I was late leaving, and it had started raining. It was beginning to get dark a lot earlier too, which always made me feel as if I had, in fact, worked a twelve - hour day, rather than nine 'til three. It was a perfect start to what was undoubtedly going to be a perfect weekend, stuck in the house with the mother - in - law and the kids. Great.
I hurried out of the gate, along the lane and onto the fields. The wet grass snapped at my ankles, wrapping round my socks, but I just didn't care. The kids had been hell, as it was the last day of term, and they knew there wasn't too much we could do about it, most of them hoping that by the time we had come back after half term we had forgotten. We probably will. I wanted to go home and get some peace before chaos descended there too.
My headphones were wrapped round themselves in my pocket. I don't know why I ever bought the tangle - save things; they never sorked that well. Not as well as they were advertised to work. I untangled them, eventually, and plugged them into my phone.
Fence. Jump. Hands got wet...
Song change. Skip. Skip. Stay.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. "H~~o M~ Fi~~r!"
I took my headphones out.
"Sorry, Father?"
"I said hullo, Mr. Fisher! You're late home today, no?"
"Yes, Father, end of term and that. Can I help you?"
"Oh, I don't know, tobe honest. I think I heard a woman shout a few minutes back, came out to look. Have you seen anyone?"
"'Fraid not, too busy in my own world."
"It's probably nothing. Worth a look though, eh? Well, i'll leave you on your way. Have a nice week off."
"Marking. Yes. At least I'll be working from home." I laughed a little. People think us teachers leave work and then that's it for the day. That's just not how it works. "See you, Father."
"All Hallows' service is on if you're interested."
"Mm." Not my bag, but okay. Maybe we can take the mother - in - law.
I hurried ahead, the conversation having ended when the vicar had given me permission. He trailed behind, in the same direction, probably returning home too. I slid up the path at the side of the vicarage and got back onto the main thoroughfare in the town.
I turned left to walk down the hill. I could hear a car wheelspin over the sound of the music, but with no idea where it was coming from, I took an earbud out, just in case. A car span out of a side street on the other side of the vicarage, cut in front of me and sped onto the road. It drove off in the opposite direction to my house, which was just as well. It meant they weren't going to stop and kick off at me because their poor driving had nearly caused an accident.
