. He thinks that his B.O. doesn’t smell, thinks that any female in the county is falling over herself to ride with him in his Austin Healey to anywhere he chooses to park. Anywhere in the province.
“Well, one Monday morning on the ten oclock break I was retrieving a notebook from my locker. As it so happened, there were only two grade nine students deciphering something farther up the hallway. I could see this slob or hulk a long way down the hallway in the opposite direction fiddling with something. The door of the locker opened to my left obstructing my observation of that gigolo to my left. I could see that something had drawn the attention of the other two girls as they were looking intentionally down my direction.
“Before i could ever catch my breath i was tightly held in the arms of this Don Juan. I pleaded with him to let me go. Instead, he became more personal and aggressive. I think maybe, to his surprise, I got my hands on his chest and made one desperate lunge and freed myself from his strangle hold. I nearly fell to the floor. Instead of running away as I could or maybe should have, I didn’t hesitate one second. I flew at him and punched him on the snout. He said, ‘You bitch’, and started to slap me on the face. I drew back and with two swift kicks to where you can guess, Aunt Helen, I floored the critter. When the principal got there he was lying there with head his between his knees. Nancy knows the rest.”
After supper Aunt Helen was questioning Phoebe as to what she had in mind after she graduated.
“Well, Aunt Helen, it’s a mixed kettle of fish. I have given it a lot of thought. I have got all summer to hash it over.
“Could give me an idea, Phoebe, of what ideas you are going to. be toying with all summer?”
“Maybe, Aunt Helen. I have bright ideas. I was thinking maybe I could be a school teacher or a nurse. I’m not sure that I’m cut out to be a teacher cause I might lose my temper with some of those spoiled and impudent kids. I have saved up a nice little bit of money. Now down in Kingston there is a school of nursing. There is also a teachers’ college. If I were to be accepted in either one of them, there is a possibility that i might be able to make it home here to Dunadry on weekends. That would be quite a saving on my expenses. I can always dream, you know, Aunt Helen. I can still pick eighty bushel of tomatoes a day or label cans when the snow blows.”
Phoebe left Aunt Helen one of her snaps (photos) that Esther took of her before dad applied the beef steaks. Dell took Phoebe home. Aunt Helen thought Phoebe was quite a girl.