Page 56 of Strangers in Time

They did so.

“It’s quite late. Is anything wrong?”

They shook their heads.

“Would you like some tea?”

They both shook their heads once more.

Oliver looked at his front window and said, “Here I am, an air warden, and I haven’t pulled my blackout curtains all the way. I should give myself a notice-of-light-showing card.” He pulled them fully shut before turning back to the pair. “Now, what can I do for you?”

Molly looked at Charlie. “Would you like to go first?”

“No, you go on ahead,” he replied in haste.

Molly took out the letters and explained to Oliver what they were and her mother’s being in a sanatorium in Cornwall. She glancednervously at Charlie as she did so, her cheeks turning slightly red with this admission.

“Perhaps you could read them and provide some advice,” suggested Molly.

“If I can be of assistance, but I’m certainly no doctor.”

He put on his specs, took out the letters, arranged them, and read the missives from first to last while Charlie and Molly looked on.

Finished, he put the correspondence back in their respective envelopes and passed them over to Molly. He took off his specs and wiped them on his sleeve.

“It does seem serious, Molly. Again, while I’m not a doctor, my brother is. Thus, I have heard the terms ‘social phobia’ and ‘neurosis.’ They can be quite difficult to overcome. And with any illness of the mind it’s not as simple as taking a teaspoon of castor oil or wrapping one’s hand with a bandage.”

“But shecouldget better?”

“Oh, certainly. I don’t know exactly what sorts of treatment they are referring to but I’m sure they are taking her best interests into account. Now, what does your father think of all this?”

Molly glanced at Charlie to see him staring earnestly at her.

She looked back at Oliver and said slowly, “He… he is very concerned as well. He has been in constant contact with Dr. Stephens, as you saw from the letters. He went out to Cornwall to take my mother there and has visited her often.”

“Then I’m not sure exactly what it is you want me to help you with. He’s in a far better position to answer all of your questions or take any needed action.”

“The fact is, my father is consumed with work at the Ministry of Food. He sometimes doesn’t come home at night. I felt that if I could relieve him of that burden, then it would make things better.”

Oliver frowned and shook his head. “You’re quite young to be relieving your father of such a responsibility, Molly. For instance, nodoctor would take direction from you with regard to your mother’s treatment. I’m not sure they would even discuss the case with you.”

“Iamher daughter!” Molly replied heatedly. “And I’m not a child. I’m quite nearly sixteen.”

“And if it were up to me, I would tell you everything about her condition. But, unfortunately, it is not up to me. And if my elder brother is any indication, members of the medical profession can be quite patronizing to members of the fairer sex.”

Molly’s spirits dipped. “But do you think it’s possible that I could visit her?”

“I’m sure if there is a way to do so, your father will arrange it and go with you.”

Molly said slowly, “The thing is, he is very busy. Days go by when I don’t see my father at all. I don’t think that it’s possible that he will be able to get away.”

“Perhaps you can ring them?” suggested Oliver.

“I tried but the line was not working.”

“Yes, that does happen very often now. But I’m not sure what I can do.”

“Is it such a long trip to Cornwall?” said Molly.

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