THE KATES HILL PRESS, DUDLEY, ENGLAND

STORY OF THE WEEK, #13, AUTHOR, TOSSIE PATRICK

NOW AVAILABLE IN “TALES WITH A TWIST”

ISBN 978 1 904552 20 8. £3.00 plus 50p p&p from the Kates Hill Press.

THE CABINET

When Edna and Jack Harper saw the old cabinet in the antique shop they knew they just had to have it.

“Its lovely”, said Edna, “and it would look great in the corner of our lounge.”

Jack agreed it was just right for that corner. They enquired the price and were a little taken back when the antique dealer told them for it was much more than they had anticipated.

“I dont think we can afford it dear”, Jack remarked to his wife.

“Oh dear I am disappointed”, Edna replied, “but if we can’t, we can’t and that’s it.”

The antique dealer could see by their faces how upset they were and he said, “I could come down £30 pounds, but that’s as far as I can go, you see, I know the person to whom it belongs and as she is a very old friend of mine I told her I would try and get a good price because it is a genuine piece and worth every penny I am asking.”

As he was speaking Jack and Edna looked at one another, each mentally doing sums in their heads, £30 pounds less, maybe… yes, maybe they could manage it if they economised in other things, and it was a beautiful cabinet and that corner was simply crying out for it. She caressed the top of it and it felt like silk the wood shone and the carving on the drawers around the handles was so intricate and delicate she could almost see the carpenter at work loving every small piece he gently chiseled away. Yes, a lot of love and care had gone into the making of it, and she would love to dust and care for it herself.

They had a little talk and decided they would buy it.

The dealer said, “I don’t think you will regret it, and I know its going to the right people, for I can see that you both love fine craftsmanship.”

It was then arranged for it to be delivered next day and after giving their address Jack paid by cheque and they went home.

Edna couldn’t sleep that night for thinking about the cabinet, and when she did finally manage to drop off she had a strange dream about it and when she woke next morning the dream was still vivid in her mind. She laughed to herself, I must be crazy she thought and didn’t say anything to her husband.

It was Saturday and they waited for the cabinet to be delivered. It arrived at three o’clock in the afternoon and was carefully carried into the lounge.

“Will you please put it there in that corner… Yes… Just there, thank you. Oh doesn’t it fit beautifully, and even the delivery men had to agree with her, for it seemed as if the cabinet knew where it belonged. After they had gone Jack and Edna were looking it over, in the cupboards and the drawers, when Edna remembered her dream.

“Jack,” she said, “you’ll probably think I’m mad, but I had a strange dream about

it last night”, and when Jack looked at her a little oddly, she carried on. “Yes I know what you are thinking, but I dreamt I saw a woman in late Victorian dress opening a secret panel in it, now let me see,” and Edna put her fingers on the front of the cabinet. “The Victorian lady pressed one of the carved flowers somewhere here, where there was a ring of roses de1icately carved on the front panel, Edna pressed and as she did a panel sprang open. She gasped, “here it is Jack just like I saw it.”

“Good heavens,” said her husband, “is there anything inside?”

Edna put her hand in and excitedly pulled out a small black velvet bag. It was wedged in very tight for it was only a very small cavity. Tremb1ing, she opened the bag and to their amazement inside were six beautiful gold sovereigns.

“Oh Jack,” she said, “we were meant to buy this and find the secret panel, I’m sure now, because in my dream the woman turned right around and gave me a look as if to tell me she was so glad her cabinet had come into our possession.”

Jack had to agree it had been a wonderful buy. But Edna never had another dream about it at all.

Tossie Patrick