Mai Griffin
it and was comfortable in lightweight shirts or smocks.
When the nape of her slender neck began to ache as though
exposed to an icy draught she was puzzled but expected that the
sun’s rays would soon penetrate the trees. Unclipping her long
hair, allowing it to flow freely over her shoulders, gave only
temporary comfort – her hands soon became almost too numb to
continue holding the palette and brush. It was ridiculous. This
was supposed to be the hottest summer since 1911... Penguins at
Bristol zoo were receiving daily cold showers of water to prevent
them from dehydrating!
Eventually, in an effort to restore some body warmth,
Clarrie walked up and down the limited area, stamping her feet
to bring back circulation. A sharp contrast, between cold and
warm air, occurred abruptly at the edge of the copse and the
incongruity made her apprehensive. Feeling strangely threatened
she stared about her, reluctant to remain in isolation. Surely, she
was alone. Among the thinly clumped bushes on the opposite
bank of the small inlet, concealment was virtually impossible –
she would have seen anyone loitering. Yet she did dimly recall
voices, an hour ago perhaps, and a shout, obviously too distant
to cause alarm.
She might have dismissed a fancied threat but could not
endure physical discomfort so had to give up. It was a nuisance
having to move her equipment; starting to paint again from a
different viewpoint would render the morning’s work wasted
unless she found a similar clearing nearby – one more sheltered
from the cold perhaps, if it didn’t envelope the whole bend of the
river.
The distant roar of traffic, made her feel less alone so,
having packed her gear away, Clarrie paused to assess the
terrain. Away from the river, the ground rose sharply and the
heavily treed area adjoining the road should have afforded
protection but perhaps even a light breeze might be deflected by
the steep bank, creating a chilling swirl of air where water
undermined the low bank before surging round the bend.
It was too cold to stand and wonder for long and a relief to
settle back in the warmth of the car. Normality soon returned to
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