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ONE

THE CAT AND THE HORNBEAM TREES

Will tugged at his mother’s hand and said, “Come on, come on”

But hisback She was still afraid Will looked up and down the narrow street in the evening light, along the little terrace of houses, each behind its tiny garden and its box hedge, with the sun glaring off the s of one side and leaving the other in shadow There wasn’ttheir meal about now, and soon there would be other children around, to stare and coerous to wait, but all he could do was persuade her, as usual

“Muo in and see Mrs Cooper,” he said “Look, we’re nearly there”

“Mrs Cooper?” she said doubtfully

But he was already ringing the bell He had to put down the bag to do it, because his other hand still held his e to be seen holding his mother’s hand, but he kneould happen to her if he didn’t

The door opened, and there was the stooped elderly figure of the piano teacher, with the scent of lavender water about her as he remembered

“Who’s that? Is that William?” the old lady said “I haven’t seen you for over a year What do you want, dear?”

“I want to co my mother,” he said firmly

Mrs Cooper looked at the woman with the untidy hair and the distracted half-slare in his eyes, the tight-set lips, the jutting jaw And then she saw that Mrs Parry, Will’s mother, had put makeup on one eye but not on the other And she hadn’t noticed And neither had Will So

“Well” she said, and stepped aside to make room in the narrow hall

Will looked up and down the road before closing the door, and Mrs Cooper sa tightly Mrs Parry was clinging to her son’s hand, and how tenderly he guided her into the sitting room where the piano was (of course, that was the only room he knew); and she noticed that Mrs Parry’s clothes s in the washing ; and how similar the two of the sun full on their faces, their broad cheekbones, their wide eyes, their straight black brows

“What is it, William?” the old lady said “What’s the matter?”

“My mother needs somewhere to stay for a few days,” he said “It’s too difficult to look after her at home just now I don’t mean she’s ill She’s just kind of confused and ets a bit worried She won’t be hard to look after She just needs someone to be kind to her, and I think you could do that quite easily, probably”

The wo to understand, and Mrs Cooper saw a bruise on her cheek Will hadn’t taken his eyes off Mrs Cooper, and his expression was desperate

“She won’t be expensive,” he went on “I’ve brought soh to last, I should think You could have so”

“ButI don’t know if I shouldDoesn’t she need a doctor?”

“No! She’s not ill”

“But there hbor or someone in the family—”

“We haven’t got any fahbors are too busy”

“What about the social services? I don’t mean to put you off, dear, but—”

“No! No She just needs a bit of help I can’t do ittoI’ve got things to do But I’ll be back soon, and I’ll take her ho”

Theat her son with such trust, and he turned and smiled at her with such love and reassurance, that Mrs Cooper couldn’t say no

“Well,” she said, turning to Mrs Parry, “I’hter’s rooain”

“Thank you,” said Will, and stood up as if he were in a hurry to leave