Chapter
13.
Creamy the milk lady hadn't come round of an evening quite so much since she had been going out with Peter Bun, but she often popped in for a morning coffee instead, whilst out delivering the milk. One morning she had something special she wanted to ask.
'Ma' she said grinning. 'Peter has asked me…'
'Yes, yes yes .' squealed Ma.
Creamy started again. 'Peter has asked me if I know anyone who would like to buy a gypsy caravan.'
Ma and Jenny both looked really disappointed.
Creamy was still grinning. 'Well he has one in his barn, so if you do know anyone then let Peter know.'
'Yes, certainly.' said Ma.
Creamy looked across at Jenny.
'Oh and Jenny by the way, Peter said to ask you if you know anyone that would like to be a bridesmaid.'
'AHHHH' screamed Ma and Jenny together leaping onto Creamy and squeezing her.
'When did he ask you?' they both gushed.
'Last night.' squealed Creamy. 'Ma, I'd like you to be my matron of honour and Jenny and my sister Susan to be my bridesmaids. Billy is going to be our page boy of course. Peter asked him if it was OK with him if we got married and you know what boys are like, Billy just rolled his eyes and said 'Yer, Creamy's alright.'
'When,' cried Jenny 'When are you getting married, I can't wait.'
'Oh we haven't even spoken to the vicar yet' laughed Creamy 'but it will probably be before Christmas.'
Creamy looked so happy.
'I've already rung my sister Susan. She screamed in my ear and nearly deafened me. She thinks lemon and forget-me-nots for the bridesmaids would be nice unless it's really close to Christmas and then she suggested ice blue velvet with white fur capes.'
Jenny was so excited she just kept squealing and hugging Creamy. She didn't care what colour her dress was going to be, she just wanted to be a bridesmaid so badly.
That evening, before the scarecrow's supper round, Jenny and Ma sorted out some sewing things for Birdie Stump.
'I can't imagine how Birdie is going to hold a needle with her twig fingers.' said Ma.
'What is she going to sew Ma.' asked Jenny.
'Well.' said Ma thinking. 'We could give her some cotton threads, pins, needles, scissors and that bag of old ties from Captain Sam and perhaps a few old torn clothes and just see what she can do. Perhaps she'll just mend the clothes. We'll leave it up to her. At least it has stopped her wandering off.'
They put all the sewing things into a blue woven sewing basket and took it out to the barn. Birdie had arranged herself comfortably and set up some straw bales as an armchair. She was waiting impatiently for Ma to bring her the sewing things along with her supper. They were taking too long as far as Birdie was concerned. She was tapping her foot and looking very annoyed when they arrived. Birdie stared at the bag of ties crossly when Jenny handed them to her.
'Where's paper pesky scrag. Needs paper.'
Birdie then pointed at Ooty. 'OUT pesky puss, always tiddling on fings.'
Ooty quickly disappeared into the garden. Ma asked Birdie what kind of paper she wanted.
'Nooos paper. Go get.' ordered Birdie.
Jenny fetched a newspaper and watched in amazement as Birdie quickly began chopping it up into dozens of tiny diamond shapes. She was very quick and very neat. Every diamond was perfect.
'Well Birdie.' said Ma quite astonished as how nimble Birdie was with her twiggy fingers. 'We'll see you tomorrow and then you can show us what you've made.'
Birdie didn't answer, she was cutting up the newspaper as if her life depended on it. Ma and Jenny took the big baby pram and wheeled it out before turning on the light and quietly shutting the barn door.
'We'll start with the village suppers first.' Ma said. 'I think it's about time we asked Drippy and Lolly if they do want to get married, they might not want too.'
Ma needn't of worried as Drippy Mommet screamed at the idea of getting hitched and danced around the allotment hugging Ma and Jenny and crying 'Ooooh yes me bridie, oooh oooooooh, lubbly bridie.'
Drippy then followed Ma and Jenny to the garden where Lolly worked. Lolly's reaction was slightly different. She climbed into the pram, pointed to the hill farms like Queen Boudica in her chariot, and said.
'We goes tells Dickie. We's getting hitched, so there goes it.'
Drippy began jumping up and down again, she wanted to go tell Tater he was getting married too. So she climbed into the pram and sat on Lolly's lap. Luckily, Dickie Perch and Tater Sack seemed thrilled about it when they were told, rather than asked, by their excited girlfriends.
'We's getting hitched, so there goes it.' said Lolly wagging her finger at Dickie. 'You likes it and you lumps it.'
'Well I guess that's all settled then.' said Ma laughing. 'We all lumps it by the sound of it. Jenny and I will organize everything and you can have a double wedding in the barn after the harvest is brought home when you’re all on your winter break.'
Jenny was so happy. Now she had another wedding to look forward too.
Next morning Jenny and Ma were both still in their nighties giggling together in the bathroom while they brushed their teeth, when somebody knocked on the kitchen door. Ma leaned out of the window to see who it was. Below in the garden was Birdie Stump.
'Need sewin'. ' Said Birdie flatly.
'You are an early Birdie.' giggled Ma at her own joke. 'We've only just got up. Have you finished the other sewing already?'
