Welcome To The Pack

Chapter 6 - Eden

The next few days were filled with getting things organised with the girls going to pre-school and school in the nearest town, getting my personal details updated with our new address, and getting the house sorted. There was plenty to do to fill my days and keep me busy.

We also managed plenty of visits to the local play park which the girls absolutely loved. And I have to say I was quite impressed with it too. For the size of the village it had an impressive collection of climbing frames and obstacle course type play equipment.

Unfortunately it didn’t seem like it was a the friendliest of villages. A few times when we had been at the play park, it looked like others mums were going to come in with their kids but they seemed to take one look at us and leave again.

I felt bad for Imogen and Elodie. It would have been nice for them to get to play with other kids. And we had seen other kids playing together in the park when we had driven past on the way to the Supermarket. Maybe it would just take time to get to know folk.

On Friday morning, I was outside the house packing the girls and their stuff in the car when an old lady, who was walking down the road with her dog, stopped and said hello. I got such a shock I almost dropped the girls bags on the ground!

“Hello dear. Sorry to frighten you. I’m Doris from up the road.” She introduced herself. “And this little chap here is Teddy” she finished indicating to the dog.

He was a cute little white fluffy thing that would have both my girls instantly falling in love with and I already knew I was going to get asked daily if we could get a dog for a long time to come.

“Hello” I replied, “I’m Eden and these are my daughters Imogen and Elodie.” Both girls smiled before giving Teddy a little pet and I shooed them away towards the car.

Doris went on to tell me all about how she had lived here since the houses were built and told me all about how her late husband, and the other men in the street, had worked together to do most of the building. Her face turned up at that point.

“But then” she explained “the quarry got sold and a lot of the original residents moved away and new folk moved in”

“Oh that’s nice” I stated. She gave me a dirty look.

“You’ll be wanting to watch out tonight” Doris continued “Friday nights are when they all get together up at the big house”

“They?” I asked.

“Yes, them lot.” She went on.

Suddenly Teddy, the sweet little dog, starts running round in circles and barking like crazy and the old lady looked around to see what has set him off. I look up to see the postie coming down the path and have to laugh to myself when I realise Teddy is going crazy because of the postman!

Doris quickly grumbles her goodbyes and ushers Teddy away as quickly as either of them can manage. I’m still laughing to myself when the postman hand me a couple of bits of junk mail.

“What is it with postmen that always makes dogs go crazy?” I ask and look up at the postman. He has his eyes narrowed at Doris and Teddy’s retreating forms, and just shakes his head.

“You must be new here, you inherit the house?” He asks.

“Nope, just bought it off the guy that inherited it.” I reply. He gives me a long look.

“Don’t listen to a word Doris says. Likes to stir trouble that one.” He states and off he goes to finish his round.

I pause form a moment and frown at him. This village just gets crazier and crazier I think and turn to get the girls strapped into their car seats.

The tingle of unease, like that feeling of being watched, that I had the other night returns. I glance around but Doris and the Postie are out of sight now. Must just be another curious neighbour I decide and shrug it off.