Myself and cousin Karen looked at each other.
This was with the look that now appeared to be the look that we would be giving each other every time something was not going right or to plan.
When we gave each other this look nothing needed to be said.
The Look was enough.
It was however Karen who was the first one to whisper something.
“That’s all we need.” said cousin Karen with a sigh.
Myself, I just stood there silent.
I had already been through enough in the last day or so.
The Transformation from Peter to Patricia was moving at a rate of knots.
I was even starting to imagine to myself that come Monday, I will probably have loots all traces of boyhood completely.
As to whether this would be a good or bad thing remained to be seen.
However, for now, it appeared that as if the bus ride had not been enough, Aunty Shirley was now going to be accompanying us to the local school outfitters.
To aunty Shirley, this was like a special day out for her.
It was like a Church outing, Church fete, and Church Jumble sale rolled into one.
The fact that Nanny Mitchel had actually invited Aunty Shirley to come along and give her opinion filled our aging aunty with joy.
Normally Aunty Shirley would not have to be asked to give her opinion.
She would just give it instinctively.
It appeared like a long walk to the school outfitters, when it actually only took seven or so minutes.
It came as no surprise that all the way there Nanny Mitchel and Aunty Shirley waffled on, putting the world to rights.
Normally when this waffling took place myself and cousin Karen just blocked it out.
However, when Nanny Mitchel was in the company of others of her age group, it appeared she could never help herself.
She had to continuously correct us two as if she had a point to make that she was in authority.
“Stop Dragging your heels, Karen!” was Nanny Mitchel’s first command of correction aimed at my cousin.
So as not to leave me out of this pointless scolding, this was followed by,
“Stop fidgeting Patrica, or I will give you something to fidget for.
Naturally, Aunty Shirley was never slow to interfere with a further scolding.
“I am sure Mrs Hegitey has a nice big slipper to use on those who fidget Dorothy.
Oh yes, she does Shirley, I have already felt it.
Nanny Mitchel realized that she had just dropped a clanger, in that she had said something she should not of done.
This made her go slightly red in the face.
Aunty Shirley gave her one of her “I seek more information looks,” that she gave when seeking more information.
Cousin Karen and I looked at each other and immediately started earwigging.
We had heard the sounds of Six of the best being administered whilst standing outside Mrs Hegiteys office.
Now it appears that Mrs Hegitey had given Nanny Mitchel a full demonstration.
Nanny Mitchel seemed ill at ease with the clanger she had dropped and was quick to change the subject.
However, this was possibly a little too late, for Aunty Shirley had already stored the information in her memory bank.
This information possibly could, or almost certainly would be used at a later date.
It had been many years since Aunty Shirley had had to administer any form of discipline and secretly it appeared she missed doing so.
In order to change the subject Nanny, Mitchel took it upon herself to administer another one of her scoldings to.
This time it appeared the scolding was aimed at Karen.
“I won’t tell you again Karen, stop dragging your feet, you will ruin your shoes,” barked Nanny Mitchel.
“I do not think they really appreciate just how much shoes cost,” interfered Aunty Shirley.
“We never had shoes in our day,” continued Nanny Mitchel.
“Yes these days the young do not know they’re born,” added Aunty Shirley.
“That, they certainly do not,” were Nanny Mitchels last words on the subject before turning her full attention to me.
“Patricia, walk upright, stop slouching, and stop fidgeting,” nanny Mitchel ordered as if she was a female drill sergeant.
It appeared Aunty Shirley was very impressed with the control Nanny Mitchel exercised over both myself and Cousin Karen.
In fact, suffice to say she was so impressed that she had almost forgotten about the clanger Nanny Mitchel had previously dropped.
That was the one about her receiving a demonstration of Mrs Hegiteys discipline techniques.
However, Aunt Shirley not only at times had the looks of an elephant, she had the memory of one as well.
Having said this, she was no longer going to pursue the subject any further in front of myself and cousin Karen.
“So have you decided whether you are bringing Patricia and Karen to Sunday school tomorrow Dorothy?” asked Aunty Shirley.
“Oh yes Shirley, I most certainly am,” replied Nanny Mitchel. “I think I must start as I mean to carry on.”
All this sounded very pleasing to Aunty Shirley, however once again she gave Nanny Mitchel one of her “I seek more information looks.”
“How do you mean, start as you mean to go on Dorothy?” asked Aunty Shirley.
“Well like you said earlier Shirley, Both Patricia and Karen could do with a little more spiritual well-being bought into their life,” announced Nanny Mitchel, ” and where better to start than the local Sunday School.”
“My sentiments exactly Dorothy,” interjected Aunty Shirley,
“I am so glad you have taken my advice on board on the matter, a little bible study can only do them both the world of good,” added Aunty Shirley, over the moon that Nanny Mitchel had taken her advice on board.
“Also, Mrs Hegitey will be attending church tomorrow,” added Nanny Mitchel.
“Will she really? Well I never,” said an amazed Aunty Shirley, once again using her favorite phrase.
“Yes Shirley, she most certainly is coming to church tomorrow,” announced Nanny Mitchel with glee, as if to announce Mrs Hegiteys guest appearance at the local church.
Karen and myself gave each other a look.
It was now as if these looks were becoming telepathic.
Once again my ever-astute cousin Karen was the one to speak.
Out of earshot of Nanny Mitchel and Aunty Shirley, she whispered in my ear.
“Mrs Hegitey is a Witch, I tell you. Witches do not go to Church they are not allowed.” cousin Karen informed me.
“Be Silent, you two,” barked Nanny Mitchel, once again as if to demonstrate her control over both of us to Aunty Shirley.
“Well it will be a joy to meet Mrs Hegitey again,” said Aunty Shirley in a joyous tone.
“I am sure we will all have much to talk about Shirley,” replied Nanny Mitchel in an equally joyous tone.
It appeared that both Nanny Mitchel and Aunty Shirley were joyful and triumphant as stated in one of those hymns we were all made to sing in the school assembly.
However, Karen and especially myself were anything but joyful and triumphant.
As a matter of fact, we were both becoming restless and bored stiff.
For me, the added dread of the embarasement of the school outfitters was going to make my situation far worse.
As we arrived outside the school outfitters myself and cousin Karen gave each other one of our telepathic looks.
Could things get any worse?
For me, they certainly could.