'Corse. More.' Birdie sounded like she was very busy and needed to get on.
'Well we need to get dressed first and then see what you've done so far.' said Ma. 'You go back to the barn and I'll be over shortly with a cuppa tea for you.'
Birdie tutted, threw her bonnet wrapped head back and clonked off up the garden path.
When Ma and Jenny took Birdie's tea out to the barn they had a lovely surprise. Birdie Stump was sitting in her straw bale armchair with her arms folded, tapping her feet impatiently - But over her lap was an amazing multi coloured patchwork lap quilt.
'Did you make this last night?' gasped Ma.
'Corse.' was all Birdie said.
'But Birdie it's beautiful.' said Ma 'All these tiny little diamonds. They look like stars. I didn't realise you were so clever.'
'Course I is clever.' snapped Birdie. 'What you fink I is. Puddin' in a cloth.'
Jenny quickly smothered her need to laugh. Ma poured Birdie a cup of tea and sat next to her admiring the quilt, still amazed at how neat it was.
'Listen Birdie.' said Ma. 'Jenny has worked very hard and has a surprise for you. Would you like to see what she's done.'
'No. said Birdie. 'Pesky scrag go live in a ditch. Done sewin’ Ma. Suckies now.'
'Yes I haven't forgotten the sweets Birdie.' said Ma. 'But you come with us first and see your surprise.'
Birdie reluctantly followed Ma and Jenny back to the garden and round behind the runner bean frames.
'We know you don't like living in the barn.' said Ma. 'So Jenny thought you might like a house of your very own.'
'SHED NO. Smelly mickies.' declared Birdie spinning on her heels to go again.
'But Birdie there are no mickies.' said Jenny. 'Ooty made sure of that. It's a lovely little house and it's.. it’s called Birdie's Rest.'
Jenny had quickly made the name up but it sounded perfect. Ma opened the door to the shed club and Birdie forced herself to look inside.
'Look, it has a table and chairs to sit and have tea properly and lovely pictures on the walls. It even has curtains. It's a real house and it's just for you, none of the others can come in unless you invite them, and you can sit here and do any sewing that you want to do.'
Birdie was finking, she looked around and stroked the chairs with her old twiggy hand as a strange soft look gradually came over her hard wooden face that even Ma hadn't seen before.
'Birdie's house?' she asked quietly. 'For ONLY Birdie?'
Ma smiled at Jenny.
'Run and fetch Birdie's cuppa tea my little wren. I think she'd like to finish it in here now. I'll go and get her some more patching things.'
After that whenever the shed club met they played in the barn. Jenny said that Ma had to store some scarecrows in the shed for a while and none of the other kids minded at all. The barn was bigger to play in anyway. The straw bales made terrific boats and cars and there were plenty of seats for everyone when they had their egg, chips and bacon supper nights.
Jenny and Ma painted a wooden sign 'Birdie's Rest' and nailed it to the shed. Birdie was so proud, she even smiled at Jenny once, but only once. She swept and dusted her little house every day and even let Ooty in to search for unwanted mickies. Birdie was as happy as a scarecrow could be.
August 1940 had been the driest month that anyone could remember.
Farmers by nature being suspicious of any good luck, decided to bring in the harvest early, just in case September brought a flood or a hurricane. Ma and Jenny were now fully occupied with planning the eagerly awaited scarecrow's wedding. Lots of lists were made and Miss Flowerdew was given an order for flowers. She didn't ask who they were for, but she did say there would be no charge if she could hire Pinny Pipit again for a harvest festival display in the church. If Jenny hadn't taken Pinny over straight away Pinny would have galloped over to the shop on Ooty's back herself she was that exited to be going 'mogelling' again.
On the evening supper rounds the scarecrows now talked of nothing else but the forth coming wedding. The main topic of conversation seemed to involve something called Somerset sozzle juice. The recipe for making it seemed to cause some arguments but generally it involved boiling marmalade in gallons of water for days on end whilst gradually adding various apples, pears, hedgerow plants and bits of tree bark. Although Tattie Bogle was adamant a dead frog was always added between the rowan bark and the hawthorn leaves. Ma's sisters, Bluebell and Primrose, had written to say they 'wouldn't miss it for all the tea in china.' and would bring a selection of their best behaved scarecrows as guests. Primrose's husband, Oak, had already started brewing the barrel of sozzle juice. The wedding was set for the first Saturday in September - which was less than a week away. With so much still to do on top of their usual chores, Jenny was still determined to make wedding dresses for Lolly Sticks and Drippy Mommet. They were just eating breakfast and chatting about it when Ma dropped her butter knife on the floor.
'Oops.' grinned Jenny. 'Man on his way.' Naturally five minutes later there came a knock at the back door.
Even today lots of people still sadly find themselves homeless, but they usually tend to stay put in a town and rarely wander around the countryside from village to village as they did in the past. Tramps, as they were once called, because they tramped from town to town, were once a common sight and when one of the poor souls knocked on your door it was considered very bad manners to turn him away without giving him some food or clothing to help him out. Ma having a heart as big as the moon welcomed the tramp in immediately for a slap up breakfast.
