Page 35 of New Beginnings At Pencarrow Bay
A black swivel chair stood behind the desk, in front a metal beach chair with a ripped green-and-white-striped fabric seat: both had seen better days.
Sienna beckoned Peggy to join her, then sat down, Peggy peering over her shoulder as she opened the desktop computer and clicked on an email. ‘Look what came this morning.’
Frowning, Peggy bent to the screen, her hand resting on the back of Sienna’s chair.
The email was from: [email protected]
The subject line read: Peggy Gilbert
Dear Ms Rybicki,
I notice from your Instagram post that you’re employing Peggy Gilbert in your new forest school– which sounds like a very worthwhile project.
I hate to spread unpleasantness, but I feel I should warn you about Ms Gilbert, who left Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she was an English teacher, under a cloud.
There were allegations made against her, by more than one child, of bullying.
The hospital did not want any form of scandal sullying their spotless reputation– they have always depended on charitable support and the goodwill of donors– so they covered it up.
I would suggest you call her boss, head teacher Christine Prendergast, to confirm. But she has now left the hospital school and I’m afraid you will come up against a brick wall with those in charge.
I’m sorry to be the bearer of such grim news. But I feel that your wonderful project depends so much on the people you employ espousing and promoting your ethos of healing and regenerating the planet, and the distressed children in it. Bullying is the exact opposite of your dream.
Sincerely,
A well-wisher
Sienna looked up at Peggy, raising her eyebrows in question.
Peggy knew she had paled. She felt instantly sick. Stunned. But more than anything, bewildered.What? Who?
‘Kinda took me by surprise,’ Sienna was saying, as Peggy backed away from the computer and the poisonous email.
‘It’s… nuts,’ she replied, her voice little above a whisper. ‘I don’t understand.’
Sienna stared at her, a small frown on her beautiful face.
Peggy’s eyes flicked to the sender: R. Jones? Her mind whirred.Robert? Richard? Rachel… The names flung themselves around her brain but she was in too much shock to concentrate. ‘I don’t know any R. Jones,’ she said eventually. ‘Can’t think of anyone…’
Sienna shrugged. ‘I’m pretty thick about internet stuff, but I imagine that isn’t a real name. Or they’d have signed it.’ Both women went back to staring at the screen, as if by looking harder they could fathom the secret behind it. ‘Odd address too. Haven’t seen that one before.’ Looking up from the email, Sienna asked, ‘Whydidyou leave Great Ormond Street?’
‘Because we moved down here. I retired. Nothing more to it than that.’ She swallowed hard, tried to catch her breath. ‘I loved my job. And the children.’Why would anyone want to say any different?she asked herself desperately.
Sienna looked thoughtful. ‘This is all pretty strange, then…’
If it isn’t true, you mean,Peggy thought bitterly, remembering the beautiful banner the children had made for her:We love you, Ms Gilbert. We’ll miss you very much.
‘It’s just,’ began Sienna, ‘I can’t jeopardize the project, be seen to be hiring someone with a reputation for bullying…’
‘I haven’t got a reputation for bullying,’Peggy almost screamed. ‘This is total madness. Complete bloody lies.’Who? Who would say this?The question continued to reverberate in her head.
‘Hmm,’ said Sienna, biting the end of a yellow and green biro, which must have come with some vegetable delivery as it was in the shape of a corn cob. ‘So you’re not aware you have enemies? Someone who has it in for you?’
Peggy’s breath caught in her throat at the word ‘enemies’. She’d never been asked the question before.Who? Who?She couldn’t think straight. ‘I didn’t think I had. I’ve never had any trouble of any kindever. My employment record is squeaky clean, always has been. You can ring HR at the hospital and check. There’s no “brick wall”– that’s a ridiculous suggestion. They’ll have my records– I worked for them for fifteen years and I’ve only just left.’ She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest because she was suddenly trembling and cold. Thinking hard, her mind buzzing in chaos, she went on, ‘Plus I have a letter from Christine at home that she sent when I retired… saying how much I’d contributed and how much I’d be missed. I can dig that out. I’ve even got a photo of a banner the children made for me at my leaving party…’ The memory made her want to cry. Those beautiful, brave, damaged children had loved her. And this bastard, whoever he or she was, was trying to ruin everything.
‘Maybe I could speak to Christine, then. Even if she’s left Great Ormond Street. Or, yes, try HR. Clear this up once and for all?’ Sienna suggested.
Peggy sighed. ‘Unfortunately she died last Christmas, from a stroke.’ Christine was older than Peggy, but not bymuch. It had shocked and saddened her– she’d been an exemplary, dedicated teacher and a good friend. ‘But there were other teachers I worked with. Some will still be at the hospital. I can put you in touch with them.’ She thought of D’Andre and Louisa. Both would vouch for her, she was one hundred per cent certain. But, as she took a shaky breath, she realized proving her track record wasn’t the problem– Peggy knew she was entirely innocent, after all. The real concern was that someone, for reasons she couldn’t even begin to fathom, had decided unfairly to target her.
