VISITING_(2)

It had been a long drive. I had come from the south of England to Newcastle upon Tyne to look for a job. I had applied for a job I had seen, and they wanted to interview me.So this meantI was on main A1 road from London.
I arrived in Newcastle, at about five o’clock in the evening, and had decided that I would look for a bed and breakfast accommodation for the two nights I intended to spend there. My appointment was for 9.30 following morning but I had not planned on going out that evening. I drove down the row of terraced houses. The houses were fairly large, probably three-bedroom, and then I saw the sign I was looking for. In a window was small card saying, B & B.
I parked the car and walked to the front door pushed the bell, and waited. There was a movement behind the door and the door opened, and a young lad about 11 years old appeared. I said, “I see the sign the window, says you have accommodation, is it still available?”
He turned and yelled “Mum, there is a chap come to see about the spare room.”
A lady came to the door and said “Yes. The room was still available at the moment. Come in.”
I picked up my case, with my interview clothes in it and washing gear. We walked into our stand upstairs, the bedroom was quite adequate.
I said “Thank you.Would you like paying now.” She nodded. I took out my wallet and gave her the money for the two days.

She said. “I’ll be going out this evening, so you can sit down stairs, if you want and watch telly with the kids.”
I said, “Thanks very much.I’ll probably come down in little while.” At this point, I had only seen the young boy, so when she said kids and I was surprised.

I tidied up, and with the key she had given me went out and locked front door. It was going on about six o’clock, so I found somewhere to have a bite to eat, and then walked back to the house.
I opened the door and found the lady of the house was dressed in all her finery, and she said she be back later. She said, “John and Annie will be no trouble. They will probably have a bath about eight and watch telly until 10 and go to bed. I will be back somewhere round about 11 o’clock.” John, the young lad, gave slight smile.

Mrs Jones, then left, leaving me, a man with no slight interest in children, in charge of a young boy and a girl I had yet to meet.
A blond head poked its way around the door.