The Secret In an English village that felt more like a sleepy hamlet than a bustling town, there once lived a young girl named Laura. One day, her mother—who had a penchant for the mystical—dragged her off to visit the local fortune teller. The old woman spread her weathered cards and proclaimed, “Your Laura will be happy. Her life will turn out well. I just don’t see a man by her side.” Laura was only about ten then, and while the mysterious old lady’s words echoed in her memory, she couldn’t quite grasp their meaning. Years passed and Laura blossomed into a tall, striking beauty. The village lads were wild about her, but Laura never seemed to settle on anyone. She dated here and there, but nothing ever stuck. Though she did well in school, Laura chose not to leave for university, opting instead to take a job at the local dairy. There were whispers about a romantic involvement with a manager, but no one ever saw them together. The older women at the dairy would caution the new girl, “Don’t get stuck here, Laura. Life will pass you by! With your looks, you’d be snapped up in the city.” Laura would just smile and say nothing. Then, out of the blue, the village was buzzing: Laura was pregnant! The locals wasted no time speculating over who could have “blessed” their most eligible beauty—but the father’s identity remained a mystery. Laura’s mother didn’t dwell on it. “You’ve brought this on yourself—shamed us! You’re on your own now, do you hear? I give you a month to find somewhere else—you’re not staying here.” “Alright, Mum,” Laura answered calmly. “I’ll go. But don’t come looking for me later.” Within two weeks, Laura had bought herself a tiny cottage, fully furnished. The neighbours called it luck—the previous owner’s children had whisked the old lady away to the city and sold the place for a song. Where Laura found even that kind of money, pregnant and all, was another village enigma. Then the miracles began. Her cottage was swiftly transformed, looking bright and modern. A new fence went up, a well was dug. Crafty workmen arrived and took care of everything. Soon, delivery vans were bringing boxes of brand-new appliances and furniture. Laura herself walked about the village happy as could be, all smiles, not looking the least bit like an abandoned woman. In the autumn, Laura gave birth to a son, Anthony. A shiny blue pram appeared in her neat garden. Laura regained her figure quickly, looking even more radiant than before. Well-dressed and upright, she strolled the village lanes with her head held high. It was a busy life, of course: a baby, a vegetable patch, stoking the fire, dashing off to the shops, endless laundry. But Laura managed just fine, never complaining, always quietly getting on with things. The neighbours, seeing how hard she worked and what a good person she was, gradually befriended her—even minding Anthony when Laura had errands. Neighbours would send around a husband to dig her vegetable patches, lend a hand with the weeding—just little things. Mostly, Laura handled everything herself. When Anthony was about two, a neighbour ran to her friend in a tizzy: “Did you see? Laura’s expecting again!” “Nonsense, you must be seeing things.” “I’m telling you, see for yourself!” Once again, Laura was the talk of the village. Theories flew, but no one ever saw her with a man. She simply ignored the gossip, carrying on with her life. A little bathhouse suddenly sprang up in her yard; gas lines were redirected at extra expense to reach her home, and a state-of-the-art greenhouse gleamed in her garden. “And where does a single woman get that kind of money?” people muttered. “Must be a bigwig in the picture.” Yet Laura’s secret held strong. Before long, the same blue pram graced her garden—but this time for a new baby boy, Simon. Two years later: a third son, Michael. Laura raised three sons, and not a soul in the village knew who their fathers were. Some openly laughed at her, called her names. Others, seeing healthy children and a hardworking, sober mother, admired her courage. There were those who pointed fingers and used Laura as an example to scold their own daughters. Her mother was mortified and kept her distance, never seeking to help or meet the grandchildren. But Laura carried on, head high, never caring for what people said. Time rolled on. One day, the entire village stopped in its tracks: a fancy car pulled up to Laura’s door. Out stepped the well-respected dairy director, Mr. George, bearing a huge bouquet of flowers. He went inside, and before long every nosey neighbour was gathered outside. “What’s going on? Why is Mr. George—widowed just a year ago—calling on Laura midday and with flowers?” When Laura escorted him out, there was such a crowd she looked lost for a moment. Mr. George drew her close and, to everyone’s astonishment, kissed her. Then, for all to hear, announced: “Laura has agreed to be my wife. We and our sons invite you all to the wedding.” A stunned silence fell. Only then did the villagers notice how much Laura’s boys resembled Mr. George. And from all sides came congratulations. After a grand wedding, George moved Laura and the children into his home, and the entire village pitched in to help. A year later a long-awaited daughter was born to the family. So much for fortune tellers’ predictions!

