So, Mary Leonard just became suddenly ill the other week. Not one of her daughters came around to see her while she was laid up, mindonly her granddaughter, Alice, looked after her. The daughters showed up, as usual, just before Easter. I mean, every year its the samethe smell of mums fresh-baked Simnel cakes and all the other country treats lures them from London! Mary Leonard made her way to the garden gate to greet them and, in a tone as chilly as the April breeze, says, “Well, what brings you here?” Her eldest, Elizabeth, nearly dropped the cakes she brought. Mum, whats the matter? she gasped. Nothing at all, my dears. Everything’s sorted now. Ive sold up the whole lot What? But what about us? They were absolutely gobsmacked.
Life in Upper Ferncombe, to be honest, was depressingly dull and always the same. So anything out of the ordinary was a bit of an event. But when Alice, Marys granddaughterthe one who used to help at old Mrs Leonards village shopcame back to visit, the place was buzzing. You should have seen the ladies, all clutching their handkerchiefs and dabbing at imaginary tears whenever she strolled by.
Oh, that Alice, they’d sigh, such a clever girl! Look at her nowshowed us all! The others must be eating their hearts out with envy. And it was truethe local upper crust would shoot her glances, faces pinched, whenever Alice cruised past in her posh, shiny Range Rover, all polished chrome and London plates, like the fairy tale of Cinderella come true. Suddenly, everyone in the village lined up just to see this moment. The old ladies at their gates were even weeping, would you believe.
She gave a cheery wave from the car to Mr Paul, the villages pianist who played for every fete and wedding. Hello, Mr Paul, how are you these days? she called. All right, Alice, love! Do pop by the village hall, weve got rehearsals. I will, promise! she replied, before whizzing away, the sunlight glinting off her car as she turned down Station Road. The crowd slowly wandered back home. Mr Paul just sighed, Good on hershe’s done it at last. Now its time for our local doctors to have their moment!
Old Mrs Pratt down the lane chimed in, What have they got to do with it? Well, Mrs Pratt, its a common ailmentthe green-eyed monster! You know, jealousy! Half the villagell have it today, mark my words. Mrs Pratt shooed him off with a tut, crossed herself and hurried home. Paul took no offence; she meant no harm.
He sat on the bench by the hall, mulling it over: after all, hed played a big part in Alice’s life, more than most realised. The truth is, Alice lost her mum very young, and her dad left ages beforenone of the family wanted the bother, so shed spent almost two years in a childrens home. Then, one day, Mary Leonard’s heart finally softened, and she brought her granddaughter home.
The village mostly approvedMary was still manager at the Co-op then, and her boss gave her a right pat on the back for stepping up. If only everyone were like Mary! But some villagers muttered she was just in it for the extra government benefits. You really think theres an ounce of kindness in Mary? they’d gossip. Shes got a temper, that one!
Marys reputation wasnt spotless, mind you. She was known to accidentally give short change at the shop, but people kept quietno one liked drama. Shed also had countless rows with her neighbours over hedges, dogs, hensyou name it. Mary loved only her two daughters and son; the son worked at the hospital in the next town, the girls lived in London, but all three never missed a chance to raid her pantry.
Honestly, Mary kept enough livestock to open a petting zoodozens of hens, ducks, a couple of pigs, and goats squabbling over leftover veg. The sheer amount of workload was too much for her, really, but she wouldnt pay for help. Thats when she thought of bringing Alice back. She mentioned her plan to Zoe, her lifelong friend who also worked at the Co-op.
Ill take Alice in. No good her being shuffled round care homesand folk are starting to tut at me. Zoe, as always, agreedshe depended on Mary for shifts at the shop. Quite right, Mary! And Alice can help you with the animals.
Mary nodded. Brilliant! When Im at work, shell manage the lot.
What about her schooling? Zoe worried. “Kids have so much on these daysrevision, after-school clubs, all sorts!”
Shell manage without clubs! Ill be putting food on her table, after all! Mary snapped.
Little Alice was just glad to have a place to call home, eager to follow her nan everywhere. But soon, people called her CindersCinderellaseeing all the chores she did. Some of the village ladies even told Mary off to her face, Leonard, have a heart! That child looks worn to a shadow, you know! But Mary brushed them off, Mind your own business. My granddaughters happy to help. Shell finish school, then go off to train as a vetsorted!
