The Golden Perch Inn

[Arry]

The cracked shingles had all been removed, along with an additional row about the area. Will had begun the pouring on of the pitchy tar and was just swabbing a section of it onto the cleared area when a familiar voice called up from the ground.

‘I've brought you your second breakfast. Shall I leave it here, or would you like me to climb up there and bring it to you?’

Engrossed as he was in his roofing business, he called back without thinking. ‘Oh, aye! Come on up! And if you would . . . there’s an extra tarring brush just underneath the ladder . . . leaning up against the stable side. Can you bring that up, too?’

He poured another small section of pitch and began working on it. His stomach began grumbling at the promise of food. Thoughts of bread and cheese, he hoped, and some sweet tea to drink pushed him to work at a faster pace.

‘Oh! And mind that fifth step . . . it felt a bit wobbly when I came up . . .’