Miss Peeg & Mr. Jessup at Dinner

Miss Peeg sat down for dinner in the dining room glad to be back home after her ordeal in the flood. She once again admired her new handbag she’d bought in the dress shop at the hotel in Coffs and tucked it under the table. The waitress brought her a menu and took her order for a glass of red wine.

"Ah excuse me…would you mind terribly if I joined you?"

"Why Mr. Jessup not at all I would be glad for the company."

"I really don’t like to eat alone especially in a restaurant people tend to look upon you with pity," he said and settled in his seat.

"I do know what you mean…how are you I haven’t seen you around lately?" Miss Peeg asked

"I’m doing fairly well, looks like I might be a resident here at the inn for awhile my house was flooded."

"Oh dear how awful for you…were you able to save anything?"

"Only the upstairs furniture and bits and pieces my garden slopes down toward the house from the street…there’s a foot of mud in the lounge and dining room." He accepted a menu and ordered a glass of wine to have with Miss Peeg.

"I’m afraid I lost my car it floated away with myself and Mrs. McGee on top. It was quite an experience I must say and one I’m not likely to repeat. It came up so fast…the water…there was nowhere to go."

"You’re very lucky Miss Peeg not to have drowned."

"What will you do about your house Mr. Jessup?"

"I’ll take the insurance settlement and I suppose tear it down…it’s an old house and the foundation would never be sound again. I’ve bought the corner building you know and I suppose I will move what furniture I have left to the second floor there’s a flat there that could use some work that will give me something to do for awhile."

"What about the shop are you still going to open one?"

"Oh yes I still have my plans…all in due time." Henry Jessup wasn’t in a hurry to do anything he moved slowly, spoke slowly however his mind was as quick as lightning.

"And you Miss Peeg…any luck with the realtor?"

"Oh I’d almost for gotten…the elderly couple who owned the little cottage are moving to Coffs to be with their son so things are looking good. I’ve put in an offer and we shall see what happens. It will be good to be in my own little cottage again one does miss puttering about."

"I’m not much of a putterer but I do like working with my hands…woodworking and fixing things so I shall be in my element with the corner building. What looks good on the menu tonight have you made a choice?"

"I’m leaning toward the pot pie Andy’s cooking tonight and I’ve had it before it’s delicious." Miss Peeg had her glasses perched on the end of her nose. "Have you eaten the new chef’s fare?"

"Yes I was here for the opening…very nice I like that it’s not too spicy…I don’t like spicy foods they interfere with my digestion."

Miss Peeg smiled at her friend, "indeed…when I was younger I loved curries however now I find I cannot bear them. Yes…the pot pie for me," she smiled closing up her menu.

"I shall have the same…I hear there’s to be an election here in The Glen have you not thrown your hat in the ring?"

"Me? Whatever for?"

"Secretary…seems to me that would suit you fine." Henry said.

"Hmm, I hadn’t thought…oh well…one might…actually I could couldn’t I?" Miss Peeg beamed.