The Clockwork Mouse: Part Two

'We are happy here, Sarah, aren't we, just the two of us. I don't know what I'd do without you.'

'Yes, Mum, you mustn't worry about anything.'

No, Sarah, I can depend on you.'

Where had Sarah heard that before?, oh yes, it was her boss, Mr. Brownlow. He had said it to her just the other day.

Sarah felt she was useful. She didn't want any more than that, or did she? She thought of her magazines: the lives of some people seemed so exciting, not like Sarah's at all, but then she had Mum to look after; she couldn't change anything. Secretly she wanted to meet a man, but what would mum say. She couldn't see her approving.

Sarah's cat Montgomery, or was it Mum's; it didn't seem to matter, it was just a cat, was playing with a ball of wool under the coffee table. Sarah picked the cat up and stroked its fur. Truth is, Sarah was a bit afraid of him.

'Oh, Sarah, my arthritis is playing up again,' screamed her mother.

'I'll get you your tablets.'

Sarah was good at playing nurse, a fact her mother Anne was well awarel of. It was then she noticed her mother's gift to her. She'd left it on the coffee table, a rather attractive powder compact. With a gold case it had a pattern of red roses, lilies and blue forget-me-nots done in enamel. Sarah loved it, mum was so considerate. What would I do without her? She powdered her nose, but wasn't she a tad plain? No man had ever approached her. She felt this sometimes; a soft pang of regret.

It was back to work tomorrow. Sarah worked at Spenlow's lenses factory. They made lens for spectacles and all sorts of scientific instruments, microscopes and the like. A new buyer was visiting the factory today, a Mr. Brightman from London and Mr. Brownlow had asked Sarah to deal with him. 

When Sarah saw Mr. Brightman she was immediately smitten, and although he thought Sarah a tad ordinary, he liked her affable nature. Soon they were talking and one thing led to another, but it was to be a full year before Sarah invited him home to meet her mother.

'So,' said her mother, 'this is what you do behind my back, consorting with young men' when Sarah entered the lounge with him.

'Oh, Mum, I thought you'd be pleased.'

'Pleased, I'm horrified, a young man and you just a girl.'

'Mum, I'm thirty.

'You are a girl, Sarah, you know nothing of men.'

'Please Mrs. Mountford' said Mr. Brightman,' there is nothing going on'.

'I should hope not. You cannot take advantage of us, young man, I'm telling you now.'

'No, of course not.'

Sarah was crestfallen. She'd had no idea her mother would feel this way.

'I think I better go,' said Mr. Brightman

Sarah took him to the door.

'I'm so sorry, mother isn't used to visitors.'

He left the house thinking I thought these attitudes had died with Queen Victoria.

Sarah knew in her heart she hadn't understood her mother til' now. She wanted to imprison her, but Sarah wouldn't say anything against her mother, mother is always right. Maybe that man is dangerous and mother is only trying to protect me. Sarah was satisfied her mother could do no wrong. The fault must lie with her, Sarah, a woman after a man. For the first time it seemed like something very evil.

The next week Mr. Brightman called again at the office. He'd noticed the cat Montgomery and had brought Sarah a present, a clockwork mouse. Sarah took the mouse to herself quite unaware of the meaning of the gift. Sarah could not change, all she could do now was dream; of things she could not attain, of a person she could never be.