Alexander (6)

6

The following morning Alexander and Luther were again chosen to work at Brook Manor. As they traveled Luther seemed uptight. He was peering through the crack in the van's rear door as he had done the previous morning, but this time he kept muttering to himself, as if he was making mental notes about something. Then, he sat on the wheel arch flexing his chubby fingers and staring at a point somewhere on the floor.

After their arrival, and as soon as Terry had left, they began work. Alexander knew that Terry wasn't happy with the previous day's effort so he was thankful that Luther had picked up a rake and was enthusiastically attacking the mulch covering the lawn. However, Luther’s new found enthusiasm didn’t last very long. Suddenly, he threw down the rake and walked off in the direction of the entrance gate. Alexander, exasperated, shouted: ‘Luther! Where are you going ?’

There was no answer. Alexander followed him for a while, but Luther surged ahead.

‘Luther! We have to work!’

Ignored, Alexander watched as Luther veered from the trackway and zig-zagged through the trees. What was he up to ? Was he having some kind of breakdown ? ‘Damn you, Luther. Damn you!’

Luther disappeared.

Alexander worked alone. There was still much to do in each section of the garden. Every now and again Alexander scanned the tall birch and pine trees that lined the trackway, hoping he’d see Luther. By midday he’d filled over twenty large bags with leaves and needed to rest. He set down his rake and drank what little water was left in his bottle. Still thirsty he decided to walk towards the house to see if he could find an outdoor tap, or better still, his elusive work partner.

As Alexander neared the easterly turret he heard an approaching car. A rather grand white Rolls Royce Silver Shadow was slowly advancing from the main gate. The car was so exquisite that Alexander stood to one side so as to get a good look as it passed by. Instead, the vehicle came to a halt. The driver's window eased itself down.

A woman was at the wheel - an elderly woman wearing a green tweed jacket. She said, in a forceful, commanding voice: ‘And who might you be ?’

Alexander took a step forward. ‘I've been instructed to clear the garden and pathway.’

‘Hmmph’ she said. ‘Well, you're not making a very good job of it, are you ? There's still an abundance of leaves near the gate.’

Alexander was going to mention Luther but thought better of it. Instead, he held up his water bottle: ‘I'm searching for water.’

He now saw there was a second person in the car - a black girl, aged eleven or twelve, sitting on the rear seat. She wore a glum expression, as though she’d recently been told off. The woman said: ‘Cassie - shall we let this workman have some water ?’

The girl gave a sullen nod of her head, as if the question was part of her punishment. ‘Wait at the front of the house’ the woman said to Alexander. ‘Cassie will fill your bottle for you.’

The Silver Shadow continued on its way. Alexander followed as the car came to a halt in front of the manor house's front porch.

Alexander was obliged to wait outside while Cassie replenished his bottle. The front door remained slightly ajar, allowing Alexander a view of the reception area and grand staircase. What opulence, he thought. How refined the interior furnishings looked! It was everything he had imagined a noble English country house might be.

When Cassie re-appeared she said: ‘Here - now I've got you something to drink.’

Alexander took the bottle and thanked her. ‘Do you live here ?’ Alexander said and just as the girl was about to answer the elderly woman gave a sharp shout - ‘Cassie!’ - from the top of the stairs.

‘Master Edward needs me’ Cassie said and closed the door.

Alexander walked along the trackway and sat on the remains of a felled tree. As he drank from his water bottle the woman emerged from the manor house and got into the Rolls Royce. She drove it towards the dilapidated garage at the far side of the house. But rather than park the Rolls-Royce she carried out a three point turn and drove towards the entrance gate. She didn’t acknowledge Alexander as she passed him by, even though their eyes briefly met, leaving Alexander to conclude that the woman, although wealthy, possessed little in the way of good manners. The car turned right out of the gate, heading towards town.

Alexander took another long drink from his water bottle and returned to work. Luther was still nowhere to be seen.