Joan: Are you sure you'll be okay here alone?
Miriam: Yes, I'll be fine. We've been through this before mum.
Mike: Call us if you need anything. Come on Joan, I have some office work to do tonight.
Miriam watches as their car disappears into the country lane. She feels the emptiness of the house but she knows she will get used to it. She checks her social media and, after a while, decides to have an early night.
A few days later, the neighbour down the lane, Mr Davies comes past and introduces himself and asks how Miriam is settling in.
Miriam: I'm slowly getting things how I want. I work from home mainly with occasional visits to our head office.
Mr Davies: That's good to hear that things are working out well for you. Pauses. I don't wish to unsettle you and it may be nothing, but a few of us in the area have recently had things disturbed. The odd thing going missing. The Wallis' up the lane had a break in at their home. Only some food was taken, but still, unsettling. They've upgraded their security as a result. We watch out for each other, so let us know if you see anyone who looks suspicious or if you need help. Here are the numbers of the local residents so you can contact us.
Miriam: Thank you. And here's my number if you want to add it to everyone else's list. She hands a business card to Mr Davies.
Mr Davies: Will do. Oh and call me Ted and my wife is Melissa.
Miriam: Thanks Ted. She goes inside and puts the phone list in a handy place.
Miriam: I'm slowly getting things how I want. I work from home mainly with occasional visits to our head office.
Mr Davies: That's good to hear that things are working out well for you. Pauses. I don't wish to unsettle you and it may be nothing, but a few of us in the area have recently had things disturbed. The odd thing going missing. The Wallis' up the lane had a break in at their home. Only some food was taken, but still, unsettling. They've upgraded their security as a result. We watch out for each other, so let us know if you see anyone who looks suspicious or if you need help. Here are the numbers of the local residents so you can contact us.
Miriam: Thank you. And here's my number if you want to add it to everyone else's list. She hands a business card to Mr Davies.
Mr Davies: Will do. Oh and call me Ted and my wife is Melissa.
Miriam: Thanks Ted. She goes inside and puts the phone list in a handy place.
The next day, Miriam decides to walk around the property. She wants to check out an old stable and barn at the far end of the small estate, across a field. Her uncle had two horses, but they were sold shortly before her uncle passed.
Miriam walks into the first part of the building. There are two stalls, water troughs, hay racks and an assortment of other small items. The familiar smell lingers, even though the stable is no longer in use. Mirriam feels a touch of sadness, reflecting on her visits in her youth and her kind uncle.
Miriam walks into the first part of the building. There are two stalls, water troughs, hay racks and an assortment of other small items. The familiar smell lingers, even though the stable is no longer in use. Mirriam feels a touch of sadness, reflecting on her visits in her youth and her kind uncle.
Attached to the stalls is a hay bail barn. Miriam walks around and opens the unlocked door. Half of the area is empty and in the other half hay bales are stacked. She recalls climbing up the bales on her summer visits to her uncle, so she decides to reenact those times.
As she gets up there, she sees makeshift bedding. She moves over on her knees for a closer look and an arm comes around her neck and pulls her back against a body. Miriam freezes, feeling the warm breath of her assailant.
Miriam: You're..you're choking me.
Stranger: Do as I say and I won't hurt you. She lets her go.
Mirriam turns to see a young woman who has clearly been living rough. Her pale tee shirt is stained, as are her pale blue jeans.
Miriam: We need to talk, Miriam says as she coughs to clear her throat. Who are you? And what are you doing on my property?
As she gets up there, she sees makeshift bedding. She moves over on her knees for a closer look and an arm comes around her neck and pulls her back against a body. Miriam freezes, feeling the warm breath of her assailant.
Miriam: You're..you're choking me.
Stranger: Do as I say and I won't hurt you. She lets her go.
Mirriam turns to see a young woman who has clearly been living rough. Her pale tee shirt is stained, as are her pale blue jeans.
Miriam: We need to talk, Miriam says as she coughs to clear her throat. Who are you? And what are you doing on my property?
Stranger: I'm just... staying here temporarily. I didn't realise the cottage would have a new resident so soon. I've been here for a few weeks now, and it's been very quiet.
Miriam: So why are you here?
Stranger: I... I have a reason. It's a bit complicated.
Miriam: Well, you can't just attack people on their own property! You almost gave me a heart attack.
Stranger: I didn't mean to, but you surprised me. You look too young to own all this land.
Miriam: Well, I am the new owner. Looks at the nervous stranger. I sense you mean me no harm. Why don't we both go up to the cottage, and I'll fix something for you.
Miriam: Would you? Why, that would be nice.
They enter the kitchen and Miriam makes a hot drink and prepares baked beans on toast. The stranger wastes no time in finishing it all off.
Miriam: So, stranger. How about a name?
Stranger: Virginia.
Miriam: Why are you roughing it in the countryside?
Virginia: I...I was doing some burglaries and the police were on to me. Looks down. I went on the run. Silly, I know, but I didn't want to go to prison.
Miriam: Depending on the charges, you may have got off with some sort of community work.
Virginia: Maybe, maybe not. I didn't want to risk it.
Miriam: So, stranger. How about a name?
Stranger: Virginia.
Miriam: Why are you roughing it in the countryside?