Author Walton MerrittReading 6 minViews 1

The Secret

In a small English village that barely qualified as a town, there lived a girl named Emily Parker. One afternoon, her motherwho loved dabbling in all things mysticaltook Emily to see the local fortune teller.

The old woman laid out her cards and declared,
Your Emily will be a happy one. Everything will go well for her. But I dont see a man by her side.

Emily was about ten at the time, and the mysterious old womans words stayed with her, though she didnt quite understand them.

Years passed. Emily grew into a tall, striking young woman. The local lads were quite taken with her, but she never settled on any of them for long. Some she dated for a while, then drifted on to others.

Despite doing well at school, Emily stayed in the village rather than heading off to university. She took a job at the village dairy. There were murmurs that she might have a romance with one of the managers, though no one ever saw them together.

The older women at the dairy would tell newcomers,
Dont get stuck here like Emily. Lifell pass you by before you know it. Youd be better off heading to the citywith your looks theyd be queuing up for you.

Emily would just smile and say nothing.

One morning, the village was buzzing with the news: Emily Parker was expecting!

The village launched into wild debates about who could have made the local beauty a mother. They guessed, they gossiped, but in the end, no one had the foggiest who the father was.

Emilys mother didnt mince her words.
Well done. Youve ashamed me. You can look after yourself now. Dont think you can count on meyouve made your bed, now lie in it. Youve got a month, find yourself somewhere else to live.

Alright, Mum, Emily replied calmly. Ill leave. But dont ask me to come back later.

Within two weeks, Emily managed to buy a small cottage, furnished and all. The villagers thought shed had a stroke of luckthe owners children had moved their mother to London and sold it cheap. No one ever figured out how the pregnant Emily got the money, not even for such a bargain.

Strange things soon started to happen. The cottage was swiftly renovated and transformed into something smart and modern. A new fence popped up, and a well was installed in the garden. Teams of workmen showed up now and then, getting everything sorted in record time.

Neighbours saw delivery vans bringing box after box of appliances and bits of furniture. Emily seemed happier than ever, always smiling and never looking troubled or abandoned.

That autumn, she gave birth to a son, Harry. A pristine blue pram appeared in her neat garden, and Emily was out and about again in no time, looking better than ever. She strode through the village, smartly dressed and head held high, the picture of contentment.

At home, it was hard work: a newborn, the vegetable patch, keeping the fireplace going, dashing out for shopping, mounds of washing. But she coped. Shed never been afraid of a bit of graft, so it all got done. She never grumbled.

Gradually, the neighbours saw what a grafter Emily was and how good-hearted, so they became friendly. Sometimes theyd watch Harry if Emily needed to nip out. Why not give a hand?

With the garden, tootheyd lend their husbands or pull a few weeds themselves. Not that she needed much help; Emily managed most of it herself.

When Harry was about two, one neighbour rushed over to another, her eyes wide,

Have you seen?
Seen what?
Emilys expecting again!

No, youre joking!
Im not. Take a look!

Gossip about Emily kicked off all over the village once more. No one could figure out who had made the girl happy this time. Incredibly, no one even had a theoryno one had seen her with anyone.

Emily ignored the whispers. She carried on as she always had. Soon a tidy little garden shed popped up outside, the gas fitters did a special job just for her, installing a supply to the house. A posh new greenhouse appeared behind the cottagewasnt cheap, either.

Where does a single woman like that find the money? people wondered. Surely shes got a well-placed admirer, someone important keeping her. But Emilys secret stayed secret.

Soon after, another blue pram appearedthis time for little Thomas, Harrys brother.

Two years later, she gave birth to another boy, Michael.

Emily had three sons, and nobody knew who their fathers were.

Some people laughed behind her back or called her crazy. Some, seeing how well she raised her boys, how she stayed sober and worked hard, admired her quiet courage.

Others pointed a finger and used her as a warning to their own daughters.

Emilys mother wanted nothing to do with her, never tried to reach out or meet her grandchildren.

Yet Emily continued to walk the village streets with her head high, never minding the gossip.

Time ticked by. Until, one day, a gleaming car stopped outside Emilys cottage. Out stepped Mr. Richard Harris, director of the dairy, with a massive bouquet. He went inside, and soon the neighbours were circling, baffled.