Maybe things wouldve gone exactly as Mary planned, if not for what happened next. One sunny July afternoon, Marina arrived, fresh from college, as the new director of the village hall. She wasted no time and started searching for hidden talents. Paul volunteered to helphed always fancied a bit more limelight. Miss Marina, all we needs a newer keyboard and Ill rustle up a show to rememberwe used to play for the harvesters in the old days!
Marina agreed, Give it a go, Paul! The kits not great, but it works!
Soon enough, Paul gathered a group of singers, but there wasnt a standout soloist. He told Marina, We need a voice! An ensemble without a soloist is like a Sunday roast without gravy. Marina pondered, then grinned. I know just the one, come on! and they set off towards the school.
Auditions at the village school were a big dealnerves were high. Alices teacher, Mrs Turner, insisted, Alice, love, you can singget in there! Alice almost burst into tears, But Mrs Turner, gran will have my head if Im late home! Dont worry, Ill have a word. This is the sort of luck that only comes once! Reluctantly, Alice agreed, All right, but can we get it over quickly?
Alice belted out a few songsfolk, pop, whatever she remembered from working in the fields with the goats and pigs for an audience. Her voice was raw but genuine, and Marina couldnt stop herself: What a gem! Such a beautiful, clear sound!
It was a breakthrough. After a heart-to-heart with the teachers, Mary Leonard was convinced to let Alice off some chores to practice. Mary complained to Zoe, What, am I supposed to be feeding her for nothing now? Theyll have her at concerts all summer, and me scraping by on my pension! Zoe just smiled dreamily, Imagine, Maryone day, Alice could be a star, in the papers, on the telly! Mary scoffed, What good does that do me? I need help, not fame.
But Zoe only rolled her eyes, People are rightyoure just like the wicked stepmother! Look at that girl, worn out!
That put a crack in their friendship, but Alices success took offshe performed at every country fete, wowed the milkmaids and farmhands, and even took first prize at the county festival. But the sudden fame didnt go to her head. She treated her nan with the same care and respectespecially when Mary Leonard fell ill and Alice barely left her side. Not one of Marys own daughters came to help. They only turned up, as ever, before Easter, hunting for homemade lemon curd and pickles.
And thats when Mary went out to the gate, stony-faced. What are you doing here? she asked her daughters. It knocked the wind out of Elizabeth, the eldest. Mum, whats wrong? Nothing, darlings. Ive sold everything up nowall of it.
Their jaws dropped, What about us? Go down to the Co-op and buy what you need! I havent got the strength to keep running this place for you anymore. And what about Aliceis she just left high and dry? And suddenly Mary snapped.
Alice isnt your servant! Shes not here to do your bidding! When I was ill, none of you lifted a fingeronly show up when theres something in it for you! Thats over nowI want a bit of peace and quiet in my old age! And Alice? Let the girl studyshe might just become a real performer, you know!
So the sisters left empty-handed, and Mary went round for a cup of tea with Zoe. Zoe, thank you. You opened my eyesI nearly ruined Alices life. Now, help me sell the rest of the meat? What meat, love? All of itI kept one goat for myself, thats all! Good for you. What about your daughters, though? Mary shrugged, Theyll have to get by without methey never gave, only took no use hoping for them anymore.
Years rolled on, and Alice hadnt been back to Upper Ferncombe for ages, what with all the concerts and teaching work. Still, she called Mary Leonard every week and sent her a bit of money. It took ages to clear her diary and manage a whole weeks holiday just to visit the old village again.
You wouldnt guess how quickly her son, Max, piped up from the back seat as they neared the old cottage, Mum, are we there yetwill gran be waiting? Were here, loveand look, there she is!
Despite her years, Mary Leonard was spry, scooping up her great-grandson with hugs and kisses. My golden boy, I thought Id never see you! When she greeted Alice, she was gentle, mindful of her hair. I saw your concert on tele, you were the prettiest!
Mum, dont be daftIm really nothing special! Nonsense! Youre a real star!” Only thanks to you and Mr PaulId still be mucking out the goats, otherwise, still Cinderella. Mary Leonard laughed, But you made your own path, darlingno fairy godmother, just sheer determination
Alice instinctively hid her work-worn hands, but Mary saw. She pulled her close, tears on her cheek, asking Alices forgiveness, which had long ago been granted. Because for Alice, the most important thing in life was having that one personher own true familyto care for, for as long as she could.
