THE SENTINEL

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS  By Tessa Harvey     Relieved, Sylvia continued her work. Despite initial antipathy, the young woman was beginning to both like and respect Ms. Tournier. She did not waste words, but was authoritative and also just. And she could smile!     But Sylvia was still bewildered and confused. Her mother had told her she also was attacked when she went to the city. Sylvia wondered how anyone knew her mother was going there. Who was watching them up on that lonely plateau where they had lived? And why had she also been targeted?      Angry and upset, she had confronted her workmates who had left her alone at that pub. There were four of them. They had all been told she had accepted a lift with a young man. They had been a little surprised, but obviously, judging by their shame-faced looks, too drunk to care that much.     Finally, unwilling to upset her mother, Sylvia had discussed all this with Detective Inspector Al...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     The young woman hunched over her desk concentrating on her computer. Some senior girls came to the office. They waited a few minutes then one girl, tall and privileged-looking despite the school uniform, dinged the counter bell loudly and insistently.      Sylvia now self-styled Ms. Tyson to fit in this new county, which she considered far too rain-washed and backward, regarded the girl, icily. She did not like interruptions.     "Have you no manners?" she demanded. She stood up, imposing in her new high heels. "Listen, little Miss Smart, you treat me with respect, or you wait longer."     "So what," the senior girl replied. "You make us late for class, you are in trouble."     "Is there a problem here?" Miss Tournier had materialised from nowhere. With just one severe look, the girls' courage fell to the floor. "Next time, come in the break."      The students r...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS  By Tessa Harvey     "If they are nice to me, then I may stay. But Sylvia does not think I should exist at all. I am a Jew, not worthy of life. Perhaps these old ones are different. May I see them now?"     Esmay escorted the boy to matron's office adjoining the sick bay. She was politely asked to wait outside as young Sally needed a diabetic injection. Her friends kept giving her sweets, lollies, and Hazel had confronted them. "Do you want to kill Sally?" They looked horrified.     Quietly she had explained about diabetes. Now as Sally scuttled to her class as shy yet rebellious, as always, Esmay asked if they had time to talk to Theodor.     "You do know you are in the UK now, not o n your plateau."     The boy looked down. "I want to go back so much I imagine I am there." His voice shook. "But I am afraid of my dad."     The three ladies - Polly, Esmay and Hazel sat down near Theodor. "Perha...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     The next morning early there was a tap on the principal's door. "Come In," Esmay invited, aware this was a pupil. The knock was low down on the sturdy door, ajar as always, unless a private meeting.     The new boy walked in. Esmay could see he was shaking slightly.     "May I go home?" Theodor asked quietly. "I have stayed all night and half a day. The owl needs me you see and the bats at home."     She noticed the boy was not looking directly at her.     "Theo," the teacher said gently, "would you like to meet your grandmother?" Eliza had given permission before she left.     "Grossmulti?" For the first time Theo looked into her eyes.     "Did she lose me?" "Yes, in a manner of speaking. For a very long time she wanted always to find you. Also she has a friend of mine who knows all about the owls and bats and badgers and foxes and squirrels here. And flow...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     Esmay was working late in her office which was a storey higher than the rest of the school.\     Once, her window open, she had heard one the students mumble, "Miss T is up in her control tower."     It had been a very good joke to share with the boarding school staff. The youngest had her room opposite her office as the boarding building was two-storey for the older students and across some walkways, trees and lawn, was the single storey building for the "wee ones" as Mrs. Reardon, a former matron liked to call them. They were aged 11 or 12 or 13.     One child, Tanya was basically ignored by her family. One of the matrons had to go with her to choose shoes, which she did with compassion for the youngster, but with silent fury towards uncaring parents.     But mostly the students were a cheery bunch. After being asked how she was after the holidays, 14 year old Lyndal cheerfully a...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     Someone tapped her on her arm. She jerked away, ready to fight. "Hey, up" a warm voice said, "don't tek on so, lass!"     At the friendly voice a world away from such a terrible court room, Polly woke up.     "Sorry." "Don't apologise." You were having a bad dream. I thought a friendly accent might help." There was a slight questioning note in her voice.     Polly, realising now where she was, thanked the matron, Hazel and quickly settled down again for sleep. To her relief, the woman tiptoed back to her own room.     