What on earths going on? Why would Mr. Harrisa widower, no lesscome visiting Emily in broad daylight? With flowers?

Everyone knew hed lost his wife the previous year, having cared for her through her long illness. He hadnt left her side until her final day.

When Emily came out to see him off, half the village was watching. Richard took her hand and, right there for all to see, kissed her. Louder than he had to, he announced,

Emily has agreed to marry me. Our boys and we invite you all to the wedding.

There was stunned silence. The villagers stared at the radiant couple. Only now did they spot how much Emilys boys resembled Richard Harris!

Then the congratulations and cheers started from every direction.

After their joyful, crowded wedding, Richard moved Emily and the boys into his lovely homethe whole village pitched in to help.

And a year later, the family welcomed a long-awaited daughter.

You never know what twists life will take. So much for fortune tellerssometimes happiness comes in its own time and way, and trusting yourself is the wisest path of all.

Spanner Number 13 He called me in the morning, as if it were nothing at all: “Can you pop over? Need a hand with the bike. Don’t fancy wrestling with it alone.” The words “can you” and “don’t fancy” sounded odd together. Dad used to say “has to be done” and “I’ll sort it myself.” An adult son, now with silver in his hair, catching himself searching this invitation for a catch, like he always used to. But there was no catch, just a simple request—making it feel all the more awkward. He arrived by lunchtime, climbed up to the third floor, dawdling on the landing as the key turned. The door opened at once, as if Dad had been standing behind it, waiting. “Come in. Shoes off,” Dad said, stepping aside. Everything in the hallway was in its place: the mat, the shoe cabinet, the neat pile of newspapers. Dad looked just the same, only his shoulders seemed narrower, and when adjusting his sleeve his hands trembled for a second. “Where’s the bike?” asked the son, to avoid asking anything else. “On the balcony. I got it out the way in there. Thought I’d tackle it myself, but you know…” Dad waved a hand and led the way. The balcony was glazed, but freezing, crammed with boxes and jars. The bike was upright by the wall, covered with an old sheet. Dad took the sheet off like he was unveiling something precious, and softly laid his palm on the frame. “It’s yours,” he said. “Remember? We got it for your birthday.” The son remembered. Remembered riding in the courtyard, the falls, how Dad would silently pick him up, brush sand off his knees, check the chain. Dad rarely praised him, but always looked at things as if they were alive, as if he was responsible for them. “The tyre’s flat,” the son noted. “That’s nothing. There’s a crunch in the hub too, and the back brake’s useless. Took a spin yesterday, about had a heart attack,” Dad quipped, but the smile was brief. They carried the bike to the “workshop”— not a real one, just a corner: a desk by the window, a mat, lamp, toolbox. On the wall: pliers, screwdrivers, spanners, everything sorted. The son took it in automatically, as always: Dad kept order wherever he could. “Can you spot the thirteen mil spanner?” Dad asked. The son opened the box. The spanners were lined up, but thirteen was missing. “There’s a twelve, a fourteen… no thirteen here.” Dad arched an eyebrow. “What? It should…,” he trailed off, as if the word “always” wouldn’t come. The son rummaged through, pulled out the drawer—nuts, washers, tape, sandpaper. Found the spanner under a bundle of rubber gloves. “Here we are,” said the son. Dad took it, held it in his palm like testing the weight. “So I tucked it there myself. Memory,” he grunted. “Right then, hand us the bike.” The son laid the bike on its side, putting a rag under the pedal. Dad crouched down, slowly, with caution, as if wary his knees might fail. The son noticed, but acted as if he hadn’t. “Let’s get the wheel off first,” Dad said. “You hold it while I loosen the nuts.” He took up the spanner, twisted. The nut resisted, and Dad tensed, lips pressed tight. The son took over, and the nut yielded. “I would’ve managed,” Dad muttered. “I just…” “I know. Hold it so it doesn’t drop.” They got on with the job, barely speaking: “hold this,” “don’t pull,” “here,” “mind the washer.” The son realised he found it easier this way—words, limited by the job, with no need to second-guess. Wheel off, on the floor. Dad produced the pump, checked the hose. Old, battered handle. “The tube’s probably fine. Just dry,” Dad said. The son wanted to ask how he knew, but let it go. Dad always sounded sure, even when he wasn’t. While Dad pumped, the son checked the brake. Pads worn, cable rusty. “Needs a new cable,” he said. “Cable… there’s a spare somewhere.” Dad rummaged under the table, got out one box, then another—each with parts labelled on scraps of paper. The son watched him sort through, seeing not just neatness, but a fight to keep time in order. As long as everything’s labelled and in place, nothing unravels. “Can’t see it,” said Dad with irritation, slamming the box shut. “Maybe it’s in the cupboard?” the son suggested. “Cupboard’s chaos,” Dad said, as if confessing a crime. The son grinned. “You? Chaos? That’s a first.” Dad shot him a look, but the eyes held a glimmer of gratitude for the joke. “Go on, check. I’ll just…” Dad went back to pumping. The cupboard was tiny, crammed with boxes. The son flicked the light on, pushed aside bags. Top shelf—cable reel, wrapped in newspaper. “Got it!” he called. “There you go! Told you so,” came Dad’s reply. The son brought the cable. Dad inspected the ends. “Looks good. Just need to find the right caps.” He found the