Although the tramp, who introduced himself as 'Willow' was far scruffier than any of Ma's scarecrows, he seemed very nice and had a happy weatherbeaten smiling face.
'I thank you most kindly my hostess.' Willow said patting his tummy, after eating four eggs, sausage and bacon faster than a piglet. 'I can't say when I have eaten so well.'
Between three large cups of tea and several slices of bread and butter he told Ma and Jenny he was a travelling writer and collector of county tales, folklore and village customs. He was also expecting his 'ship to come in' as soon as his book was published. Then naturally he intended to re-pay every single person that had 'warmed him and supported him on his long quest.'
Before Willow left to continue his questing, Ma took him to the barn and kitted him out with a clean suit, an overcoat, trilby hat, plus gloves, scarf and leather boots. A fresh pork pie and a packet of jam sandwiches were in the over coat pocket when he waved goodbye.
'Willow was nice wasn't he.' said Jenny after he'd gone.
'Yes he was. Poor soul.' said Ma. 'I didn't like the look of his cough. He'll have to chase that come winter. Right then my Jenny wren, let's have a go at these wedding dresses today.'
Ma fetched her sewing machine and Jenny filled the kitchen table with the enormous jumble sale wedding dress.
'We can't just cut it in half Ma.' said Jenny 'or the dresses will only have one arm each.
'True,' said Ma. 'Do they need sleeves?'
Jenny thought about it then said.
'Perhaps they could just have wedding skirts and wedding shawls instead.'
'Why didn't I think of that?' chuckled Ma. 'I is a puddin' in a cloth.'
Ma and Jenny spent most of the day making the wedding outfits. There was enough material in the old dress for two full length lace skirts while the petticoat made two silky shawls which they trimmed with red paper poppies Ma had bought from Ocean and Rainbow.
'Ma.' said Jenny. 'Don't we need a vicar to do the wedding service? Or it won't be proper. Will it?'
'No we don't need old jackdaw.' chuckled Ma winking at Jenny. 'Country folk have married each other for hundreds of years, long before vicars come along and scarecrows are mostly just the same as us old country folk.'
'Well…if we are talking about scarecrow weddings then I might be able to help you there misses.'
Ma and Jenny stared opened mouthed at Willow's smiling face leaning in through the open kitchen window.
'So sorry. I didn't mean to startle you young misses.' he said. 'I just popped back to ask a favour and I'm afraid I overheard you chatting. Again, please accept my apologises.'
Ma was stunned and for the first time in years she didn't know what to say. Willow realised he had been eves dropping and now he felt ashamed, after all Ma had been so kind to him that morning.
'It's just.' he stumbled. 'I went to a scarecrow's wedding once. Down Dorset way it was. About ten year ago. And I just thought that maybe you might be interested in hearing about it.'
Ma and Jenny still weren't sure what to say.
'Anyway.' said Willow.' Perhaps it's not the best time to ask a favour now so I'll be off again then. Cheerio ladies and sorry again for interrupting.'
And Willow tipped his hat and disappeared. Ma looked at Jenny.
'Maybe.' she said 'If Mr Willow has really been to a proper scarecrow wedding then we should have a chat with him. See what he has to say about it. Find out if there's anything special we're supposed to do.'
Jenny agreed and they both hurried after him.
Willow had only gotten as far as the duck pond tree bridge when they caught up with him.
'You disappeared before asking your favour Mr Willow.' puffed Ma. 'How can we help you?'
'It's just Willow Miss and I am truly sorry for eves dropping on you. I have a bit of a cough and haven't been feeling too clever all week. I just wondered if I might rest at your abode tonight, a dry shed would be perfect. Dry my chest out a bit. Just for tonight and then I'll be on my way again.'
'Of course you can.' said Ma. 'And we'll see what we can find you for that cough. You say you went to a scarecrow wedding once. Jenny and I would love to hear about it wouldn't we Jenny?
'Yes please.' said Jenny. 'Was it fun?'
'One the best parties I've ever been too.' Willow winked at Jenny. 'Once the Somerset sozzle juice started flowing.'
Jenny and Ma made Willow very comfortable in the barn with plenty of blankets and a big bowl of rabbit stew for his supper. Ma then dosed him up with her homemade honey and rosehip cough syrup while Willow told them all about the scarecrow wedding ceremony.
'And did they really talk to you and dance with you?' asked Jenny.
'Of course.' said Willow. His dark brown eyes twinkling as he spoke. 'I've always gotten on well with scarecrows. Always stop and have a natter when I see one. Had an hour with a great sailor called Salty Tam the other day. He even had a proper wooden leg like a pirate. Terrific dancer he w
as. Showed me how to dance the horn pipe.'
'Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs.' said Ma. 'Salty is one of our gang. We're having a wedding of our own right here in the barn next Saturday.' If you're still in the area you'll be very welcome to come as our guest.'
'I might just do that Miss.' said Willow 'and thank you many times for all your kindness.'
Next morning Jenny ran to the barn to see what Willow would like for breakfast. But Willow had gone.