Well, that lady needed her sleep. It was not easy, looking after other people's children as some mistakenly thought. No indeed, it as not.     For a while, Polly lay awake watching the stars twinkling, aware of a creator God who still loved and watched over her. She was veery aware people had freewill, but when your own children deliberately chose evil, it wa...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     A man looking like a well-built bodyguard guided her to a very small room with a few small seats opposite each other. "Phones off," he ordered sternly. He checked again when he came back after a few minutes.      This time a young police officer came in and sat opposite, dressed in black work-office clothes. She had a bulky file which she refused to leave with the guard who intently watched the entrance to the Supreme Court.     "All phones off. Follow me." The older lady followed obediently. The court was large and grim. All was grey.     As quickly as she could, Polly saw herself move forward. She was aware now she was dreaming, but it was so real. A smiling older lady greeted her and she realised there was a was a witness box.     The judge was bathed in the only light in the huge room. He said, "Take your stand in the witness box." There were several tricky steps going up, ...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS By Tessa Harvey     Esmay wasn't fooled, but declared, "I am delighted to see you. However, could you possibly endure a cup of soup, tea or coffee first and maybe a sandwich or biscuits? Just until I have settled some new children.     Avoiding further declarations of being absolutely fine, the principal smiled warmly and exited the small room with her usual firm grace.     "I am Hazel Phillips," the sick bay attendant ventured. "Look, this morning has been very hard. Could you possibly come with me to my rooms next door? I certainly need some lunch and have time. If not, I will make time."     To her relief, the older lady let Hazel help her stand and they left the neat area of several beds and locked cupboards of medicine. The matron's rooms were as sun-filled as the sick bay and much more comfortable.     There were cosey armchairs and even a vase filled with late autumn flowers of mixed cornflowers, some ...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     Polly felt warm and comfortable. She tried to stretch but winced as something hurt. Opening her eyes she at once realized that "this is not Kansas, Toto!" and suddenly realizing where she must be, moved to sit upright, being very embarrassed. A school sick bay!     "Are you feeling better?" a kind adult voice asked. This must be matron.     "Look," Polly tried to compose herself and speak firmly and with clarity. "I am so sorry. That was not meant to happen. You see i just wanted to visit a dear friend and then go home. If Esmay is too busy I can leave now, you know."     Gathering her wits and her handbag balanced on a nearby school chair, Polly reached forward. She felt giddy but tried to hide the fact. "I am a high school teacher," she spoke to herself, firmly. What a terrible way to behave!     "Having a wee bit rest?" chuckled a familiar voice. Polly Stanton was overjoyed...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     "Miss, miss!" one of the twins was calling. Was it Eric or Ian? The rascals deliberately answered to the wrong name at times. "There's a funny old lady fallen down at the gate, miss."     Sally sighed. If these dratted twins were playing yet another joke on her, she would go and see Mrs. Tournay.     "Listen," she said sternly to the boy in question, "it is not nice to tell lies the way you two do. I am going to see Mrs. Tournay. See if I don't."     "Her name is Miss Tournier," the other twin advised, solemnly.     "GO AWAY, NOW!" Sally had potatoes to fetch and peel. As she heard the lesson buzzer and watched the twins glancing back alternately, she just stood there, hands on her hips. No way would she go and see while they were watching.     The young blonde, fair-skinned woman hastily dug up some potatoes, enough for lunch, the main meal. The soil smelled so nice i...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     Hazel Dempsey felt her heart go out to the younger woman sat before her. She was so beautiful. How could her husband have treated her so badly?     "Did you never suspect?" she asked, quietly. "Yes," replied Eliza, "but I was a Jew and he pretended he was a noble German. I had no rights, no money of my own and there always, always other women - so many." Her voice broke. She reached out with a shaky hand, but her cup trembled, sloshing milk into the saucer. Cleaning the cup and saucer and trying unsuccessfully to hide her own tears, the school matron poured out a fresh mug, easier to hold of sweetened tea for e Eliza.     Then she asked softly, "did you ever receive any of the mail I sent you or the emails? I tried so hard to find you....     "Once I received a photograph...." Her voice trailed away, remembering. Eliza said brokenly "he seemed so kind at first, saying he would treat Syl...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     Tony Smith looked up with a smile expecting release from his holding cell. The smile vanished as he realised the man facing him was Detective Superintendent Alistair Sutherland, a trio of constables flanking him.     