‘Because, loath as I am to say it,’ she said, sounding annoyed to have to admit it, ‘I’m not much enjoying getting up and out so early on these chilly mornings. I think I’ve done as much as I can with my working life. It’s time I had a rest.’

That didn’t sound like Dolly at all. She didn’t even rest at weekends. There was always something going on in Wynbridge that she was a part of.

‘But surely the school would be happy to have you start a little later in the day.’ I suggested.

‘That’s no good,’ she said, sounding impatient. ‘You need to be there the moment the children arrive. You can tell a lot about how a little one is feeling when they walk through the door and that can impact on their whole day, and besides, this is always the best term. There’s so much excitement surrounding Christmas, what with the nativity play, concerts, activities and fairs. It’s always been my favourite time of the school year so it’s an ideal time to bow out really.’

I couldn’t imagine Dolly would ever really bow out of school life and I was sure the teaching staff couldn’t imagine the place without her either, but I could understand where she was coming from about Christmas at school. In the past, before my festive spirit had been knocked on the head and I had fantasised about properly working in a school, I had always pictured myself helping out with the play, adjusting angel wings and making special cards, squelchy with glitter and glue, to take home to parents.

‘Have the school got a special assembly planned for you?’ I asked.

‘I hope not,’ said Dolly with what I imagined was a shudder. ‘We had all that palaver when I officially retired at sixty-five.’

‘They’re bound to want to mark the occasion in some way though, aren’t they?’

‘All the more reason to have you here to help me through it then,’ she said quickly. ‘You know how I hate a fuss.’

*

‘I bet she’s going to try and make you change your mind about moving,’ was the first thing Jonathan said when I relayed Dolly’s request. ‘I could tell she hated the idea right from the moment I asked you, and what about Christmas?’

‘What about Christmas?’ I snapped, ladling steaming risotto into bowls and feeling shocked by his reaction. ‘We don’t bother with it, do we? We aren’t even having decorations this year so I can’t see how my not being here in the weeks leading up to it will impact on you. Besides, you aren’t even going to be here half the time.’