On the Roof

The next day, young Thom dried his sweaty forehead as he looked down from the hot sunlit roof of the schoolhouse. The last hour of the morning class was held outdoors. All children were seated on the grass and the teacher strolled through the young crowd while gesturing with her hands. Young Thom could not hear what she was saying but he did notice her dance-like moves as she carefully avoided threading on hands or legs. Hoping not to get distracted halfway this time, he once again started to count the broken roof tiles. Of each part of the roof he carefully wrote down the repairs that was need of. By noon the school ground was abandoned and young Thom started some preliminary repair work on the roof’s woodwork. When he reached the chimney he stood up and overlooked the village. It was much smaller than he remembered it from his childhood. It had appeared endless at that time – always a new corner to discover, but now – having lived for about a decade in a city - the village seemed a miniature version of a medieval place. Young Thom pondered on how much the villagers were aware of the rapidly changing world around them but then was interrupted by a call from below. The teacher stood at some distance from the schoolhouse, a basket under one arm and waving with the other arm for young Thom to come down. A last time he looked around. The low sun was casting an orange-red glow on the forest that surrounded the village. In the distance the city could be seen as a purple silhouette. In an hour it would be too dark to work. He climbed down a ladder and laid it against the schoolhouse. As the teacher approached, he quickly dusted of his clothes. She uncovered the basket and inside could be seen a handful of carrots, some turnips, a courgette and a large chunk of red lam’s meat, partially wrapped in an old newspaper. Young Thom’s appetite was further whetted by the smell of the fresh mint that hung out of the basket. The teacher offered to turn all of this into a nice meal and having lived on a diet of bread, butter and eggs, young Thom was unable to resist.

Dinner at the Inn

The Deal

The blacksmith’s son had been very helpful – at least for as far as his age would allow for. Curious as he was, he’d always come by after morning school to see what young Thom was working on. Although the most essential work was done by now, young Thom had decided to continue repairs in the house – be it much at random, without a larger scheme in mind. His skills got to be well known in the village and soon he started to get requests for repairs here and there. Young Thom’s savings were not without end and so the new income was very welcome. One day the blacksmith’s son came by after school as always - this time accompanied by the school teacher. Some work needed to be done on the schoolhouse and the teacher wondered if young Thom was interested. As a teacher she did not have a large budget to spare and she offered to make him a new Sunday suit in repay. And while examining young Thom head to toe, she quickly added that perhaps some repairs on his current vestment might be of need. Young Thom looked down at his punched shirt and torn trousers and decided it was a good offer indeed.

Next : On the Roof

The Bakery

The next few days, young Thom worked hard in the old house to bring back to a decent condition the few rooms that he intended to use. Every morning he made a visit to the bakery for his daily ration of bread, butter and eggs. As the villagers stumbled upon young Thom in the shop, they had little alternative than to address him. Most often they would start by asking him small questions like were he came from and how long he planned on staying and always he would reply patiently and ask some small questions on his turn. One villager brought up memories about young Thom’s father but then suddenly halted, as if realizing where this path of conversation would lead to. Although his family was all that was on young Thom’s mind he thought it not a good idea to bring this up too early. For now he was content with the first breaches in the villagers’ defence.
One morning the butcher’s daughter entered the crowded bakery. As if a stranger had entered, all conversation came to a halt and after some unpleasant silence, the villagers started leaving one by one - even without their errands fulfilled. In no time only the butcher’s daughter and young Thom remained in the shop. He greeted her as friendly as possible – this being not without self interest as he realized she was well placed to know more about his family. And so he offered her to precede him – with an all too transparent excuse that she was probably more in a hurry than he. She kindly accepted the offer but it was to no avail. As soon as she received her bread she left again with a polite goodbye.
As young Thom strolled back to the Inn, he thought about how to proceed with his inquiries fearing he might have to turn some stones the villagers would like be left unturned. But the more difficult it appeared the more determined he felt. This week was to be the last of tittle-tattling.

Next : The Deal

The Blacksmith's Son

Before young Thom could even thank him, the blacksmith proposed that his own son would help to get the abandoned place in order. As the lad no longer had a mother nor an older brother he’d be better of giving a hand than to hang around with the other village brats.
And so, off they walked, the two sons of blacksmiths. Although young Thom had introduced himself to the boy, he got no response except for some fiercely peeking eyes. Then suddenly the boy stated his father was the strongest man of the village and probably of the whole country! Young Thom could not but laugh out loud at this as it was exactly the same thing he would have said at that age! Naturally the boy did not take this too well and insisted that it was all very true. Young Thom was willing to well believe it but could not help to add that no doubt his own father was the strongest man in his days!
While bragging back and forth they quickly reached the old Inn. The boy ran to the entrance while shouting he knew the best room in the house. Young Thom had little choice but to follow the expert. And indeed, it was the best room as young Thom confirmed to the proud boy, but it lacked usable furniture and the window was broken.
Without delay the boy ran away again, this time stating that he would quickly find the best bed available. The boy’s test methods were crude but effective. Out of a dozen beds that he jumped on repeatedly, only two did not break. After the bed was chosen, a quick examination of kitchen and bathroom showed that young Thom would need some tools for repairs and so it was off to the blacksmith’s place again. This time the boy bragged about the trail he was leaving. Young Thom looked over his shoulder and to his horror he saw a line made of drops of blood behind him. The boy had cut his lower leg during the bed jumping and indeed, a nasty cut could be seen, from which ran a constant flow of blood down to the sock and shoe of the boy. The blacksmith’s house was already in sight so carrying on as they were was the best option.
Young Thom feared the father’s reaction, but it was not he, but the son that should have been scared. As the blacksmith examined the cut, he promised the boy to give the wound a firm cleansing with soap and water. With a painful grin, the boy pulled away in agony for the excruciating procedure. Nevertheless the blacksmith sighed to young Thom that the lesson learned would not last merely a week. Young Thom smiled back – more in relief than in reply.

Next : The Bakery