Virginia: I...I was doing some burglaries and the police were on to me. Looks down. I went on the run. Silly, I know, but I didn't want to go to prison.
Miriam: Depending on the charges, you may have got off with some sort of community work.
Virginia: Maybe, maybe not. I didn't want to risk it.
Miriam: Well, you can't stay in my barn, and I can't harbour a fugitive. You can either hand yourself in or continue on the run.
Virginia: Can't I stay here a while? I need to decide what to do.
Miriam: I will have to think about that. In the meantime, get whatever you have in the barn of a personal nature and bring it all up to the cottage. Then have a shower or bath. Hopefully you have a change of clothes. I'll wash all your clothes and put them in the dryer. Then, when you come out of the bathroom, you'll have some clothes. Then we can sleep on where we go from here.
Virginia: I only have the clothes I'm standing in and a little bedding.
Miriam: Well, give them to me. There is a robe hanging in the bathroom behind the door.
Virginia: Can't I stay here a while? I need to decide what to do.
Miriam: I will have to think about that. In the meantime, get whatever you have in the barn of a personal nature and bring it all up to the cottage. Then have a shower or bath. Hopefully you have a change of clothes. I'll wash all your clothes and put them in the dryer. Then, when you come out of the bathroom, you'll have some clothes. Then we can sleep on where we go from here.
Virginia: I only have the clothes I'm standing in and a little bedding.
Miriam: Well, give them to me. There is a robe hanging in the bathroom behind the door.
Virginia hands her clothes over and then has a long, hot bath while her clothes are washed and dried.
They sit in the lounge and talk into the evening. Virginia opens up about her childhood.
Virginia: I had a strict mum and a distant father. Home life was unhappy and I got into trouble. She looks down. My life is a mess.
Miriam puts her hand on Virginia's: So different to my life. I never realised how lucky I was until I grew up and found that others didn't have the upbringing I had.
It's soon very late and Miriam has work to do next day. They go upstairs to sleep, Miriam feeling sad for Virginia.
Miriam: Here's the spare room, unless you want to share mine?
Virginia: Could I? I'd appreciate that.
They cuddle up together and are soon fast asleep.
Miriam wakes up the next morning and decides to get breakfast ready. She looks next to her but Virginia isn't there. She hurries downstairs and there is a note on the kitchen bench.
Virginia's note: I realise the situation I have put you in legally. I'm not ready to give up yet, and can't have you getting into trouble on my account. Thanks for everything.
Virginia's note: I realise the situation I have put you in legally. I'm not ready to give up yet, and can't have you getting into trouble on my account. Thanks for everything.
Miriam goes outside and then down to the hay barn. She climbs up on the top of the hay and Virginia's not there. She sadly walks back to the cottage and gets on with urgent secular work. It soon takes her mind off things.
The good news is the neighbours are no longer losing things, so it was obvious who the culprit was. Miriam hears that a Virginia Hobson handed herself into police and was given community work. She smiles at the news.
Eighteen months later, Miriam hears a knock on the door. It's Virginia. They hug and sit together at the dining table.
Virginia: I've paid my dues and I feel so much better. I want to thank you for the kindness you showed me.
Miriam: It was nothing. So what are your plans?Virginia: I grew up growing food on an allotment. As the only girl in the family, my mum worked me hard around the house, so I'm very domesticated. Are they services you require?
Miriam: Actually, I am so busy at work, my plans to become self sufficient with vegetables haven't got off the ground. I have also fallen behind with the housework, as you can see. Her hand wafts in the direction of the untidy surroundings.
Virginia: Can I be a lodger here for a while? I won't be any trouble. I'll get your garden established and er..tidy the house.
Miriam: Of course you can. Perhaps for a month, and after that, we can see if it's working out.
The month passes and the garden takes shape, the house is spick and span. They really hit it off as Miriam appreciates not living alone. They decide to extend the arrangement indefinitely. Miriam has chatted to her parents on the phone but not seen them since Virginia arrived. They invite themselves around for an evening.
Joan: It's nice to finally meet Virginia and put a face to the name. I must say, she's doing a great job keeping the place tidy. Never your forte, was it Miriam?
Miriam: I'm busy with work, but yes, I struggle with motivation when it comes to cleaning.
Miriam: I'm busy with work, but yes, I struggle with motivation when it comes to cleaning.
Miriam: Yes, she is.
Joan with a knowing look: The spare room is looking very tidy. Just saying.
Miriam knows her mums views so chooses not to add anything. The evening continues and they all retire to the lounge. Miriam's parents get to know Virginia better and feel more at ease as she seems to have turned over a new leaf. It's then time to go and they all hug.
Mike and Joan head off in their car.
Joan: That Virginia is more than a lodger, Mike.
Mike: I noticed that too. It's their lives, and we all have a right to choose how we live. I don't agree with it either, but I still love her and respect her right to choose. For that reason, our not agreeing doesn't make us intolerant or judgemental.
Joan: I guess you're right. You have such a balanced way of looking at things Mike.
Mike smiling: That's why you married me.
Mike: I noticed that too. It's their lives, and we all have a right to choose how we live. I don't agree with it either, but I still love her and respect her right to choose. For that reason, our not agreeing doesn't make us intolerant or judgemental.
Joan: I guess you're right. You have such a balanced way of looking at things Mike.
Mike smiling: That's why you married me.
