Seeds Of Love

New friends

Ithought we were going for a cheeky Nando’s, Dad?” Mia said. “We are but first I need to see a man about an allotment.” Jack turned to his daughter and smiled. “You know how you are always going on about climate change and saving the environment?”

Mia nodded warily.

“Contrary to what you might think I do listen to what you say, Kiddo. I have ditched the single use plastic cups by taking my own mug to the coffee shop like you asked me to, but I wanted to do something more and this is it.”

He watched as Mia gazed out of the car window. “It’s a field with sheds in it,” she said as she turned back to him.

Jack nodded enthusiastically. “Not just any field, Mia. A field you can grow fruit and veggies in. We can rent a piece of it and plant our own stuff and watch it grow. How cool is that? You know how you always want me to buy local? Well, you won’t be able to get more local than this.

The best bit is we won’t have to buy anything at all as it will already be ours.”

He watched as Mia took another look at the field. “Can we grow strawberries?”

“Of course, and raspberries and carrots and potatoes and lots more. I know when your mum and I split up it was rough on you. This will give us something we can to do together. Quality Dad and daughter time. Better than going to the shopping mall or museums. It’s going to be great, don’t you think?” “I guess.”

Taking that as the most positive affirmation he was going to get on a wet Saturday afternoon in February, Jack got out of the car. He took Mia’s hand as they walked to the gate that separated the car park from the allotments. As Mia pulled back, he looked down at his daughter. Her

Jack looked at Mia’s PINK SHOES – his DAUGHTER did not do MUD

heart-shaped face, framed by two long plaits, wore a frown. “Dad, it’s muddy.”

Jack looked down at Mia’s pretty pink shoes. His eight year old did not do mud. Come to think of it she didn’t do rain either. He bent to zip up her anorak and pull up the hood.

“First thing on the shopping list is a pair of wellies for you, my girl,” he said as he swung her into his arms. “Let’s go and find George and we can do the paperwork and then we can go to Nando’s.”

George’s email had requested that

Jack follow the path to the pastelcoloured shed three sheds from the end. Jack could see the shed immediately. It stood out from its brown and grey neighbours – a bright, pop of colour against a slate, winter sky.

“That’s pretty,” Mia said, her hands tightening around Jack’s neck as they swayed over the uneven path. “Do we get a shed, too?”

“I think so. Somewhere to put tools.” Mia turned to him. “Do we have tools?” “Not yet.” He grinned. “We’ll have to add them to the shopping list.”

“And seeds,” Mia said. “You can’t grow anything without seeds.”

The pastel-coloured shed had a small veranda under a canopy. A wooden seat stood against the wall with pots of pansies either side. Jack set Mia down on the wooden planks. The top half of a split stable door stood ajar. Jack knocked on the frame.

“Hello? George?”

“I’m here.” A woman’s voice

After the ROCKY start with the MUD things were certainly LOOKING UP

emanated from the depths of the shed.

A moment later a woman appeared wearing a thick woollen jumper and jeans, a bobble hat and fingerless gloves. “Come in.” She held open the bottom half of the stable door. “Awful day. This is Jess, my Lab, she won’t hurt you.”

A chocolate Labrador roused from its bed under the table and came across to greet them, tail thumping against the leg of the table.

Delighted, Mia rubbed Jess’s head. “George?” Jack asked uncertainly. “Georgina, yes. Everyone calls me George. You must be Jack, and I’m guessing this is Mia.” George said, smiling. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Mia. Your dad tells me you’re a keen environmentalist. A woman after my own heart. Would you like a hot chocolate?” Mia nodded. “Yes, please.”

George looked at Jack and he smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”

“I love your shed,” Mia said. “I’ve never seen a shed like this before.”

The inside of the shed was as pretty as the outside and seemed almost Tardislike. Brightly painted, it had a storage area for garden equipment, but the majority of the shed was dominated by an old sofa and a large built in table.

“This is my haven,” George explained. “I like the bunting,” Mia said.

Jack looked up and saw the fabric bunting all around the inside of the shed.

“I made it myself. Perhaps we can make some bunting together for your shed, Mia. Would you like that?”

Mia nodded and smiled at Jack.

“I don’t want to put you to any trouble,” Jack said quickly.

“No trouble. Crafting is a hobby.”

“Did you draw all the pictures, too?” Mia asked.

Jack was impressed by how observant his daughter was. Again, Jack had only half-registered the gallery of paintings and drawings on the wall. Too busy looking at George, he chided himself.

“I did, yes. I’m an artist. I own a gallery in town. Do you draw, Mia?”

She nodded shyly. “A little.”

Jack watched as George put some milk on to boil on the little primus stove. “You have a good set up here,” he said.

George smiled. “I spend a lot of time here. I wanted to make it as homely as possible.” She patted the table. “This is my pride and joy. It’s a potting table, a work station, a dining table – anything I want it to be. Please, sit down, both of you. Make yourselves comfortable.”

Jack watched as George fixed their drinks. He had pictured a retired man, possibly wearing a flat cap and cords, leaning on a shovel. A real man-of-theearth type. George, with her glowing chestnut bob, bright red lipstick and warm smile had not been on his list of possibilities.

“I have the paperwork ready for you, Jack. It’s standard stuff. Not too many rules but we do expect you to keep your plot clean and tidy. There’s a communal compost bin and if you forget something, you can usually borrow whatever you need from someone else so long as you give it back, of course.”

Jack nodded.

“We’re a social bunch. We have regular cook-outs, many of them spontaneous. Once a month I host a barbecue here. And if you ever get bored while your dad is busy digging, Mia, you are welcome to come over to visit.”

Mia grinned. “Thank you.”

Jack smiled at his daughter. Jess, the Lab, had settled her head on Mia’s lap and

Mia was happily rubbing the dog’s ears. After the rocky start with the muddy car park things were certainly looking up.

“If I could have your autograph at the bottom there, Jack, you are good to go.”

Jack scanned the paperwork and signed his name.

Beaming, George handed Jack the key to his shed. “Welcome aboard. The shed will need a spring clean but I think Mandy left some deckchairs so at least you’ll have something to sit on. The plot is a good size. You’ll need to sort out the weeds but you’ve got good growing soil there. Tell me, have you ever had an allotment before?” she asked as she made three mugs of hot chocolate and passed them round.

Jack shook his head.

George sorted through the papers on her makeshift desk. “I have a tip sheet here somewhere. Gives you some ideas on what you can grow and how to do it.”

“That’d be great, thanks.” Jack looked at Mia. She was grinning and gave him a thumbs up sign. Jack was relieved. He had high hopes for this allotment. A new chapter in his and Mia’s lives together.

“Found it! Here you are.” George passed over the tip sheet.

Jack glanced down at it. The title read: Allyouneedfortheperfectallotment: SeedsandLove. He couldn’t have put it better himself.