Free Call Me Sister by Jane Yeadon Page B

spotless chrome affair where both women were sitting at an island workstation.
    â€˜Which one of you had the bath?’ Marion slid down from her high stool and in a fussy way tried to dust off the fine layer of Johnson’s powder covering her husband’s trousers. ‘Just as well you took your jacket off.’ She looked at him in disbelief as he jigged the baby.
    â€˜Andrew likes company in the water and Sister Macpherson says he probably likes it on dry land too. Ha ha!’ he replied, now surely, genuinely smiling.
    â€˜That’s true,’ declared Sister Shiach. ‘Nobody likes to be stuck on their own all the time. I think babies need to be where the action is. That’s how they develop best.’ She fished out her car keys and swung them before Andrew. ‘And see how he’s watching these? We might take everyday objects for granted, but this is his first time to see these, and look, already he’s trying to grab them.’
    â€˜The consultant said he was a poor specimen.’ Marion spoke in a wobbly voice. ‘And not to expect too much of him.’
    Sister Shiach’s mouth tightened. ‘I don’t know how he could say that. We’ll just have to prove him wrong. Wait till the pair of you get him out in his pram. You’ll find nobody can resist this wee fellow!’ She patted his thatch of black hair. ‘But you’ll need a bit more practice combing this lot before you go anywhere.’
    â€˜I forgot to do that,’ said her husband, and pointing his finger at me, added, ‘and so did somebody else.’
    Marion wasn’t ready for banter. She bit her lip and looked doubtful. ‘Anyway, Neil, we wouldn’t be going out in this weather.’
    â€˜But at least we could take in the pram – we could use it to walk Andrew around, but inside.’
    â€˜Inside?’ Marion looked horrified. ‘The pram’ll take mud in on its wheels.’
    â€˜No it won’t. I’ll make sure they’re clean. Anyway, it’s never been used and the kitchen’s easily big enough to take it,’ Mr Ogg said, handing her the baby, ‘but would you look at the time? I need to get to proper work now.’ He nudged Sister Shiach in a teasing way. ‘But before I do and to save you lot nagging, I’ll get out the pram.’
    â€˜That’s a good idea.’ Sister Shiach was full of enthusiasm. ‘And as your office is so near the toy shop you could pop in and buy pram beads. They’re great entertainment for babies. Stimulating too. Sounds and colours make a great combination.’
    She put a hand on Marion’s arm. ‘And having an occupied bairn will give you a bit of peace and allow you some time to do your typing for Neil. No reason why you can’t do it at home, is there?’
    â€˜I suppose not,’ Marion said, tapping her chin with a perfectly manicured fingernail. ‘Sometimes I find it can be a long day, and housework’s pretty boring after a while.’
    â€˜Trust me, you won’t find it like that soon. Before long your son’s going to get you both very busy, but happy. Don’t forget that bit.’ Sister Shiach climbed down from her stool and turned to me.
    â€˜Talking of work, we can’t sit here all day. We’ve lots to get through before this afternoon’s staff meeting.’ She added with a touch of mischief, ‘We’ll be in the big meeting room at Council Headquarters and I hear the agenda includes a little drama. I’m looking forward to it and it should appeal to you, Sister Macpherson. Since you’ve arrived, there’s been no shortage of it.’

11
A SEVERED HEAD
    ‘Well in the end, the head had to be cut off.’
    This surely couldn’t be the little drama Sister Shiach had promised.
    She’d just introduced me to a roomful of women, stout-clad in gabardine, sturdy shoes and all with the windblown, slightly weathered