THREE
Thursday 3 September
The sound of an engine broke her from her reverie. Nancy hurried in from the balcony and made her way back downstairs where she found Lara kneeling at the window seat in the hallway.
‘Our stuff is here,’ said Lara.
Nancy opened the front door as the three vans, their tyres crunching on the gravel, came around the circular driveway. The first driver hopped out, eating a sausage roll out of a paper bag.
‘Nice place,’ he said, looking up at the gleaming barn with undisguised admiration in his eyes. ‘Really nice.’
‘Thanks,’ said Nancy.
‘You ready for us to get started?’
‘Sure. Can I get you guys a tea? Coffee?’
‘Three teas, three sugars.’
Nancy was confused. ‘You mean three sugars each?’
‘Yes please.’ The driver returned to the van, where his colleagues were already opening up the back doors, ready to unload.
Nancy went to her car where she’d kept back a few essentials: a kettle, mugs, teabags. A sharp, sudden crack made her look up at the barn.
‘Mum, it’s a bird,’ cried Lara. ‘On the ground.’
Nancy went over to where her daughter was standing outside one of the huge windows. Lara was staring at a small bird that lay on its side on the earth. The eye facing upwards was open and to Nancy’s mind it was staring into the middle distance, seemingly unable to understand what had happened. The bird was light brown and white with gold feathers at the base of its tail and a red patch on its head. It twitched pitifully, tiny movements that seemed to fade and grow less frequent. There was a mark on the window where it had struck it.
‘Is it dead?’ asked Lara, holding her breath.
God, she hoped not. Death had dealt too harsh a blow to her family of late. Nancy looked at her daughter’s stricken face and prayed for a miracle. She went closer to the bird and, bending down, she carefully picked it up. It was lighter than she’d imagined, its tiny bones and feathers barely registering in her hands. She felt it twitch further and then it cocked its head, regaining awareness. She opened up her palms and to her immense relief the bird flew off up into the blue sky.
OMG congrats! I can’t believe you’re going to be in charge of our local paper. We’d all better be on best behaviour in case you run a scoop on us 
17:01