Tears of a Bluebird

Part Three - Chapter One

Part Three - 1955

Chapter One

It was now 1955: the first days of Spring. It was a Sunday to be exact, my day off. Outside looked glorious and I was more than eager to be part of it. Connor told me before I left that Dr. Grey stopped by not long after breakfast — I was out tracking the Rag and Bone man for Nessa — and he said that it was urgent that I go and see the doctor.

On route to the Grey's Health Centre, I stopped by Anna's for a short while.

I entered through the front door and after shouting for her and receiving no reply, I walked into the kitchen. There she stood, her back to me, facing the window; her eyes soaring over the heathery fells.

"Anna?" I whispered, anxiously approaching her. I watched her jump and jerk round and with a start she exclaimed, "Oh! — there you are, wee lass. I was just thinkin' about you." She now walked towards her small, rounded kitchen table and drew out two chairs. "Sit, sit."

I bade her command and sat down next to her, silently staring into her eyes. For a moment she did not speak and I became uncomfortable — which was the first in a very long time — and I was unsure of what to say. Something was wrong with Anna; I just didn't know what.

"Tea?"

I nodded, saying, "Yes, please."

Anna reached in front of her and brought forth her yellow tea-pot where she began pouring the tea into two kitten mugs. A feeling of disquiet fell like a blind between Anna and I; so quiet it was when she prepared our tea, for normally you could never shut Anna up.

"What's wrong?" I eventually urged, taking my milky tea from her. Anna slanted her head to the side for a moment before asking, in an unusual tone, "Do you know anyone who dresses in red cloaks?"

Confused, I told her that no I didn't.

"It's just..." She looked down at her shaking hands for a minute before taking another sip of her tea, before saying, "Some lady came 'round earlier... askin' for you."

"For me?"

I was as shocked as she. Nobody ever came asking for me.

"Well she came knocking on ma door not long afore I woke up, actually. So's I shoved on my housecoat and answered the door. At first I couldn'y see her face, the sun was far too bright above, but then she stepped forward and said, in a well snooty voice, "I'm looking for a girl named Molly Taylor. I have been informed that you're acquainted with her... Do I stand correct?" I almost soiled me knickers, wee lass, I tell ya! I stuttered when I asked her to come in. Slowly she followed me into ma kitchen. She sat just there, right next to you." She nodded to the unoccupied chair next to me. "I could tell she wasn't comfortable in my house, for of course she was of a greater class... But I offered her a cup of tea anyway, which she accepted but eagerly she said that no, she is not one for cake and plus she had already eaten, so I left Ginny alone in the fridge. Anyhow, I goes to her, "What're you wantin' the wee lass for any how?" At first the wuman didn't know who or what I was talking about but after a moment she said, "The business in which I am burden with must be disclosed to Molly and Molly only. When may I be able to speak with her?" I swear to God I could've laughed in her face she talked that proper like. I had to keep repeating her words in ma head before I could reply."

I leaned in closer, disquietly knotting my fingers under my chin.

"I telt her that you didn't live her, and that you only came 'round to mine every so often but I said that if I seen ye I'd tell ye that she came a-callin'. I'll tell you this though, she wasn't too satisfied with what I had to say. She stood up from the chair and asked to use ma phone. I telt her it was in the living-room; I remained seated when she called for her chauffeur. It wasn'y even two minutes later when someone knocked on ma door. I walked her to the door and before she went away she turned and said, "I can see that this visit has been very unfortunate but I trust that you will pass my message on to Molly that it's urgent I see her... I'll—" I glared at her as she looked around my house with a very disoriented expression, as she said, "Come back sometime during this week. I pray for Molly's sake that she will be here." Then she left and I closed my door... I've been shaken up about it ever since! — it was all so bizarre... You sure you don't know anyone who dresses in red cloaks, 'cause that was all she was wearing. That, and, some rosary beads tied around her neck... That was a funny thing, that, it had a sort of pendant dangling from the beads. It had an inscription on it too, saying:—"