tiny metal sleeves. “Let’s sort the brake.” The son held the frame, Dad undid the fixture. Dad’s fingers were dry, cracked, nails clipped short. The son remembered, as a boy, thinking those fingers strong and unbreakable. Now they had a different strength: patient, economical. “What are you staring at?” Dad asked, eyes down. “Just…wondering how you remember all this.” Dad snorted. “I remember. Not always where I put stuff. Funny, isn’t it?” The son wanted to say “not funny,” but understood Dad wasn’t joking. He was afraid. “It’s normal,” the son said. “Happens to me too.” Dad nodded, as if accepting permission not to be perfect. When they broke down the brake, a spring was missing. Dad stared at the space for a long time, before meeting his son’s eyes. “I was tinkering yesterday, might’ve dropped it. Looked on the floor, couldn’t see it.” “Let’s look again,” the son said. On their knees, hands sweeping along the floor, peering under the table. The son found the spring by the skirting, next to a chair leg. “Here it is.” Dad took it, peered closely. “Thank God. I’d started to think…” He didn’t finish. The son knew he wanted to say “I’d started to think I couldn’t remember anything anymore.” But he didn’t. “Fancy a cuppa?” Dad asked brusquely, as if tea might cover the pause. “Go on, then.” In the kitchen, Dad set the kettle, got out two mugs. The son sat, watching Dad’s movements between stove and cupboard. They were the same old movements, just a bit slower now. Dad poured the tea, put a plate of biscuits in front of him. “Eat. You’re looking thin.” The son wanted to say he wasn’t, just a bulky coat, but left it. In that sentence was all the care Dad knew how to show. “How’s work?” Dad asked. “All right.” Then, to fill the gap: “They shut down the project, so starting a new one.” “Mm. Long as they pay you on time.” The son smiled. “You always think about money.” “What else d’you reckon I should worry about?” Dad looked him straight in the eye. “Feelings?” The son felt something tighten inside. He hadn’t expected Dad to use *that* word. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. Dad was quiet, then cupped the mug with both hands. “Sometimes…I wonder if you come round out of duty. You know. Sign in, then off you go.” The son set the mug down. The tea steamed, burning his fingers, but he didn’t flinch. “You think it’s easy coming here? It’s all…like I’m a kid again. And you always know best.” Dad smiled, not unkindly. “I *do* think I know better. Habit.” “And you never—” the son exhaled, “—you never really asked how I am. Not really.” Dad stared into his mug, as if answers might be at the bottom. “I was scared to ask. If you ask, you have to listen. And I…,” he looked up, “I don’t always know how.” The son felt lighter, as though the plain words made space in his chest. No “I’m sorry” or justifications, just honesty. It was closer to the truth than any big speech. “Me neither.” Dad nodded. “We’ll learn. Through the bike,” he added, with a wry smile, as if surprised by his own words. They finished the tea, and went back to the room. The bike lay there, wheel detached, cable on the desk. Dad set to work with new determination. “Right. You thread the cable, I’ll line up the pads.” The son did as told, fingers less deft than his father’s, frustrated at himself. Dad saw. “Don’t rush. It’s patience, not strength, that matters.” The son glanced up. “Talking about the cable, or…?” “About everything,” Dad answered, turning away as if he’d said too much. They set the pads, tightened the bolts. Dad pressed the brake lever a few times, testing. “That’s better.” The son pumped up the tyre, listening for hissing. The tube held. They put the wheel back, tightened the nuts. Dad asked for the thirteen spanner; the son handed it over wordlessly. It fit his palm as if it belonged there. “That’s that,” said Dad, when they were done. “Let’s give it a try.” They took the bike downstairs. Dad held the handlebars, son by his side. The courtyard was empty bar a neighbour with shopping, who gave them a nod. “Hop on. Try it out,” said Dad. “Me?” “You. I’m not the acrobat I once was.” The son sat on the bike. The saddle felt low, like childhood, knees high. He rode a couple of circuits around the flower bed, tried the brake. The bike stopped on a dime. “Working,” he said, climbing off. Dad tried walking it himself, slowly, no rush. Then stopped, foot to the ground. “Good. Worth the fuss.” The son looked at Dad and suddenly realised it wasn’t about the bike. It was about calling him over. “Keep the toolkit,” said Dad unexpectedly. “You’ll use it more than I will. You do everything yourself these days.” The son wanted to object, but understood this was Dad’s way—his way of saying “I love you” was “take it, you’ll need it.” “All right. I’ll keep it. But don’t lose the thirteen spanner. That’s the king.” Dad grinned. “I’ll put it where it belongs from now on.” They went back up. In the hall, the son took his coat. Dad lingered nearby. “Will you pop by next week?” he asked, casually. “That… top cupboard door’s squeaky. Needs oiling. My hands aren’t what they were.” He said it calmly, no excuses. The son knew it wasn’t a complaint, but an invitation. “I’ll come. Call first, so I don’t barrel in, yeah?” Dad nodded and, as he shut the door, added quietly, “Thanks for coming.” The son walked down the stairs, holding a few of Dad’s wrenches and screwdrivers, wrapped in a cloth. They felt heavy, but didn’t weigh him down. Outside, he glanced up at the third-floor window. The curtain shifted slightly—Dad, watching. The son didn’t wave. He just walked to his car, knowing he could now come not only “to do a job,” but because of what really mattered—the job they’d finally agreed was worth it.

