1. Deasil
Street
3.4

2. It’s a new day on Deasil
Street, and a new home
has been built on the
empty lot between the
Baileys and Vickers.
Number 5 is very small,
very plain and not very
aesthetically pleasing.
No residents had
arrived with the new
building. So it was an
empty, oddly shaped
shell with a bare, flat
roof.

3. Ariette and Harry were the first out to inspect
the new property. It was a little troubling. The
stairs in the side of the house went nowhere. It
did not even allow access to the roof, such as it
was. There were two columns that did not
appear to support anything.

4. In addition to an non-existent second storey, the house itself was worrying. It
was just so small, looking inside, she could see it was a one room property,
with only the bathroom sectioned off in one corner. She couldn’t imagine what
kind of person would choose, or be forced, to live in such conditions. Certainly,
she doubted they would be right for ‘her’ street. This would be something to
keep her beady eye on.

5. Malika had been sent round again while
her parents had one of their ‘discussions’.
Megan was happy to chat, but James
wandered off, clearly uncomfortable.

6. In fact, whenever Megan
had friend round he would
make himself scarce. Which
was a shame, as Annette in
particular was often
popping round.

7. For Annette, the Bailey household
was becoming a second home. She
hung out there after school to do
homework, and often stayed well into
the evening.

8. Her presence didn’t upset James
exactly; it just seemed he wanted to
have friends, but wasn’t sure how to
do it. He would go as far as getting
his sleeping bag out if Megan had a
sleepover, but not as far as talking to
anyone.

9. It annoyed Megan. There she
would be, having a laugh, chilling
out… and her brother would
appear from nowhere and just be
there. Not talking, just looking
dopey. What was wrong with him
anyway?

10. As she tried to
explain to Annette, it
wasn’t just that he
was shy. It was more
like there was
something he was
missing that made it
too hard for him to
get on with people.
He was just weird.

11. Jen and Pablo were trying to
get back to where they had
been before all the awkward
business with the affairs, and
were throwing another party.
Teresa wasn’t sure it was for
the best, but agreed to support
her friend and attend.

12. Bernice had agreed to come with her as a plus-one in Warren’s stead, as he
was busy in the city until late buying seeds. The two chatted about how
well Megan was doing. She was bright, well-adjusted, and Bernice insisted
she would be a beauty with Teresa’s good looks with Warrens darker hair.

13. Teresa wasn’t worried
about Megan, she was
happy chatting away to
people three times her
age. Teresa was more
worried by her son, who
talked to no one.

14. Remembering James had enjoyed the music in France,
Teresa quietly suggested Bernice replace the musician
Pablo had hired. She was far superior pianist.

15. Teresa leaped in to keep
the musician busy, and
began chatting. Her
name was Ambrose
Merrihall and she
usually performed for
more exclusive clientele.
But… she owed Pablo a
favour so here she was.

16. It seemed to work. With the
better music playing, James came
out of the corner and stood with
the rest of them to listen. Warren
arrived just in time to see his sons
face light up.

17. He was soon distracted by Pablo asking his forgiveness for
how he had acted before. Pablo understood Warren was just
trying to be a good friend and neighbour, and hoped it could
be put behind them. Warren agreed, though cautiously.

18. James’ behaviour got Bernice
thinking. Megan was getting a
lot of attention,
understandably so, she was a
hoot – but she saw some
potential in James. Something
musical. And all it needed was
a little bit of nurturing.

19. Bernice sleeping over at the Baileys, chatting to Teresa and Warren about James’
musical interest.
She told Teresa
what she thought,
and Teresa was
moved. She was
much closer to
Megan, and though
James had no
memory of it, she
had been there for
most of his life too.
She wanted what
was best for him,
but how? None of
them were musical.

20. Warren couldn’t help
but picture his
awkward son
suddenly finding his
feet and becoming a
famous conductor or
something. But that
was jumping the gun.
Bernice could make
some enquiries, she
was friends with his
wife after all, so
shouldn’t mind using
her contacts and
doing them a favour.
Who knew what
might happen.

21. Over the street, Pablo was
starting to slide back into
his old ways. It began with
meeting up with those
friends who had led him
astray in the first place…

22. …And resulted in him scouting
out new clubs, and new
women. It seemed he
couldn’t, or wouldn’t, take his
marriage vows seriously.

23. The tragedy of it was that Jen was
suffering. That night, she had dressed up
to surprise him and rekindle their love in
the bed she hoped to have a child in.
when he didn’t come home, she naively
believed his story of working late. He
wouldn’t do that to her again, they were
trying again.

24. Pablo, drunk and indiscreet,
allowed the girl he had
picked up to follow him
home. They said goodbye
rather loudly at the
backdoor.

25. Jen was woken by the giggles and soft conversation
just outside, and got up to investigate.

26. She was incandescent
with rage when she
found Pablo outside
canoodling with some
drunk girl half their age.
She let rip.

27. This was the final straw. She had forgiven
him everything, how dare he go further than
he ever had before, to the point of bringing a
conquest home! It was humiliating. But was
Pablo truly sorry, or just sorry he’d been
caught?

28. Deasil Street
No. 1 No. 3
Trinity and Belladonna Darkstone The Williams Family
Marley, Aimee and Malika
No. 2
No. 4
The Bailey Family.
For Sale
Warren , Teresa, James and Megan
No. 6
No. 5 Pablo and Jennifer Martinez
For Sale
No. 7
Ariette Vickers, her father Harry and
daughter Annette
Next How will Jen deal with the cheating Pablo this
Time… time?
How will Teresa and Warren decide to help
James and his musical talent?
Find out next time on Deasil Street!