Kaya Purchase Petit Rat
Ida lay on the table .
Joseph had wrapped her in an old stage curtain leaving only her face uncovered . A ragged whistle which must have been breath issued from her mouth , and her chest moved softly in and out , a mere flutter , barely perceptible . The other stagehands were grouped around her , their caps in their hands . The silence between each whistle was a chasm .
Mr Evans stood in the corner , his hat on his head . He was fidgeting , glancing rapidly from the clock on the mantelpiece to the door . He cleared his throat . The stagehands didn ’ t move . They remained , a sagging circle , chins nodding at the floor . ‘ Such a terrible tragedy in one so young and vibrant ,’ Mr Evans sighed . ‘ But Mr Evans , sir ,’ muttered a stagehand , startling Evans . None of them had moved and
Evans couldn ’ t work out which had spoken . ‘ You ’ re ‘ er patron , sir …’ ‘ Yes ?’ ‘ Well , pardon me , but ain ’ t you the one what can ‘ elp ‘ er then ?’ There was a pause . The gentle rustle of cloth , the drumming of raindrops on the windowpane and Ida ’ s intermittent sighs were the only sounds that punctured the grief-swollen stillness . ‘ But of course . I will send for an ambulance . Terribly sorry , I assumed you would have already sent one your boys down to the infirmary . Time is of the essence surely .’ ‘ The infirmary ?’ The stagehands exchanged dark looks . They shuffled their feet awkwardly . The clock on the mantelpiece continued to whirr away , each second weighing heavily on the room . As time passed the room seemed to darken , the air to thicken , the gas lamp shedding light onto Ida to flicker and dim , waning in time to the life ebbing from her body . The sound of the clock seemed to irritate Evans . Each new tick made his head twitch .
Eventually , Joseph raised his head . At last , Evans could decipher the speaker . The boy gazed at Evans , mouth slightly agape , his forehead scrunched above his eyebrows like an accordion .
‘ Sir , if Ida goes to the infirmary , ya know she won ’ t come out alive . People come outta them places more ill than when they go in . She ’ ll get an infection within five minutes o ’ breathin ’ tha ’ air . That ’ s if they don ’ t turn ‘ er away . She ’ ll need salves , balms , maybe surgery . They won ’ t operate if they think she ’ s destitute . They ’ ll send ‘ er down to the workhouse ‘ ospital . But if you , sir , were to contact ya doctor … With ‘ is professional opinion and your financial contribution , she could be sent straight to a surgeon and –’
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