The time for the boys's leaving for their new life in Germany was coming on to fast, and my spirits sank lower and lower as the days passed.There was no time for lamenting however, as I had become like an old misfiring robot, doing my many chores as if in a trance.
I asked around the village to see if I could find someone to come and help out in the kitchen, but as it was so late in the season, not even the sorriest of bodies was available, and I went into a kind of tired depression, I think, gorging on puds and ice cream, and all things sweet! I was so tired that my poor body must have been begging for energy, from there my sudden sweet tooth!
Jo, who was still struuting around like a haughty cockerel, was still trying to show me in a hundred and ten ways just who was the queen of that dump, doing precious little to lighten our loads.
Then Jo announced that in future she would cook for the staff while I had my rest between three and five, and my heart sank to the soles of my feet. I had no time at five to sit down to dinner, as I had to get everything ready before six, as that was when people stated arriving for dinner.She informed me in her drawling voice that I had to be at the dinner table at four thirty then, and she would stoop to serve dinner to suit me! This with a bit of sarcasm! But I knew that I just could not eat at four thirty in the afternoon, as I was just not hungry then.
But of course she had to go upstairs at five thirty for her appointment with the Gin bottle. I put up quite a resistence, but she was adamant that she would feed us before she went upstairs, and as I did not feel in the mood for any trouble, I agreed, knowing that I could and probably would, make me a meal later if I got hungry again.
I used to do all the meals for the staff, and fed them after the rush is over at about ten, but with only the few of us, I made them a meal when they asked for it after our guests were fed.
So to keep the peace I went down at four thirty, and found the boys already seated, and also Harry, the owners's son.
Jo's shrill voice suddenly rang through the diningroom, calling for Harry to come and help her serve dinner. We sat waiting, wondering what she would serve us.
Then Harry came in, followed by his mother, and I could hear the Boys gasp, as they had the first glimpse of what was on the plates! Then Harry plonked down a plate before me, and I truly had to blink a few times to make sure that I was not dreaming!
On the plate were two slices of toast, unbuttered, and on this reclined to whole, peeled Italian tomatoes, the ones that I used for cooking. A glimpse at the Boys showed me that they were also quite overwhelmed, and when I caught Brendan's eye, we stated to laugh, and then John chimed in, and we were soon paralyzed with mirth!
After a while Tony came in, gave the fare one look, and after looking at the three of us that was still giggling, he made for the door, and back to the bar! The tomatoes were not even warmed up, and none of us ate anything, and that enraged Jo so much that she flew up the stairs like some demented lunatic, to seek consolation in her Gin glass, I was sure! That was enough for me, so the next day I told her roundly that I would make my own dinner, and Tony and Harry also demanded to be fed by me. The Boys were quite capable of cooking their own meals, and did so. They were anyway leaving in a few days, as their pact with Tony to help him until he could cope, was now over.