Wirl's End Chapter 10.

Chapter Ten.

The Man with the Clipboard.

          Brian and Lexa were sitting on Brian's wall, as they often did. They were discussing the books they had just borrowed from the town library. They watched as Verity came back from shopping. As old Mrs. Turnkey used to do, she put the basket down and tried the handle on the Door. Satisfied that the Door was shut, she picked up her basket and went home.

          A few moments later, James came out of Number Three. He tried the Door handle, and then walked across the road into Number Four.

          Lexa said, "I told Verity about the spell being broken when her bell rang. She was very pleased, but she said that she did not think she would ever go back to the other world."

          "I went and told James about it," said Brian. "He was very pleased. He said that he would not be going back. He did have one piece of news of his own. Mr. Warder had spoken to him. Apparently when the families over there heard that Calizone and the king were looking for them, they ran away again. As far as James knew they still had not been found."

          "Idiots," said Lexa.

          They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Lexa spoke again. "I have been thinking," she said. "It is very strange."

          "Strange?" puzzled Brian. "In what way?"

          "Well, think about it. Two old people disappear without trace and two young people take their place, yet no-one says anything about it" answered Lexa.

          "It is rather odd," agreed Brian. "My mother went into old Mr. Warder's when James arrived. She said that the house was a bit musty and needed a good dusting and airing. But the thing that really got her was the number of envelopes with money in them. She said that there must have been thousands of pounds."

          Lexa nodded. "My mother went into old Mr's. Turnkeys when Verity arrived. She said the same thing. The house was beautifully clean and tidy. There was money in there too. She had to show Verity how to shop as well."

          "My mother said that she spoke to Mr. Warder on the speaking tube thing, and he said that Mrs. Turnkey and he had left the money for James and Verity to use. It was no use to them on their side of the Door."

          After a few minutes of thinking about the money, Lexa said, "I can tell you something else that is odd."

          "Go on," said Brian.

          "In the library this morning, the woman asked me if I had managed to find the place I was looking for on the road maps. When I said that I hadn't, she asked what I was looking for. When I said, Wirl's End, she looked puzzled and said that she had never heard of a street with that name. Then, she seemed to lose interest, and got on with putting books back on the shelves."

          "It is the same in school," said Brian. "When they ask where I live, the second I say Wirl's End they shake their heads and lose interest."

          Lexa nodded. "It is as if there is something stopping people from knowing about the place. We know it is here and where it is, but no-one else seems to."

          Just then, something happened that neither of them had ever seen before. A stranger walked down the road. He was carrying a clipboard, and as he walked, he wrote on the board.

          He walked slowly down the middle of the road until he reached the Door. He tried the handle. Verity and James came dashing out of the house. They spoke to the clipboard holding man. Then, to Brian and Lexa's astonishment, they went back into the house, leaving the man by the Door. He wrote something on his clipboard. He turned around and walked back to where the children were seated.

          "You must be Lexa and Brian." he said.

          They both nodded.

          He wrote something on his clipboard. He turned to Lexa. "You really did start something when you went through the Door. I hope you are not thinking of doing anything like that again."

          Then, before either of them could answer, the man turned and walked away.

          He knocked on Lexa's door. When it opened, he went in. A minute later, Lexa's mother came out and went over to Brian's house. His mother came out and they both went into Number Two.

          "Weird," said Brian. "Should we go in and see what is going on."

          Before Lexa could answer, her front door opened and Brian's mother signalled for them to come in.

          The clipboard man was standing in the front room. Lexa's mother was sitting in a chair on one side, and Brian's mother was in a chair on the other side.

          Lexa's mother patted the chair and waved Lexa over. She sat down next to her mother. Brian went to sit next to his mother. Nobody spoke.

          The man cleared his throat. "This is a bit difficult," he began. "I have to tell you that I am very sorry. My excuse is that I have been very busy elsewhere. You should have been sent a payment every month. It seems that you have not had the money now for," he consulted his clipboard. "Two years or so."

          He wrote something on his clipboard. "Mr. Warder and Mrs. Turnkey got theirs, but sadly, you did not. For some reason, the money was in your husbands' names, and when they left, it was assumed that the whole family had moved away. I can see now that that was a mistake."

          Everyone began to speak at once.

          The clipboard man held up his hand. "Wait," he said. "I have not finished yet. The money you are owed will be paid in the next few days, so you should be able to live here more comfortably."

          "Just who are you?" asked Lexa's mother.

          The man ignored the question. "I am not sure if this is good news or not, but I have organised the return of your men folk. They should be here sometime tomorrow."

          "What?" shouted Brian's mother. "He runs away and we hear nothing for two years, and then you tell me he is coming back."

          "You do not have to let him stay," said the man. "I have sorted it out so that as long as you live here, the money will be paid to you as it should be."

          He wrote something on his clipboard. "Now," he said. I think that is everything. Once again, I am very sorry about the problems this may have caused you."

          He held up his hand and waggled his fingers. Then he was gone.