C.C. Benison - Twelve Drummers Drumming

Copyright 2011 Douglas Whiteway

All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication, reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of the publisheror in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, license from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agencyis an infringement of the copyright law.

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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Benison, C. C.
Twelve drummers drumming / C.C. Benison.

eISBN: 978-0-385-67014-2

I. Title.

PS8553.E5135T84 2011 C813.54 C2011-902490-X

Twelve Drummers Drumming is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in Canada by Doubleday Canada,
a division of Random House of Canada Limited

Cover design: Marietta Anastassatos
Cover illustration: Ben Perini

v3.1

Inhabitants of Thornford Regis

Visitors to Thornford Regis

Thornford Regis TC9 6QX

26 M AY

Dear Mum,

When I sat down to write this mornings letter, I couldnt help but think about that May Fayre 30 years ago when I moved back to Thornford R from London, you all dressed up as always in that red shawl Dad found that time at Newton Abbot market and your pink brocade turban with Grannies ruby broach stuck in. I remembered when I was little I thought you looked like the Queen of Persia. Everyone whos old enough in Thornford says the May Fayre never had a more beautiful fortune-teller than you. I still have our old golf goldfish bowl you would turn upside down to make a crystal ball. Its sitting on my window ledge right now picking up the sun which has now climbed well over the hills. I put heliotrope and white roses from the vicarage garden inside it. The blooms look to be glowing. So pretty, I think. No sense putting goldfish in the bowl as Powell and Gloria, being cats, would make a meal of them in a minute! Funny that bowl surviving what happened that terrible day. Perhaps, now I write this, I shouldnt stir memories of the last time you told fortunes at the May Fayre. The sudden storm that year was like nothing on earth and of course, Mum, I know youve always thought you and Venice Daintreys husband were being punished, but really it was only chance Walter pulled the Death card from your tarot pack and then got struck dead by the same lightenin lightning that made you deaf. If only he had listened to you and stayed inside! Well, I really mustnt go on about that now, must I. Its so long ago. The weather report says were to have sun all day today and as it is the new vicars first May Fayre we wouldnt want anything to spoil it. I dont think theres anywhere lovelier than Thornford in May! When I pushed my head out my bedroom window earlier to take in the smell aroma of the late blooming lilacs, I looked down on the garden and the dew was shimmering on the grass near the border of pinks and making all these perfectly wonderful miniature rainbows. There were two larks singing a duet in the sky over the copper beeches near the millpond and the sparrows were splashing away merrily in the birdbaththat is, until they spied Powell slinking towards them. Hes such a clever cat, although I do wish he wouldnt pick on the birds so. I fear Mr. Christmas may wake again to a nasty surprise in his bed as Powell and Gloria are much taken with him and like to offer him little treats. Im not sure the feeling is recep shared, but Mr. Christmas does try to accommodate himself to our little country ways. So good to have a proper vicar back in the vicarage after all these months. And someone who likes my cooking! Its been very dull me preparing meals just for me. But with little Miranda we are now three! I wonder if we shall be four ever? I read somewhere once that everybody knows its acknowledged everywhere universally that a widower in possession of a very nice cottageor a decent stipend (sorry, I cant recall what exactly)must be in want of a wife. We shall see with Mr. Christmas. When he was appointed and his picture went intothe parish magazine, it caused a bit of a stir among certain folk in the village. But the last vicar caused a stir, too, for the same reason and look what happened to HIM! Anyway, Mum, I mustnt rattle on. Today promises to be very busy and eventful at Purton Farm. Theyll start putting up the tents before very long and getting everything ready. Theres one new thing this year. Japanese drummers instead of the pipe band! The drummers arent Japanese, though. Theyre a dozen students of Mrs. Henniss. Its the drums that are Japanese and a couple of them are enormous! Anyway, must go and start getting breakfast ready. Cats are well. Love to Aunt Gwen. Glorious day!