They looked grim and alert. His first reaction, to make a run for it, vanished. Still he knew that there never was a charge against him able to stick. He tried bluster, putting on a fake Irish accent. "Sure, now aren't I the lucky one to have such great visitors as yourselves." It was wasted. Silence was all there was in answer.     "Okay, what is it?" Tony tried to affect nonchalence.     Alistair spoke clearly. "Some of your mates have turned against you." Smith laughed, trying to think. His stupid saintly mother often said, "You have a way with words, son. Perhaps you will be a priest or even a missionary! Wouldn't that be grand, now?"     He had never answered. But ...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS  By Tessa Harvey     Sylvia, reluctantly remembering her manners, knocked resentfully on the principal's door which was half-open. "This is stupid. I am not a child," she muttered.     To her surprise, a woman with a beautiful smile opened door wide and warmly welcomed her to come into the room.           "Do you have time for a chat?" she asked cheerfully. "Like I have a choice," Sylvia answered in her head. But she came into the smallish room. It was not at all like the head teacher's forbidding domain of her youth. Here there was a tidy set on an unpolished table covered with orderly files and a computer. Comfortable armchairs and sofas were arranged loosely around the walls,  but not all facing the corner table, or rather, desk.     As if in a dream, Sylvia accepted strong coffee and some very tasty chocolate biscuits. The older woman seemed to focus on her own drink until Sylvia felt ...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS  By Tessa Harvey     Polly Stanton leaned back against the wide oak tree and closed her eyes for a few moments, feeling exhausted. The young lad at the bus stop when she queried where the school was sited had smiled down at her. "Nowt but a lar walk," he had said.     She remembered the lovely Cumbrian accent and how it had cheered her all those years ago returning from London on the overnight bus. Just a wee walk then.      So she had set off walking the narrow lane which had meandered and curved. Imagining herself again a student, the time had seemed to fly by. Then her years had caught up with her. Old age, she thought, remembering how an older woman had once said "never get old, dearie!" Polly had thought that funny. "Move ominously," another person had said, "life is a......" - which it could be, she thought, ruefully.     Sinking down among the slowly falling leaves, she wondered at the impuise to seek ...

 THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS By Tessa Harvey     Trying to hide her shock, Hazel walked along the corridor to the principal's office. She knew she would be expected to greet the students and the parents soon.      Esmay realised her other friend had arrived by the partially opened door and hurried to see her.     "What is it?" she queried at once, sensing something profound was happening. "That boy, the one on the autism scale, I believe he is my grandson!"     Matron was long schooled in hiding her feelings and was quickly regaining her equilibrium. The principal prayed quietly to herself. Then she said, "Could Blanche show the twins and their parents round the classrooms and dormitories with one of the other boys. Include Theodor. Would you like to talk to the boy's mother alone? I would like to interview the young woman about working here with us."     It was quickly decided. The matron went to her rooms and waited for one...

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS By Tessa Harvey     From an upstairs room, the matron of the boarding part of the school glanced out of the nearby window. She loved to watch the autumn leaves dance to the ground to be swept, skittering down the drive, or caught, light-shining in the sunlit grass.     It was then she caught sight of the new students being welcomed by Esmay, the principal. She noticed the identical small twin boys, their russet-coloured hair burnished copper by the light flooding through the barer branches of golden ash trees.     There would be some fun from those boys, she surmised. Then her glance snagged on the third boy, standing tall and still, somehow a little remote self-contained.     Her heart beat erratically in her chest, the pacemaker struggling to cope.     Hazel plonked down on nearest chair, a ricketty old thing. It was her son, exactly forty years ago, who had later stormed from the house as a young man....

THE SENTINEL AWAY WITH WORDS   By Tessa Harvey     Esmay Tournier was waiting for three new pupils to arrive for the September term. The family had recently moved from Australia to settle in the Lake District in England. The capital city of the region, Carlisle on the border close to Scotland.     Carlisle Castle was a fine castle in marvellous condition and her school children visited at least once a year.          The school had at one time been a private home, a large building with a beautiful garden of mature trees and, in summer, roses and other hardy plants, surrounded by well-kept lawns.     Two cars arrived almost together up the sweeping drive from the main road. From the first car a man and woman emerged, followed quickly by identical twin boys. They stood there, uncertain, then turned to look at the other vehicle as it came to a halt. Two women and a boy climbed out. The adults smiled then looked toward the school. ...