At the Edge of the World: Snow Packed Into Her Boots, Stinging Her Skin, but Rita Refused to Buy Wellies—She’d Rather Have Knee-High Boots (Though She’d Look Silly Here and Her Dad Had Blocked Her Bank Card). “You’re Really Going to Live in a Village?” He Sneered, Hating the Countryside and Everything Rural. He’d Hoped Rita Would Marry Gosha This Summer and Prepare for a ‘Proper’ City Wedding—But Rita Never Cared for Gosha’s Bragging or Their Obsession with Money; She Dreamed of Love and Drama, Not Predictable Comfort. That’s Why She Accepted a Teaching Job at a Village School with No Internet, Hot Water, or Sewers—The Headteacher Hesitated, But Rita Insisted, Armed with Her Qualifications. At First, Her Class of Twelve Seemed Hopeless, Reading Haltingly and Misbehaving, But Rita Fell for Their Unique Talents: Semyon’s Wood Carvings, Anya’s Poetry, Vovka’s Help, and Ira’s Lamb Companion. She Ignored the Official Curriculum, Bringing Books from the Nearest Town, Even as Winter Made Home Life Tough and She Nearly Wanted to Quit—Yet She Persevered, Now Responsible for Her Pupils. Only One Child Stumped Her—And When She Met the Girl’s Father, Vladimir (Gruff as a London Bricklayer, Never Smiling), He Demanded to Know Why Tanya Only Got Failing Marks. Rita Suspected Autism, but the Deputy Head Urged Moving Her to a Special School. Instead, Rita Sought Advice, Visited Tanya’s Home, and Gradually Won Her Trust, Proving the Girl Was Not ‘Hopeless’ After All. Rita Began Tutoring Tanya for Free, Drawing Disapproval from Staff But Determined to Make a Difference. When Vladimir Invited Rita to Spend New Year’s, Rita Was Torn—Especially When Gosha Unexpectedly Arrived with Champagne and Teacher Gifts, Pledging to Stay in the Village for Her. Yet Rita’s Heart Pulled Elsewhere, Especially After Receiving a notebook of Tanya’s drawings and a gold hummingbird brooch—her mother’s keepsake—from Vladimir. On New Year’s Eve, Faced with Gosha’s Proposal, Rita Realized Where She Truly Belonged: She Returned His Ring and Rushed to Find the ones who needed her most—her unexpected new family, at the edge of the world.