Free London Harmony: Flotilla by Erik Schubach

waved at the woman as I wove through the halls as more soaked children seemed to swarm in. I popped the brolly, and we braved the elements once again as we stepped out into the downpour.

Chapter 5 – The Call
    It wasn't half past eleven when my mobile started buzzing. I looked over to where it sat on the coffee table from where I was watching Wil color a stick figure drawing of his mum and sister. I had just been thinking I should start getting lunch ready for the little guy.
    I saw it was Gosling Primary and I idly wondered why they were calling as I reached for my mobile. Then I glanced at the counter of the kitchenette and saw Nat's lunch bag still sitting there. I winced, I was the worst sitter ever.
    I answered already anticipating the reason for the call, “Hello, I'm sorry, I'm rushing over with her lunch now.” I paused as the woman on the line spoke, and I blanched as I listened while the woman calmly spoke. Bloody hell.
    When she was done, I barked out, “I'm on my way!”
    Balls. Steph was never going to trust me with her children again. Nat had a little accident on the playground and had a bad cut on her arm, they thought she may need stitches. They tried Stephanie's contact number, but it went to voicemail. Of course it would, she would have her mobile turned off at work.
    I glanced out the window, it still looked like we were living through a Noah's Ark reenactment. I smiled at Wil, not wanting to alarm him, and prompted, “Right then. Let's get you back in your wellies little roo, we need to go get sister from school.” He dutifully ran off to get his rain gear as I pressed speed dial one in a subdued panic... the only number on my mobile.
    On the second ring, I got a familiar, “Go for Paya.” I would have grinned if I weren't in a mild state of panic.
    I blurted out a little swiftly, belying my raised anxiety level, though if it were more serious I'm sure the school would have called for emergency services, “Natalie's been hurt at school. I'm on my way there now. I can't get ahold of Steph.”
    She paused a moment then asked in a calm and measured voice, “Is it serious?”
    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, calming myself. I said a little slower, “She got a bad cut they think may need stitches. I told them I'm on my way there. Can you get word to Stephanie? Tell her I'm really sorry.”
    She chuckled a bit and assured me, “Kids get cuts. You have no control over what goes on at school. You sound like a guilty mother. If they are waiting for you, then it can't be anything too pressing or they would have sent for medics.”
    I nodded to myself as Wil stepped up with his boots. I stopped to help him into them as I said, “I thought the same, but I still can't help feeling guilty. She trusted me, basically a stranger with the wellbeing of her children and now one is hurt, and the other one is wearing his jacket backward.”
    I grinned at Wil, who was beaming with merry mischief as I pulled his jacket off and put it on the right way. The little stinker. I couldn't help but smile at him. I slid his raincoat over his jacket and said to Paya as I took the little one's hand and started to the door, “I'm ten from the school now.”
    She replied in that same calm voice, she was a rock under pressure, “I'm heading to the coffee house now. Remember to breathe woman. I'll call when I get to her. I'll have a cab meet you at the school. Ta.”
    A cab? Bloody hell, why hadn't I thought of that? Too late now, I could be at the school before it could arrive at the Tennison. Paya was always thinking. I snagged the brolly and said, “Ta.” I rang off and stuffed the mobile into my pocket.
    I smiled down at Wil and just hoisted him to my hip. We'd get there faster if I didn't have to slow for little legs. I popped the brolly and stepped into the second coming of the flood and double-timed it down the block.
    I was positively drenched by the time we stepped into the school. I exhaled, and that part of