Good Neighbours
Once, near Florence Park, 20 years ago, on Maidcroft road, there was a woman called Margaret.
Her neighbour on one side was her dear friend Mrs M. On the other was a lady in her 90s called Mrs H. who was rather deaf and always seemed to be complaining about something or other.
One evening Margaret had just got home from work when Mrs M. telephoned asking for her help.
“It’s about Mrs H.,” she said. “She knocked on my door and was really upset, saying those nasty Asian children from up the road has been shouting and calling her a thief. Can you sort it out?”
Margaret was puzzled. Mrs H. was always grumpy but surely not a thief!
The next day Margaret saw the children in the street and asked them what had happened the day before with Mrs H.
“It was Eid,” they said, “and our house was full of boring relatives so we went outside and had our own tea party sitting on Mrs H’s garden wall. We brought mum’s best cups and plates and had a little feast. Then we went home for a bit and when we came back all cups and plates had gone! We knocked on the old lady’s door but she didn’t answer so we shouted to her to give us our stuff back! She’s stolen all our stuff. Please can you help us! Don’t tell our mum or we will be in trouble.”
Later that day Margaret paid Mrs H. a visit.
“Those noisy children left such a mess in my garden,” said Mrs H. “I had to clear it all up myself. And then they came round shouting and calling me a thief!”
Margaret took all the plates home, threw away the old food and carefully washed up the beautiful china.
When Margaret told the children she had all their dishes, they were relieved.
They said “Please don’t bring them back, don’t tell our mum! Please keep them till Mum’s not around and we can put them back without being caught. Promise you will never tell Mum.”
A few days later they sneaked everything back to its proper place without their mother ever finding out.
Today Margaret still lives in that same house, and those same children still visit her from time to time, swapping stories and drinking tea.
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Her neighbour on one side was her dear friend Mrs M. On the other was a lady in her 90s called Mrs H. who was rather deaf and always seemed to be complaining about something or other.
One evening Margaret had just got home from work when Mrs M. telephoned asking for her help.
“It’s about Mrs H.,” she said. “She knocked on my door and was really upset, saying those nasty Asian children from up the road has been shouting and calling her a thief. Can you sort it out?”
Margaret was puzzled. Mrs H. was always grumpy but surely not a thief!
The next day Margaret saw the children in the street and asked them what had happened the day before with Mrs H.
“It was Eid,” they said, “and our house was full of boring relatives so we went outside and had our own tea party sitting on Mrs H’s garden wall. We brought mum’s best cups and plates and had a little feast. Then we went home for a bit and when we came back all cups and plates had gone! We knocked on the old lady’s door but she didn’t answer so we shouted to her to give us our stuff back! She’s stolen all our stuff. Please can you help us! Don’t tell our mum or we will be in trouble.”
Later that day Margaret paid Mrs H. a visit.
“Those noisy children left such a mess in my garden,” said Mrs H. “I had to clear it all up myself. And then they came round shouting and calling me a thief!”
Margaret took all the plates home, threw away the old food and carefully washed up the beautiful china.
When Margaret told the children she had all their dishes, they were relieved.
They said “Please don’t bring them back, don’t tell our mum! Please keep them till Mum’s not around and we can put them back without being caught. Promise you will never tell Mum.”
A few days later they sneaked everything back to its proper place without their mother ever finding out.
Today Margaret still lives in that same house, and those same children still visit her from time to time, swapping stories and drinking tea.
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