Page 80 of The Silent Appeal

Last night was lovely! Thank you for bringing me a cup of tea and a biscuit. Most unexpected. I believe that “secret” door is the original door between church hall and vicarage. The backstage area was reconfigured years ago and the passageway turned into a cupboard for the scouts.

I agree, the church is beautiful and peaceful, which is why I stay for longer than strictly necessary to lock up. I often sit in a pew and read or run through parish emails on the laptop. Reverend Richard is meant to lock up three evenings a week, but he’d have to drive from the curatage in Upper Lockwood and the vicarage is practically next door, so I volunteer.

So sorry to hear your friends are going through tough times and using you as their crutch. It’s a role we often find ourselves in—the listeners. I’ve been in friendships where there is a talker (them) and a listener (me) and that never changes. You, I’m delighted to say, are excellent at both talking and listening!

Unfortunately, we see very few young people at St. Barnabas these days as our congregation is aging. Children of parishioners who attend Sunday school don’t become regular churchgoers, and besides weddings and funerals, many never set foot in a church again. Even christenings are going out of fashion. It is a great privilege, Fran, to be confided in by young people, they are the future.

What good news that Nicky-Rose is transforming the play. I’m looking forward to seeing it in June. Celia always reserves Elizabeth and me front-row seats on the second night, usually between the mayor and the ladies from the care home who struggle to hear if they sit farther back. That reminds me, I should put June 6th on the kitchen calendar so we make sure to book a babysitter in good time. Thank you for reminding me! I might see you next Monday?

Yours truly, Rev. Josh Harries

P.S. The church, church hall, vicarage, and scout hut were all built in the 1950s. They were supposed to have been built in the late 1930s after the houses, but war intervened.

Undated page from a decorative journal belonging to Isabel Beck:

TODAY

Well, I should have another go at using this bullet journal. Every page is labeled “today” and I’m guessing that’s because it’s about mindfulness. After all, there’s no past (it’s over and done with) or future (it hasn’t happened yet), so all we have is today.

It’s today now, obviously, but I’d like to write about yesterday and the Fairways’ rehearsal. Nicky-Rose leapt onto the stage and took over directing from Kevin. She was incredible. She even spoke to ME! She said that Gerda is an important character. Me! Important!

I love being Gerda! She’s the best part I’ve ever had. The others were very small and didn’t really DO anything, but Gerda is a proper character with an arc, which means she changes as the story goes along. But that’s not the best thing! I’ve just heard that Kevin wants Emma to make TWO sculptures of me!

Henrietta (the character) makes them to illustrate Gerda’s devotion to her husband, who she is in love with. Emma has studied sculpture and John has given the go-ahead to buy some clay. I’m sitting here eating my chia bar and wondering if Kevin’s right and that I’ll have to “sit” for Emma! I’m torn between whether that might be exciting or dull.

I wonder what happens to the sculptures afterward? Does Emma keep them because she made them, or can I keep them, because they’re of me? I could find somewhere for the big one in my flat and display the small one at work so it’s a talking point with patients.

My eleven o’clock should be here soon, so I’d better put this journal away. Who’d have thought going back to Lockwood and the Fairway Players would open up such a world of possibility? It’s still today, of course, and I’m at work in Little Fowey, helping a stream of (mostly) elderly people see better, so nothing has changed in that respect. It’s just that today I know something new: Fran is yesterday and Nicky-Rose is tomorrow.

To: Nicky-Rose Dearing

From: Stuart Kinsella

Date: February 11, 2025

Subject: Re: Hi

Hi from Jakarta. Saw a cruise ad at a bus stop and thought of you. Old couple with champagne watching dancing girls at a big show. All photoshopped. Funny how you know something isn’t real but it lifts your mood anyway. Stu x

Message exchange between Carol Dearing and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on February 11, 2025:

12:18 p.m. Carol wrote:

So Nicky-Rose went to Fairways last night.

12:22 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Correct. But seeing as we aren’t speaking you can ask her how it went.

12:24 p.m. Carol wrote:

Incorrect. I can’t. She’s out “for a run.” First exercise since she arrived. I gather her input was well received.

12:27 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Correct. She saw nuances no one else spotted. Spoke and everyone listened. Apparently entire group applauded her energy and vision. The set is being rebuilt to her specifications.

12:30 p.m. Carol wrote: