Everybody discussed the robbery at the bank for two or three days but after a few weeks it was more or less forgotten, except that Arthur did not forget Mr Smither's description of one of the bank robbers.
The winter is a time when a lot of books are borrowed from a library and so in the last few weeks of January Arthur was kept very busy. A record number of books were taken out in the first week of February and the staff of Middleford Library did a lot of overtime.
At the beginning of February the weather suddenly got very cold; the temperature dropped to ten degrees below zero and snow fell every day. Conditions at 21 Gladstone Avenue were pretty miserable. Mrs Harrison had arranged for central heating to be installed but it had not yet been put in. Arthur's room was heated by a gas-fire which had to be fed with coins every couple of hours or so.
One Friday night Arthur came home at 8.30. The pipes were frozen and he had no 50p pieces for the gas meter. 'This is the last straw.' he thought. 'I'm going home.' He telephoned his parents, wrote a note for Mrs Harrison, got in his car and started off for Applefield. He arrived home at about midnight and went straight to bed.
In the morning he was woken up by his mother with a nice hot cup of tea and then he went downstairs for a late breakfast in front of a blazing fire. His father was already out visiting patients so he had his breakfast with his mother and Jennifer.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
- Oh, there you are, dear. I'll just go and get your breakfast from the kitchen.
- Oh, thanks.
- I see your car hasn't been cleaned for ages, Arthur.
- What's the point, in weather like this when the roads are covered in snow?
- Here's your bacon and eggs, dear. Oh, by the way, the letter came for you about a fortnight ago. It was put into the hall table drawer accidentally.
*** *** *** ***
The old boys' association
St Mark's Grammar School Wallingford, Berks.
A Newton Esq., Pear Tree Cottage, The Green, Applefield, BERKS.
Dear Mr Newton, As you probably know, the school sports pavilion is being rebuilt after the fire last summer in which the changing-rooms were completely destroyed. This is going to cost over 6,000 pound so the Old Boys' Association is holding an informal dance on Saturday 18th February in the school hall. Tickets can be bought at the door. The price of a double ticket is 2 pounds. Refreshments are included.
We hope that this occasion will be supported by as many old boys as possible.
Yours sincerely, George Webster - Hon. Sec. Old Boys's Assn.
*** *** *** *** ***
- Oh, it's only from the Old Boys' Association. 'Dear Mr Newton … sports pavilion … 6,000 pounds … informal dance … Saturday, 18th February … Yors sincerely, George Webster, Hon. Sec.' Ha-ha, old George. I remeber he and I were smoking once behind the gym and were seen by the headmaster.
- Typical!
- Saturday the eighteenth - that's today.
- What’s today?
- This dance. It's being held in the school hall this evening. Oh, I don't think I go.
- Oh, why not, dear? Don't you want to see your old friends?
- Oh, yes, Arthur. Do let's go. I haven't been taken to a dance for ages.
- Hm, I can't dance, at least not very well. Besides the roads may be frozen and what's more I'm a bit broke at the moment.
- Oh, go on, Arthur. Be a sport. I'll treat you. Please, Arthur.
- Oh, yes, do go, Arthur. Jennifer's got a lovely new dress that hasn't been worn yet. She got it in the January sales in town.
- It's 2 pounds a ticket. You do realize that, don't you?
- That's all right. I can afford it.
-Oh, all right then. We'll go.
