Suzy by Gary L Beer (easy books to read in english txt) 📕

door before she takes a book from the shelf; Colditz by P.R. Reid in hardback. She had seen the black and white film dozens of times and smiles when she sees the price inside; 25 pence. Closing the book she looks along the shelves but nothing else catches her eye; “Are you going to buy that? Asks Sharon as she reads the back cover.
“Definitely, they only want 25 pence, you got one as well? Suzy asks looking at the red bound cover of the book Sharon clutches to her bosom.
“Too right, they only want twenty five pence for this as well.” she smiles.
Suzy takes it out of her hand; “I'll treat you as you bought the coffee.” not giving Sharon a chance to reply she walks quickly to the counter.
Sharon follows and watches the tired old man behind the counter take the books from Suzy's hand. Patiently he peels the little stickers off displaying the price and sticks them in a large A4 size book along with fifty other labels. Closing the book he rings up 25 pence twice and says in a squeaky voice; “Fifty pence please, would you like a bag?”
“Yes please, if you don't mind.” replies Suzy handing the man a fifty pence piece.
The old man takes the money from Suzy's hand and totals the till as he puts the money in. Leaning under the counter he rummages around and pulls out a crumpled supermarket plastic bag. Putting the books in the bag he hands them to Suzy; “Thank you.” he says pleasantly as she and Sharon turn to leave.
Looking through the window the policewoman frowns in their direction and turns and leans her back against the glass of the window.
Sharon laughs; “I wonder if she enjoyed her run around the alley?”
“By the look on her face I would say no.” smiles Suzy though a worried look covers her face.
“Just ignore her when we go out, you can ask me what book I bought and then we'll have a slow walk along the High Street to home Ok?” Sharon asks though it is more of a demand and she walks to the front door of the shop.
Suzy hurries to keep pace with her as Sharon steps out onto the pavement and starts to walk past the police woman, who is still leaning against the glass of the shop.
“What did you get? You never did show me.” asks Suzy as she walks beside Sharon.
“Only the best science fiction book ever written, it's a bit battered but looks clean and it was only 25 pence!” she exclaims with real enthusiasm.
“What is it then?” Suzy asks impatiently.
“Starship Stinedern - it is an amazing story.”
“I have been thinking about the police when we have been walking around,” says Suzy; “they seem very determined to watch what I am doing and that puts you in an awkward position.”
“Talk about it when we get to yours.” Sharon tells Suzy in a low voice.
Suzy nods her head in agreement and they slowly walk back to Suzy's bungalow; their 'tail' changes when they reached the edge of town as the policewoman changes places with, who can only be described as the 'sergeant'.
The man is in his mid-fifties and by his upright manner and the almost militaristic way he walks gives him away and he keeps a discreet distance. Suzy and Sharon ignore him and try to look casual as they laugh and joke along the way.
Turning the corner into Suzy's road they both stop in their tracks as the pavements along either side of the road appears filled with Girl Guides!
Suzy laughs nervously; “Nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw all those uniforms until I saw the size of the girls wearing them.” Suzy says as the laugh turns slightly hysterical with relief.
“It looks like they are cleaning the neighbourhood and gardens, bet they have been knocking on your door.” Grabbing hold of Suzy's hand Sharon pulls her along the road; “All the same they are making me nervous.”
They reach Suzy's door and as Suzy is turning the key in the lock a young Girl Guide aged about eleven years nervously opens the gate behind them. Sharon turns at the noise of the gate opening; “Hello, you all look busy, I hope it is all for a good cause?” she asks the Girl Guide in her sweetest voice.
The girl visibly relaxes at Sharon's pleasant manner; “Yes our hut is leaking and we have got to have a new roof, are there any jobs I can do in your garden or sweep your path?” asks the Guide hopefully.
“I do not live here; I will go and ask the lady inside.” Sharon tells her as she walks inside, hearing noises from the kitchen Sharon walks along the hall into the kitchen; “There is a Girl Guide outside who wants to know if you have got any jobs for her to do?”
Suzy smiles; “Girl guide? I was one of them, yes she can pull the weeds up that are growing alongside the house.”
“I will tell her, cannot imagine you being a Girl Guide.” Sharon laughs.
“And a good one I will have you know, it was really good fun, I will put a bucket outside for her to put the weeds in.”
“I never joined, went once and this big girl kept pushing me about, so I never went again.” Sharon tells her as she walks out the door and along the hall; “Yes please, the lady would like you to pull the weeds up that are growing alongside the house. She is just getting a bucket for you to put them in.” she tells the Girl Guide who is patiently waiting outside the front door.
The Guide's face lights up at the news; “Thank you, I will go tell my leader and be back in a few minutes.” she says happily and not waiting for Sharon to answer, she turns and runs along the path.


