A Change for the Better? Read Online Free Page B
Author: Stephanie Drury
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CHAPTER 3
A few days later as Katie was returning from what was becoming a fairly regular morning coffee with Cliona, she arrived at the front door at the same time as one of Mo ’ s other guests. The girl was attempting to follow the guidelines for opening the door but with a folder under one arm and a long slim jersey skirt restricting her leg movements it was proving impossible. Katie arrived just in time to stop a string of expletives about to be uttered.
“ Oh hi, thank god you ’ ve arrived ” the girl looked at Katie with undisguised relief “ this bloody door won ’ t open - now there is a knack if you .... ”
Katie had already heaved and kicked against the door and was now bowling into the hallway again.
“ Oh ” the girl commented “ you know the knack - you must be Mo ’ s granddaughter. I ’ m Poppy, first floor right side studio flat ” Poppy extended her hand solemnly to Katie, which she took and shook with equal solemnity.
“ Delighted to meet you Poppy, I ’ m Katie and yes I ’ m Mo ’ s grand-daughter ” Katie replied “ It ’ s nice to see another of Mo ’ s tenants I ’ m afraid I ’ ve been a bit slow in getting round and introducing myself but I ’ m sure we ’ ll be seeing each other around, maybe we can have a cuppa sometime. ”
Poppy ’ s face broke out into a huge smile that transformed her plain features
“ Oh yes please - I ’ d love to, me and Mo often used to have a cuppa and a natter when I was off college or on a free period you know. ” Poppy headed straight to Mo ’ s door as Katie realised she intended to take up the offer right now and it was too late, without being rude, to retract the invitation.
Resignedly Katie opened the door and invited Poppy through to the kitchen. As Katie was making the tea, boiling the kettle and warming the pot, Poppy chattered on quite freely about her college course. It transpired she was a design student, specialising in jewellery design. She was in her second year and loved the course. Her ambition was to be a jewellery designer to the stars. She had already designed her own logo and name “ Poppy Seeds ”
“ You get it ” she laughed “ Ideas planted and developed by Poppy ”
Katie smiled back it was impossible not to be affected by this girl ’ s raw enthusiasm and delight in her passion. Katie looked at her again with renewed interest. She was a petite size, maybe five foot two; she had a shock of black hair with bright blue flashes here and there. She was wearing what Katie called a ‘goth’ outfit, long black jersey skirt, a black top and black Doc Martin boots. This was complemented with lashings of black eyeliner and mascara, but most eye-catching were the intricate trellis earrings that dangled below her cropped hair and the double looped necklace interlaced with amber coloured quartz. They looked stunning and very expensive.
“ Are those your own designs then? ” Katie asked
“ Yes ” Poppy replied “ I ’ ve just completed these for my second year free style project. ”
“ They ’ re beautiful - you must be very talented. ” Katie was impressed.
“ Thanks ” Poppy seemed a bit awkward accepting praise.
“ So, how do you normally get through the door - do you just wait for the next person to arrive? ” Katie asked, noticing her discomfort and changing the subject as she passed over a packet of biscuits for Poppy to open.
“ Oh no, eventually I have to put my folder down and hitch my skirt up. I can get a pretty good kick going with these on ” Poppy pointed down at her Doc Martins.
“ I would think so ” Katie laughed “ but one day you might go through it all together. I think maybe I should get someone in to fix it. I ’ m sure I saw a card for a builder round here somewhere ” Katie rooted through some drawers “ Aha! ” she proclaimed, triumphantly waving a small business
CHAPTER 3
A few days later as Katie was returning from what was becoming a fairly regular morning coffee with Cliona, she arrived at the front door at the same time as one of Mo ’ s other guests. The girl was attempting to follow the guidelines for opening the door but with a folder under one arm and a long slim jersey skirt restricting her leg movements it was proving impossible. Katie arrived just in time to stop a string of expletives about to be uttered.
“ Oh hi, thank god you ’ ve arrived ” the girl looked at Katie with undisguised relief “ this bloody door won ’ t open - now there is a knack if you .... ”
Katie had already heaved and kicked against the door and was now bowling into the hallway again.
“ Oh ” the girl commented “ you know the knack - you must be Mo ’ s granddaughter. I ’ m Poppy, first floor right side studio flat ” Poppy extended her hand solemnly to Katie, which she took and shook with equal solemnity.
“ Delighted to meet you Poppy, I ’ m Katie and yes I ’ m Mo ’ s grand-daughter ” Katie replied “ It ’ s nice to see another of Mo ’ s tenants I ’ m afraid I ’ ve been a bit slow in getting round and introducing myself but I ’ m sure we ’ ll be seeing each other around, maybe we can have a cuppa sometime. ”
Poppy ’ s face broke out into a huge smile that transformed her plain features
“ Oh yes please - I ’ d love to, me and Mo often used to have a cuppa and a natter when I was off college or on a free period you know. ” Poppy headed straight to Mo ’ s door as Katie realised she intended to take up the offer right now and it was too late, without being rude, to retract the invitation.
Resignedly Katie opened the door and invited Poppy through to the kitchen. As Katie was making the tea, boiling the kettle and warming the pot, Poppy chattered on quite freely about her college course. It transpired she was a design student, specialising in jewellery design. She was in her second year and loved the course. Her ambition was to be a jewellery designer to the stars. She had already designed her own logo and name “ Poppy Seeds ”
“ You get it ” she laughed “ Ideas planted and developed by Poppy ”
Katie smiled back it was impossible not to be affected by this girl ’ s raw enthusiasm and delight in her passion. Katie looked at her again with renewed interest. She was a petite size, maybe five foot two; she had a shock of black hair with bright blue flashes here and there. She was wearing what Katie called a ‘goth’ outfit, long black jersey skirt, a black top and black Doc Martin boots. This was complemented with lashings of black eyeliner and mascara, but most eye-catching were the intricate trellis earrings that dangled below her cropped hair and the double looped necklace interlaced with amber coloured quartz. They looked stunning and very expensive.
“ Are those your own designs then? ” Katie asked
“ Yes ” Poppy replied “ I ’ ve just completed these for my second year free style project. ”
“ They ’ re beautiful - you must be very talented. ” Katie was impressed.
“ Thanks ” Poppy seemed a bit awkward accepting praise.
“ So, how do you normally get through the door - do you just wait for the next person to arrive? ” Katie asked, noticing her discomfort and changing the subject as she passed over a packet of biscuits for Poppy to open.
“ Oh no, eventually I have to put my folder down and hitch my skirt up. I can get a pretty good kick going with these on ” Poppy pointed down at her Doc Martins.
“ I would think so ” Katie laughed “ but one day you might go through it all together. I think maybe I should get someone in to fix it. I ’ m sure I saw a card for a builder round here somewhere ” Katie rooted through some drawers “ Aha! ” she proclaimed, triumphantly waving a small business
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