St Ursula’s adjoins a small picturesque village called Compton whose railway station and the rural branch line survived Beeching’s Axe in the nineteen-sixties. I cantered through the narrow streets as quickly as I dare in my two-inch heels. One hand held my case and handbag, the other clamped my school beret to the back of […]

“Yes, Mrs Haverthwaite,” Daniel replied. He pushed his feet into the slippers he wears inside the house and began his regular routine; giving her bedroom a quick tidy, dust and vacuum, cleaning the bathroom, dusting the landing, vacuuming the carpet, polishing the brass doorknobs, sweeping the stairs, mopping and drying the hallway and kitchen floor, […]

Twenty minutes later and the driver announced over the Tannoy that the next stop was Denbury. I quickly checked my makeup before getting my handbag and case ready. The train pulled to a halt and I nervously joined the queue of people waiting to alight. Once on the platform, I checked the time; 10.22 and […]

Daniel returned to the utility room, kicked off the slippers and pulled on his socks, then removed the apron followed by the jet black housekeeper’s dress. He hung it on a hanger and recalled the moment Mrs Haverthwaite suggested he wore it whilst his clothes dried. I seemed horrendous at first but after a while, […]

Why are you wearing a dress? Are you a girl now? Do you like wearing dresses? “No… my mum made me wear it.” I muttered. “I hate it.” I sulked as I pushed past them and headed back to the house. “Oh don’t go Peter… please…” they pleaded, but I wasn’t hanging around. I went […]

Eight weeks ago I entered St Ursula’s wearing my own clothes. We all did. Some of us knew what to expect, some of the others clearly didn’t. After taking a mandatory shower, we were presented with a pair of knickers and a training bra, followed by our skirts, blouses, socks and shoes. It was a […]

Daniel embarked on his chores and stripped the duvet, mattress, and pillowcases, and dumped them in the laundry basket. He grabbed some fresh bedlinen from the airing cupboard on the landing, stealing a glance of his full reflection as he did so. With the bedding done, he set about giving her room a quick tidy, […]

The shopping trip itself was uneventful. Mum went to the fishmongers and pie shop, a home and garden store, and Superdrug where she bought herself some lipstick and a big tub of moisturizer before browsing some fashion stores, then doing the ‘big’ shop in a supermarket. Normally I’d just moan and wish she’d hurry up, […]

The newlyweds went away on their honeymoon and Mother came to spend some time with Agatha. They had a frosty relationship, to say the least. So much so I was relieved when my mother finally left. Agatha doesn’t seem to like people, especially those she’s related to. My mother is always on eggshells, sucking up […]