The Water Baby

The Gray family were not the sort of family to be phased by ghosts but having lived in a modern four bedroomed house in Saffron Walden, they were hardly likely to meet one but now the time had come to move into the country as Phillip, their youngest was an asthmatic so the doctor suggested they moved into the countryside.

It was a Saturday morning when the entire family got up early as an appointment had been made to view a long house in Medlin, Suffolk.  Anita, who was fifteen, was far from thrilled at the idea as she would feel restricted whereas Phillip was very enthusiastic, besides he knew that the parents were making a considerable sacrifice to improve his health. 
    "We may not even be able to get the house, depends what they ask for, Anita," her father saidShe pulled faces, folding her arms, clearly disgusted by the idea yet convinced they would pull all strings to achieve their aim.
   "Don't be silly now, Anita, you are fifteen, stop behaving like a spoilt child and get on with your breakfast, we will be late otherwise and these poor people have other things to do than sit around waiting for us."
      Sulkily, she resumed her breakfast, fighting the urge to stick out her tongue, mumbling that it was not fair as she would have to move to another school as this would be out of the catchment area.
    "Is there anything wrong with a new start in life?" asked her father
    "Yes there jolly well is, Dad, I would have to make new friends and leave my best friend, Judy behind," she cried belligerantly.
    "Look, let us wait and see, you may feel differently by the time you get there, there will be more space, a lovely garden to sit out in with your friends, there is a conservatory to take shelter in if it rains, all manner of benefits.  Who knows there could be all manner of activities to be involved in."
    "In a small village with not even a post office, the nearest is Pellerton Priory."
    "Stop making a fuss, Anita please," her mother chided sharply "You are not taking charge of this family and where they live. Just wait and see.  If you have finished, either of you, go and clean your teeth." 
    "Thank you mummy," Phillip said, taking his and Anita's empty plate away to the kitchen, placing it in the dishwasher.

   They arrived at the house with ten minutes to spare, although Anita periodically tried to needle Phillip, he simply ignored  her petulant bullying, rendering a sharp reprimand from their mother to leave him alone as he looked out at the rolling Suffolk countryside, bathed in pale milky sunshine that was architypal of early spring with the leaf buds pushing through.
    Mr and Mrs Reed who had owned the house for over thirty years were downsizing and moving into Nedsham Market which was twelve miles away, greeted them as they apologized for being late."
    "Good heavens, you are not late, you are early, now why don't we have a civilized cup of coffee and a biscuit, perhaps the youngsters would like something else."
    "No, please do not trouble yourselves, coffee would be lovely," Phillip said.
    "It will be no trouble at all," she eyed them kindly, observing especially Phillip's palour since his recent severe attack that warranted an immediate admission into hospital.
   Everyone gathered in the massive kitchen with light oak deal table, unvarnished yet washed over. Behind, was a dresser with plates, cups and saucers.  A kettle was already boiling on double aga. Mrs Reed was a moderately plump lady, a sort of cuddly grandmotherly woman with salt pepper hair, wearing a bright green T shirt and a pair of summer slacks as it had become very warm.  Mr Reed was wearing a pale washed green pastel polo shirt with a light pair of trousers, talking to Phillip.  Anita sat morosely, not looking at anyone particularly but barely disguising her annoyance for she had hoped to have gone to Cambridge with her best friend.
    "Your daughter does not appear happy about the move does she?"
    "No, not really but she will have to learn not to be so selfish now and put up with it," her mother said, barely disguising the growl in her voice as she looked at the pouting lips of her daughter.  Phillip was entranced with listening to Mr Reed who was telling him about the gossip of the locality.
    "He's enraptured isn't he?"
    "I think he wants to be a journalist when he is older. He does write very good accounts of events he has been able to attend to the school newspaper, especially school outings and sometimes places we visit locally."
    "I gather he has some health problems."
    "He has very bad asthma from time to time," his mother replied "The two are chalk and cheese really."
    "Children invariably are," Mrs Reed responded with a weary half smile as she poured coffee into mugs.  "Help yourselves to biscuits if you want. "We have twins but they used to fight like kilkenny cats at times, thankfully they live apart, one in Yorkshire, the other down in Somerset.  That is why we are now downsizing, it is too big for us now, not to mention expensive.

    As they inspected around the house Phillip looked across the lawn from the upstairs and saw small toddler walking towards the pond.  He froze, petrified, shaking his father's hand then started to gasp.  "Just calm down, Phillip."
    "Daddy, he will drown, we must go and rescue him," he whispered almost tearfully.
   His father looked out across the lawn but there was nothing there.  "Look again, there is nothing to worry about. I can assure you, you had a daydream that is all."
    "Please, Daddy, believe me, I saw it."
    "Stop making a fuss," he growled " just follow the rest please."  Phillip suddenly felt frightened, his parents had alwasy treated him with the utmost tenderness and care and now he was being rebuked for something he had clearly seen. His mother looked at them both quizzically.
   "Don't worry, Emma, he thought he saw a baby walking towards the pond."
   "Maybe some mother ....." She stopped when he saw her husband's warning looks. "Just ignore him."

"Well, what do you think?" Mrs Reed asked smiling, clearly hoping that the Gray family would take it on as they wandered around the garden.
    "It is lovely with wonderful views across the valley."
    "Yes it is," she said wistfully. "We leave with regret but honestly, we rattle but we know it would be unfeasible to stay.
    "Lovely pond isn't it."
    "Oh yes, we put mesh, we were advised to keep it there when we first arrived, apparently a young baby fell in, I believe it was their grandson when the family were visiting. Oh dear, I hope we haven't put you off with tales of the supernatural," she said as Phillip glanced at his father pitifully yet felt vindicated.
   "Well, it is within our price range, Mrs Reed, three point five thousand, a very fair price, in fact more than fair with what you have.Frankly I doubt that a ghost is going to make the least bit of difference, if anything, will add to the character, giving how old the house is."
    Mrs Reed was not just relieved but ecstatic. "Oh I am so pleased, I am sure the children will come to love it here, there are good schools in the area, two very good ones in Southbury to choose from and Hudston in the other direction, not a big town but lovely all the same."
    "Well, let us go in and make arrangements, perhaps move in at the start of the school holidays as our son is in the final year at middle primary and our daughter will want to finish off her term. Give you time as well to make arrangements unless you are in a hurry to move out."
    "No, that will be fine with us."  
 Phillip left his sister with his parents to explore the garden, giving the pond a wide berth nonetheless, wondering how she knew what was on his mind yet strangely now, he felt relieved that someone believed in the existence of the waterbaby.