Chapter Nine

“You have to calm down.” Sharon tells Suzy firmly.
“I am so scared I am glad you are here, thank you.” Suzy reaches out and squeezes Sharon's hand giving a weak smile.
Suzy has made the coffee and they sit at the kitchen table, the sound of a collared dove singing in the pear tree in the garden sounds loud through the opened back door. The sun shines weakly as it heads for the clouded horizon, dusk is about an hour away and the quiet of the approaching evening, apart from some sparrows squabbling in the guttering, can already be felt as the temperature drops a few degrees.
“The way you have been followed I think you are in a lot of trouble; unless you have covered your tracks completely.”
“Yes I am sure; Darren is considered to be a suicide according to the local newspaper and I cannot see them finding Doug.”
“I have never heard of that Well before, how did Lewis know about it?”
“I think he came across it by accident when he was walking the dog.”
“It does sound a good place.” smiles Sharon as she takes a swig of her coffee.

Paris, the Girl Guide had worked hard and filled the bucket with weeds, on her way to ask where to empty the bucket of weeds she hears Suzy and Sharon talking in the kitchen. The kitchen door is wide open and she can hear every word, the word 'suicide' makes her stop still in shock, Paris had read about a suicide in the newspaper and the mention of a Well makes her listen intently.
Wells have been a fascination of hers since she could remember and unashamedly she eavesdrops.
“Yes it is, but I would not describe it as good, weird would be a better word.” confirms Suzy, her voice firming as she talks, gaining strength from Sharon's friendship.
“Weird? Why weird?”
“Well the Well is surrounded by water; and it is dry.” Suzy laughs at the repeat of the word 'Well'.
“How can you have a dry Well?”
“This one is; and you have to cross a deep stream that is about two metres away from it.”
“That is strange; I would like to see that one day after the maggots have done their work.”
“Urgh do not remind me though I do not feel as much remorse as I have done, over the years I came to really hate him and now he is gone I feel happier.”
“I bet you do, keep thinking positive and you'll get through this, and do you want another cup of coffee?” Sharon asks as she stands up.
Paris sees the top of Sharon's head and backs away quietly until she is around the corner. Breathing quickly in anxiety Paris cannot believe what she has heard. Maybe it is because that is what she wants to hear argues the voice in her head; but Paris knows what she has heard.
Going around to the front of the bungalow she checks that she has done the weeding correctly and picks up the bucket of weeds. Nervously she knocks on the front door holding onto the bucket firmly as if it will protect her.
The door opens wide; “Are you all right?” asks a smiling Sharon.
“F-Fine thanks.” stammers Paris; “Where shall I put these weeds?” she asks holding the bucket so that Sharon can see it is full.
“You have done well, follow me and I will show you the compost heap.” Sharon says as she steps out of the door shutting it behind her. Walking around the side of the bungalow Sharon can see where Paris has pulled the weeds as soil is exposed on the concrete of the path; “I had better get you a broom, it looks like you have pulled all the weeds up, Suzy will be pleased.”
Paris smiles in embarrassment and follows Sharon to the back of the garden to the compost heap. A small compost heap surrounded by rusting corrugated iron and covered with fresh weeds from Suzy's gardening efforts sits in the shade of an old apple tree.
“Throw it on there.” Sharon orders as she opens the door to the shed, leaning in she pulls out an old soft broom and hands it to Paris; “Just sweep the dirt onto the garden and come and knock on the back door when you have done please.” smiles Sharon.
Paris takes the broom from Sharon's outstretched hand and passes her the empty bucket.
“I will put this in the shed.” she says and throws it in the shed and shuts the door; “See you in a few minutes, take your time.”

Sharon walks back into the kitchen shutting the door behind her, Suzy is staring into her cup of coffee looking very unhappy;