Steady Now Doctor Read Online Free PDF Page A

with disappointment as he opened it. No pound or ten shilling note. His father had strange ideas about gifts. He would often leave a raffle ticket as a tip in a restaurant, and if he was giving something away that he no longer had use for, it suddenly became one of the most valuable possessions he had. Andy pulled out a piece of folded white paper and opened it to see what was inside. There was nothing inside but the paper, incredulously nearly as big as a handkerchief, with black writing on one side. A whole five pound note .
    He had hardly ever seen one, never mind touch one. He turned back to his pillow again and wept. It had been a long day.
    ***
    Andy slept soundly, keeping one ear open for the postman’s early knock. He had been waiting for this knock with lessening hope for some days now.
    There was a knock at about 8 a.m. He was down the stairs before the letter hit the mat. There were six in all, four for his father, who had left for work at 7 a.m., one in spidery handwriting probably from Grandma, to his mother, and an official typed one for him.
    He placed five of the letters on the hall stand, carrying his own as if it was a piece of delicate pottery into the lounge. He sat in an armchair toying with it, not wanting to know its contents.
    Eventually with a resigned sigh, he tore off the corner of the envelop flap, then inserting his finger, split the envelope open. He took out the letter, unfolded it, and spread it out on his knee, deliberately not looking at it. Then after a big intake of breath he looked down, and it was as if he was floating up from his chair. There in bold print it read, ‘Surrey County Council are happy to announce that they are making a full grant for tuition fees and maintenance to Andrew Howard during and until the completion of his medical studies.’ He almost wept again, “Christ,” he said out loud, “I must cut out this blubbing stuff.”
    The sentence written by Surrey County Council was up to then, the most important sentence he had ever read in his life. It meant that he would not have to depend on his parents for finance, possibly ever again, and perhaps, more important, although his mother was always so snappy at him, this would at least silence some of her heavier guns.
    He had never been happier in his whole life. He wanted to shout and sing, but Mother was in bed sleeping off her late night from the troop concert.
    He made himself some breakfast, tea, Shredded Wheat, toast and marmalade, all with one hand, the other clutching the letter from the County Council which he read and re-read. He wondered whether he would be able to stick it out to be a doctor, but anyway, whatever happened, he had the place in medical school, and the money to pay for it. It was nearing the end of July, and he was on holiday until early October. All that glorious free time. Perhaps he would try and find Joneson and they could cycle to Blackpool or wherever again. He had three pounds fifteen shillings saved, plus the five pounds his father had given him - the world was his oyster.
    At 9.30 a.m., with an impish grin on his face, he brewed a small pot of tea for his mother. It was no good trying to make her toast because it would be too thick, too thin, too much butter or too little butter, and she didn’t want marmalade on it anyway, it was spread too thick or too thin, and so on. It was a risk with the tea that carried all the permutations of too strong, too weak, too hot, too cold.
    He knocked on her door. She was awake, lost in thought.
    Her first words. “It wouldn’t hurt you to do this a bit more often Mr Medical Student.”
    Andy could have predicted word for word exactly what she would say, then on she went.
    â€œIt’s all right standing there looking pleased with yourself. Who is going to pay for you at the medical school, who, come on tell me, your father and I have made enough sacrifices for you already?”
    Andy handed her the letter from the